1092. Don't judge others

1092. Don't judge others

Author: Massimo Pigliucci August 19, 2022 Duration: 2:07

Someone bathes in haste; don’t say he bathes badly, but in haste. Someone drinks a lot of wine; don’t say he drinks badly, but a lot. Until you know their reasons, how do you know that their actions are vicious?


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
1012. God = Nature = Fate = Cause & Effect [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:48
If you were to call God Fate, you would not lie; for since fate is nothing more than a connected chain of causes, he is the first cause of all upon which all the rest depend.
1011. Two criticisms of Seneca [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:54
Seneca, though he acknowledges that women are perfectly capable of virtue, characterizes Epicureans as "effeminate." And in today's passage he comes across as far more critical of Epicurus than he is usually regarded to…
1009. On slavery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:47
Whereby Seneca displays a bit too casual of an attitude toward slavery, a particular instance of a broader problem for Stoicism when it comes to social and political issues.
1008. No deadline for gratefulness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:13
No day is appointed for repayment of a benefit, as there is for borrowed money; consequently he who has not yet repaid a benefit may do so hereafter: for tell me, pray, within what time a person is to be declared ungrate…
1007. Virtue and the law [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:43
Seneca explains why it makes no sense to pass laws to enforce virtuous behavior, such as some modern laws against marital infidelity.
1006. Contentedness vs ambition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:17
Being always intent upon new objects of desire, we think, not of what we have, but of what we are striving to obtain. Those whose mind is fixed entirely upon what they hope to gain, regard with contempt all that is their…
1005. Should we complain to the gods? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:53
They call the gods neglectful of us because we have not been given health which even our vices cannot destroy.
1004. The sources of ingratitude [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:46
Ingratitude is caused by excessive self-esteem, by that fault innate in all mortals, of taking a partial view of ourselves and our own acts, by greed, or by jealousy.