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Episodes
- S1 E1 - How to Live like a Stoic SageMarch 25, 202129minStart with an introduction to the basics of Stoic philosophy, which puts an emphasis on living reasonably and pro-socially, and which teaches us to live according to nature. You'll also get a taste of the two pillars of this ancient school of thought: the four cardinal virtues and the dichotomy of control. #Music, Philosophy & ReligionFree trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E2 - Stoicism from Heraclitus to ThoreauMarch 25, 202128minHow has Stoic philosophy evolved over time? First, you'll place Stoicism among its rivals and influences, including major Hellenistic schools of thought like Epicureanism and Cynicism. Then, follow the course of Stoic philosophy and themes through minds like Seneca, Thomas Aquinas, Baruch Spinoza, and the transcendentalism of Henry David Thoreau.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E3 - The Stoic Garden: Physics, Ethics, LogicMarch 25, 202126minThe ancient Stoics used a number of metaphors to get their points across, including the metaphor of the garden, whose elements were physics, ethics, and logic. Here, compare how Aristotle and the Stoics thought of logic, and use a story that dates back to the 2nd century BCE to see how Stoic epistemology and psychology are intertwined.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E4 - How Stoics Understand ProvidenceMarch 25, 202127minStoics's thoughts on providence were much different than Christians would later think of it. Consider three interrelated notions of Stoic thinking that constitute three important aspects of their metaphysics: materialism, cause-effect, and determinism. In the process, you'll gain a new perspective on an old chestnut in metaphysics and moral philosophy: the problem of free will.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E5 - Using Stoic Ethics to Achieve HappinessMarch 25, 202127minExamine what is arguably the most important part of Stoic philosophy: ethics. How do we differentiate between ancient and modern conceptions of what is ethical? How do we define the cardinal virtues of practical wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance, and how can we translate them into everyday practice today?Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E6 - The Stoics on Desire and DisciplineMarch 25, 202125minIn the first of three episodes on how to practice Stoicism as described by Epictetus, learn through a series of engaging exercises how to train your desires and aversions. By bringing attention to the issues outlined here, you'll help realign your wants with what's important -- and what's truly within your control.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E7 - The Stoics on Interacting with OthersMarch 25, 202124minHuman beings are eminently social creatures; we have no choice but to negotiate relationships with other human beings. Explore the Stoic discipline of action through exercises that train you how to "keep your peace of mind in mind," how to deal with insults, how to handle difficult people, and more.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E8 - The Stoics on Decision-MakingMarch 25, 202125minAccording to Epictetus, the discipline of assent, concerned with arriving at correct judgments, is the most difficult to master. Exercises in this episode draw on examples from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and other thinkers to highlight tactics for overcoming mental weakness, controlling outbursts of anger, and bringing urges under control.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E9 - Seneca's Letters to LuciliusMarch 25, 202127minExplore in detail some of the 124 letters Seneca wrote in his last years to his friend Lucilius, which offer an informal curriculum on Stoic philosophy. Through these writings, you'll consider eye-opening thoughts on managing time, on the high standards of friendships, on feeling joy, on judging others, and on coming to terms with death.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E10 - Seneca on Anger ManagementMarch 25, 202127minFirst, examine the categories into which Stoics divided emotions: involuntary emotional reactions, reactive emotions (like fear), and positive emotions (such as joy). Afterward, turn to what Seneca says about anger, which the Stoics considered the quintessential example of a negative emotion, and uncover an anger management exercise that has helped people for millennia.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E11 - Seneca on Grief and DistressMarch 25, 202126minOne crucial test of any philosophy of life is whether it's helpful in unpleasant, unavoidable situations. Learn how Stoicism passes this test by looking at what Seneca (in three powerful letters of consolation he wrote to friends and family) has to say about the fundamental subjects of grief and distress.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E12 - Epictetus on the Importance of ReasonMarch 25, 202126minEpictetus is a practical, humorous, no-nonsense philosopher. Get to know this ancient Stoic through the first volume of the Discourses, a major treatise on Stoic philosophy written by one of his most illustrious students. Explore, specifically, Stoic views on cosmopolitanism: the notion that we are all members of the same cosmopolis, or world-city.