Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied

Who gets to call themselves a Stoic? Michael and Caleb tackle the issue of who is and isn’t a Stoic. Grounding their discussion in Michael’s recent article: (03:00) The Stoic alignment chart: theory purists to rebels(11:00) Benefits of gatekeeping: maintaining truth and standards(21:00) Epictetus as motivating gatekeeper(26:30) Risks: pedantry and missing the forest for trees(40:00) When gatekeeping becomes antisocial(46:30) Finding the balanceDownload the Stoa app (it’s a free download): https://stoameditation.com/podIf you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we’ll set you up with a free account.Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations:https://ancientlyre.com/ Get full access to The Stoa Letter at www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Some Stoic ideas cut against modern culture. Michael and Caleb examine seven truths that challenge how we think about politics, anger, success, and evil.The Stoics make claims most people won’t like hearing. Politics can’t ruin your happiness. Anger is always wrong. Being a victim doesn’t make you virtuous. You can’t choose all your obligations. Nearly everyone lives in luxury today. Some lives are objectively better than others. And no one truly wants to do evil.(00:00) Politics can’t make you unhappy.(09:00) Anger is never appropriate.(19:40) Neither victimhood nor victory are moral credentials.(26:10) You don’t choose all your roles.(34:20) Nearly everyone today lives in luxury.(39:10) Some lives are better than others.(43:10) No one intends to do evil.Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): https://stoameditation.com/podIf you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we’ll set you up with a free account.Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/ Get full access to The Stoa Letter at www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Get full access to The Stoa Letter at www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Caleb explores Seneca’s warning about wealth from Letter 17 and why material success may be a trap. The episode questions whether financial independence really delivers freedom or just creates new forms of dependence.Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): https://stoameditation.com/podIf you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we’ll set you up with a free account.Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/ Get full access to The Stoa Letter at www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Michael and Caleb examine skeptical modes from Sextus Empiricus. These arguments show why you can’t trust your sense impressions. The Stoics and skeptics were rival schools. But they agreed on one thing: most people live under illusion. The skeptics said you can never overcome that. The Stoics said you can, but only if you’re extremely careful. Both agree you need to interrogate every impression.(3:20) Skeptics vs Stoics on impressions (9:00) Different animals see differently (15:30) Humans disagree with each other (20:20) Your senses contradict themselves (26:40) Your disposition changes everything (31:50) The ideal disposition for truth (35:10) What you’re next to matters (39:00) Rarity distorts value (39:53) Different cultures, different truths (43:10) Why philosophy starts with dissatisfaction (45:10) How far should skepticism go (49:40) Summary of nine skeptical modesDownload the Stoa app (it’s a free download): https://stoameditation.com/podIf you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we’ll set you up with a free account.Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/ Get full access to The Stoa Letter at www.stoaletter.com/subscribe