1071. The Stoic deterministic universe

1071. The Stoic deterministic universe

Author: Massimo Pigliucci July 20, 2022 Duration: 3:04

The fates guide us, and the length of every person’s days is decided at the first hour of their birth: every cause depends upon some earlier cause: one long chain of destiny decides all things, public or private. Wherefore, everything must be patiently endured, because events do not fall in our way, as we imagine, but come by a regular law.


In a world that often feels chaotic and demanding, the ancient philosophy of Stoicism offers a surprisingly practical framework for living with clarity and purpose. Stoic Meditations is a series of thoughtful, standalone episodes where professor and philosopher Massimo Pigliucci draws directly from the source material of thinkers like Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus. Each session focuses on a specific passage or idea, unpacking its meaning and, more importantly, its direct application to the challenges of modern life. You’ll hear Pigliucci’s calm and considered voice guiding you through these reflections, not as abstract history lessons, but as immediate tools for managing anxiety, making ethical decisions, and cultivating resilience. This isn't about academic lectures; it's about turning timeless wisdom into personal practice. The episodes are deliberately concise, designed to be absorbed during a quiet moment of your day, providing a grounded perspective that lingers long after the audio ends. For anyone curious about philosophy that is meant to be lived, not just studied, this podcast serves as both an accessible introduction and a deep, recurring resource. The production, with its original music, supports a contemplative atmosphere, making each meditation a genuine pause for reflection. Tune in to find a steady, reasoned companion for navigating complexity, one ancient insight at a time.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Stoic Meditations
Podcast Episodes
1063. The reserve clause [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:49
He who does many things often puts himself in Fortune’s power, and it is safest not to tempt her often, but always to remember her existence, and never to promise oneself anything on her security. I will set sail unless…
1062. The problem with busyness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:51
We must limit the running to and fro which most people practice, rambling about houses, theaters, and marketplaces. They mind other peoples’ business, and always seem as though they themselves had something to do. If you…
1061. What do we labor for? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:25
The next point to these will be to take care that we do not labour for what is vain, or labour in vain: that is to say, neither to desire what we are not able to obtain, nor yet, having obtained our desire too late, and…
1060. The premeditatio malorum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:10
For by looking forward to everything which can happen as though it would happen to us, we take the sting out of all evils, which can make no difference to those who expect it and are prepared to meet it. … Disease, capti…
1059. It's a matter of attitude [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:32
In every station of life you will find amusements, relaxations, and enjoyments; that is, provided you be willing to make light of evils rather than to hate them.
1058. How many books? How many authors? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:43
What is the use of possessing numberless books and libraries, whose titles their owner can hardly read through in a lifetime? A student is over-whelmed by such a mass, not instructed, and it is much better to devote your…
1057. The real value of things [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:31
Let us accustom ourselves to set aside mere outward show, and to measure things by their uses, not by their ornamental trappings.
1056. Whereby Seneca praises Diogenes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:44
The best amount of property to have is that which is enough to keep us from poverty, and which yet is not far removed from it.
1055. The problem with too much wealth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:41
If you compare all the other ills from which we suffer—deaths, sicknesses, fears, regrets, endurance of pains and labors—with those miseries which our money inflicts upon us, the latter will far outweigh all the others.
1054. Be careful the company you keep [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:40
We should choose for our friends those who are, as far as possible, free from strong desires: for vices are contagious, and pass from someone to their neighbor, and injure those who touch them.