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E13 - Epictetus on Overcoming FearMarch 25, 202126minTake an in-depth look at the second volume of Discourses, written by Epictetus, with an aim to apply its insights to your own life. What does Epictetus tell us about what's under our complete control? How do we make sense of the trade-off between material things and family relations? What pieces of wisdom can we use to manage our everyday anxieties?Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E14 - Epictetus on Desire, Action, and JudgmentMarch 25, 202125minEpictetus employed the concepts of desire, action, and assent as disciplines to understand the entirety of Stoic philosophy. Place these concepts in the historical context during the tyrannical reign of Roman Emperor Domitian, then learn how to use them as a powerful framework through which to lead a better, more meaningful life.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E15 - Epictetus on How to Be FreeMarch 25, 202128minAccording to the Stoics, if you want to live a free life, you have to be the master of your own desires -- chiefly by eliminating them. Get philosophical tips on how to do that. This episode focuses on the fourth and last surviving book of the collected teachings of Epictetus.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E16 - A Manual for the Good Life: The EnchiridionMarch 25, 202128minEpictetus wrote Enchiridion ("a little thing in the hand") as a practical manual for living how to live what the Greco-Romans considered a worthwhile life. Enchiridion was a well-known text throughout the Middle Ages, into the Renaissance, and beyond. Get to the core of its teachings on how to change your desires and aversions.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E17 - Marcus Aurelius on Being ThankfulMarch 25, 202128minMarcus Aurelius's mastery of Stoic philosophy helped him navigate frontier wars, a rebellion, and a plague. Examine the first four chapters of Meditations, which describe exercises in gratitude and contemplations on adversity and death. His most interesting -- and misunderstood -- idea was: "The universe is transformation; life is opinion."Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E18 - Marcus Aurelius, Virtue, and the VineyardMarch 25, 202128minNow, turn to highlights from the next four chapters of Meditations. You'll consider the Stoic sense of duty, an analogy involving vineyards that captures our desire for praise and our fear of criticism, the inevitability of change, the lust for fame, and other human traits.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E19 - Marcus Aurelius on Managing TurmoilMarch 25, 202127minHow can we best practice Stoicism during times of turmoil in our lives? This episode describes the last four chapters of Meditations. Explore how not to catastrophize, how to be mindful of labels, and how to practice a sunrise exercise that goes back to the 6th century BCE.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E20 - From Stoic Self-Mastery to CosmopolitanismMarch 25, 202127minWhat do the Stoics say about our diets, or the furniture in our houses, or the proper lengths of a man's beard? These are some of the many topics you'll explore in this fascinating conversation that revolves around one of the most influential of Stoics, and least-known: Gaius Musonius Rufus.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E21 - Drawing Inspiration from Stoic Role ModelsMarch 25, 202128minRole models are a crucial aspect in the practice of Stoicism. First, meet two individuals Seneca suggested his contemporaries should model themselves after: Cato and Gaius Laelius Sapiens. Then, consider contemporary role models -- real and imagined -- who fit the Stoic concept, including Nelson Mandela and Spider-Man.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E22 - How Stoics Bear Responsibility and ConflictMarch 25, 202129minWe all play different roles throughout our lives, each of which naturally produces conflict, such as, the role of parent or friend. Learn how to recognize the call for different roles in your life by following four criteria laid down by Epictetus, including considering your social relations and listening for a "divine" sign.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E23 - Misusing and Misunderstanding StoicismMarch 25, 202129minDo Stoics move through life with stiff upper lips? Is Stoicism all about suppressing emotions? Can Stoicism help make you rich and famous? Here, look at some of the common misconceptions about Stoicism, how they diverge from the philosophy's intent, and what we can learn from them.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E24 - Stoicism for Everyday LifeMarch 25, 202130minWhy would anyone living today wish to become a Stoic? Professor Pigliucci answers this question by comparing Stoicism with three other philosophies of life you've probably heard of: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. He then reveals how his own practice of Stoicism has helped him in his life.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E25 - Four Family Problems and Stoic SolutionsMarch 25, 202121minIn this final episode, unpack four examples of personal crises in contemporary life that reveal just how helpful Stoicism can be in guiding our everyday thoughts and practices. What can you learn from a struggling adult child, a home-maintenance mishap, a tormented married couple, and a father's terminal illness?Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
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