Stoic Meditations

Would that all things were already known, that truth were unveiled and recognized, and that none of our doctrines required modification! but as it is we have to seek for truth in the company of the very men who teach it. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Our Stoic philosophers say we must be in motion up to the very end of our life, we will never cease to labour for the general good, to help individual people, and when stricken in years to afford assistance even to our enemies. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

We oscillate between desire and remorse, for we depend entirely upon the opinions of others, and it is that which many people praise and seek after, not that which deserves to be praised and sought after, which we consider to be best. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Leisure is important to be able to pursue the good life, and yet by itself it is not sufficient. Without proper education, we are far more likely to waste our time than to use it to good effect. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

A brief existence is common to all things, and yet you avoid and pursue all things as if they would be eternal. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

When you are offended at any one’s fault, immediately turn to yourself and reflect in what manner you yourself have erred: for example, in thinking that money is a good thing, or pleasure, or a bit of reputation, and the like. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Consider what men are when they are eating, sleeping, coupling, evacuating, and so forth. Then what kind of men they are when they are imperious and arrogant, or angry and scolding from their elevated place. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

No longer talk at all about the kind of person that a good person ought to be, but be such. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

He who follows reason in all things is both tranquil and active at the same time, and also cheerful and collected. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Acquire the contemplative way of seeing how all things change into one another, and constantly attend to it, and exercise yourself about this part of philosophy. For nothing is so much adapted to produce magnanimity. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

When you have assumed these names—good, modest, truthful, rational, a person of equanimity, and magnanimous—take care that you do not change these names; and if you should lose them, quickly return to them. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Whether the universe is a concourse of atoms, or nature is a system, let this first be established: that I am a part of the whole that is governed by nature; next, that I stand in some intimate connection with other kindred parts. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

If someone is mistaken, instruct them kindly and show them their error. But if you are not able, blame yourself, or not even yourself. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Marcus Aurelius says that the rational animal is consequently also a social animal. Not exactly. And yet, he was onto something. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

The ancient Stoics believed in divination, because the world works by cause-effect. They were wrong on the specifics, but correct about the general idea, which is what still today underpins modern science. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

The ancient Stoics used their knowledge of human, animal, and plant anatomy to argue for the intelligence and wisdom of the universe. Similar arguments were still advanced at the beginning of the 18th century. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

The ancient Stoics advanced an argument for the intelligence of the universe very similar to the one deployed by modern creationists. The difference is that - given the advances of science - creationists ought to know better. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

The Stoics make an argument against the Epicureans about the nature of the universe. For once, it is the Epicureans who got closer t the truth. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

The Stoics put forth a three-pronged argument to arrive at the conclusion that the universe is governed wisely and providentially. Unfortunately, their argument is both invalid and unsound. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

The Stoics rejected the gods of the Olympian pantheon as obvious projections of human psychology. But modern thinking leads to doubts even about the Stoics' own more sophisticated conception of God as Nature. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support