Podcast
Stoic Meditations
Hosted by RF · EN
Occasional reflections on the wisdom of Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers with Prof. Massimo Pigliucci. Complete index by author and source at https://massimopigliucci.org/stoic-podcast/. (cover art by Marek Škrabák; original music by Ian Jolin-Rasmussen).
10episodes
Episodes
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1094. The Olympics have already started!
Aug 23, 202200:02:37Tap to summarizeWhen faced with anything painful or pleasurable, anything bringing glory or disrepute, realize that the crisis is now, that the Olympics have started, and waiting is no longer an option; that the chance for progress, to keep or lose, turns on the events of a single day.
Transcribe →1093. Homer and Chrysippus
Aug 22, 202200:02:04Tap to summarizeIf I admire the interpretation [of a philosophical treatise], I have turned into a literary critic instead of a philosopher, the only difference being that, instead of Homer, I’m interpreting Chrysippus.
Transcribe →1092. Don't judge others
Aug 19, 202200:02:08Tap to summarizeSomeone 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?
Transcribe →1091. Non sequiturs
Aug 18, 202200:02:20Tap to summarizeThe following are non-sequiturs: ‘I am richer, therefore superior to you’; or ‘I am a better speaker, therefore a better person, than you.’
Transcribe →1090. Every cup has two handles
Aug 17, 202200:02:44Tap to summarizeEverything has two handles: one by which it may be borne, another by which it cannot. If your brother acts unjustly, do not lay hold on the affair by the handle of his injustice, for by that it cannot be borne, but rather by the opposite — that he is your brother, that he was brought up with you; and thus you will lay hold on it as it is to be borne.
Transcribe →1089. Of insults and logic
Aug 16, 202200:03:06Tap to summarizeWhenever anyone criticizes or wrongs you, remember that they are only doing or saying what they think is right. They cannot be guided by your views, only their own; so if their views are wrong, they are the ones who suffer insofar as they are misguided. I mean, if someone declares a true conjunctive proposition to be false, the proposition is unaffected, it is they who come off worse for having their ignorance exposed.
Transcribe →1088. Wrong priorities
Aug 15, 202200:02:29Tap to summarizeAs you are careful when you walk not to step on a nail or turn your ankle, so you should take care not to do any injury to your character at the same time.
Transcribe →1087. Conversation and company
Aug 12, 202200:02:50Tap to summarizeWhen you’re called upon to speak, then speak, but never about banalities like gladiators, horses, sports, food and drink – common-place stuff. Above all don’t gossip about people, praising, blaming or comparing them. Avoid fraternizing with non-philosophers. If you must, though, be careful not to sink to their level; because, you know, if a companion is dirty, his friends cannot help but get a little dirty too, no matter how clean they started out.
Transcribe →1086. Grief and loss
Aug 11, 202200:02:21Tap to summarizeWhen somebody’s wife or child dies, to a man we all routinely say, ‘Well, that’s part of life.’ But if one of our own family is involved, then right away it’s ‘Poor, poor me!’ We would do better to remember how we react when a similar loss afflicts others.
Transcribe →1085. Money
Aug 10, 202200:02:18Tap to summarizeIf I can make money while remaining honest, trustworthy and dignified, show me how and I will do it. But if you expect me to sacrifice my own values, just so you can get your hands on things that aren’t even good – well, you can see yourself how thoughtless and unfair you’re being.
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