Reflections on the Importance of Practical Philosophy and Western Wisdom

In Episode 6 of the "Philosophy of Meditation" series, John Vervaeke and Rick Repetti discuss with guest Massimo Pigliucci how stoicism and meditation intertwine. Massimo, an acclaimed philosopher, delves into his transition from evolutionary biology to philosophy and Stoicism. The conversation covers key aspects of Stoicism, including the practice of mindfulness, attention (prosoche), and the Stoic approach to life's challenges. They discuss the parallels and differences between Stoic practices and Buddhist meditation, emphasizing the importance of rationality and judgment in Stoicism. The episode also touches on mindfulness in modern contexts, comparing it to classical practices, and concludes with Massimo sharing his personal Stoic meditative practices and reflections on life and death.

Massimo Pigliucci is a distinguished philosopher and author renowned for his work in the philosophy of science and his advocacy for Stoicism as a practical philosophy for modern life. He is a key figure in the modern revival of Stoicism, contributing significantly through his writings, talks, and as a certified philosophical counselor.

Glossary of Terms

Stoicism: An ancient Greek philosophy that emphasizes rationality, virtue, and resilience.

Mindfulness: The practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences.

Prosoche: A Stoic term for attentive mindfulness, focusing on rational judgment and action.

John Vervaeke:

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Rick Repetti:

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Massimo Pigliucci:

Substack: https://figsinwinter.substack.com/ 

Join our new Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke

The Vervaeke Foundation - https://vervaekefoundation.org/

Awaken to Meaning - https://awakentomeaning.com/

Books, Articles, and Publications

• Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation - Rick Repetti 

https://www.amazon.com/Routledge-Handbook-Philosophy-Meditation-Repetti/dp/036764746X

• A Handbook for New Stoics: How to Thrive in a World Out of Your Control―52 Week-by-Week Lessons - Gregory Lopez, Massimo Pigliucci https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-New-Stoics-Week-Week/dp/1615195335/

Quotes

"But meditating in Stoicism is a kind of activity that is very much philosophical in nature... But it's most certainly is a type of philosophizing." - Massimo Pigliucci [00:11:11]

"This is a place where it's converging with sort of cutting edge CogSci, which is the importance of attention to being reasonable that the training of attention is as important as the training of argumentation." - John Vervaeke [00:20:40]

"What can I do better the next time? Again, the idea being your mind needs to be prepared. If you're prepared, you're going to react better the next time around." - Massimo Pigliucci [00:53:15]

Chapters

[00:00:00] - Introduction to the Episode by John Vervaeke

[00:01:21] - Massimo Pigliucci's Background and Journey to Stoicism

[00:04:44] - Pigliucci’s Current Work and Philosophical Interests

[00:08:03] - Discussing the Philosophy of Meditation

[00:14:47] - Exploration of Stoic Principles: Physics, Logic, and Ethics

[00:17:00] - Massimo Pigliucci Discusses the Broader Understanding of Ethics in Stoicism

[00:24:40] - Stoic Perspectives on Choice, Good and Evil, and Social Relationships

[00:31:09] - Comparing and Contrasting Buddhism and Stoicism

[00:43:30] - Massimo's Personal Stoic Meditative Practices

[00:53:15] - Massimo Pigliucci's Closing Thoughts on Practical Philosophy