Stoic Meditations

Seneca reminds us that the future is not under our control, and that the best way to prepare for it is to act here and now, where we actually have causal efficacy. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Cicero uses a metaphor involving ship pilots and their cargo to remind us that a more or less valuable "cargo" doesn't make us better or worse "pilots." It is our skills, that is our virtue, that make the difference. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca, differing from Epictetus in a metaphysical sense, says that the universe is - as we would put it - morally neutral to us. What matters, then, is how we handle so-called "good" and "bad" things. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca uses a colorful analogy between life and a journey. Sure, we'd like to live longer, but when the journey is longer a number of unpleasant things are bound to happen, like rain and mud. Just bring good gear with you for the trip. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca uses an interesting economic analogy to remind us that the privilege of being alive comes with the tax of suffering setbacks and losses. Understanding this helps us to cope with problems and even to look forward to them as further exercises in virtue. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca says that it is natural for us to be virtuous. Modern scientists say that it is natural for us to be prosocial. Either way, it is reason that allows us to expand our instinctive circles of ethical concern. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Marcus Aurelius reminds us that we spend far too much time trying to change other people, which is outside of our control, and too little time attempting to improve ourselves, which we certainly have the power to do. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca echoes the advice of Musonius Rufus when he says that we don't need to pay for extravagant meals with ingredients brought from all over the world. Every time we sit at the table to eat we have a chance to exercise temperance. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Continuing his criticism of the state's war machine, Seneca exhorts us to prosecute our politicians and generals for the crimes they commit in our own name. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca writes words about the foolishness of war that were surprisingly modern for his time, and unfortunately very much still pertinent to us today. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca tells us something that may appear to be a no-brainer, and yet is difficult to apply: never believe that you can be happy through the unhappiness of another. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Cicero reminds us that happiness - meaning our satisfaction with our own life - is guaranteed if we don't hitch it to external events, but only to our own reasoned judgments. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca reminds us that it is important to associate with good people. Their goodness is both an inspiration and a guide to make ourselves better human beings. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca says that we should remind ourselves of things we know, because all too often we don't pay attention to them. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Modern Stoic Larry Becker, building on Seneca, advises us to approach the problems we encounter not one at a time, but within the context of our life treated as a whole dynamic project. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca points out that it doesn't matter if there is no continuation of life after death. Just like British comedian Ricky Gervais did recently in his series, aptly entitled "After Life." --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Epictetus treats anger as an addiction: we should suppress the urge as soon as we begin to feel it, and celebrate the days we have managed to stay away from this temporary madness. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca uses the dichotomy of control to get us to move away from our obsession with living longer, and toward paying attention to living better. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

A good Stoic can be "happy" even on the rack. This phrase happened to be true in the case of the Roman general Marcus Regulus. And his story is worth pondering to see that we can be helpful and find meaning in so many small ways. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support

Seneca says that when negative developments affect our lives, virtue is like the sun behind a cloud: it keeps shining, and eventually dissipates the clouds. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/support