A Stoic Conversation with Margaret Graver: Stoicism and Emotions

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.
In this special episode, we dive into one of the most important and most misunderstood topics in the entire Stoic tradition: the nature of emotion.

Today, I’m joined by Margaret Graver, the Aaron Lawrence Professor of Classics at Dartmouth College, and one of the world’s leading scholars on ancient Stoicism. Her book Stoicism and Emotion has shaped how modern readers understand the emotional life of the Stoics. Together, we explore how ancient philosophy can help us meet the complexity of our own inner lives.

At the heart of this episode is the Stoic idea that emotions are not things that happen to us, but judgments we make, often unconsciously, about what is good or bad. For the Stoics, joy is not mere smiling or comfort, but the deep, steady uplift that comes from living in harmony with reason, virtue, and our responsibilities to others.

Margaret explains how Stoicism views emotions as voluntary in structure but not always voluntary in the moment, why some emotions feel automatic, and how the Stoics distinguished between destructive impulses and the good emotions grounded in truth. We discuss the role of character formation, the misconceptions about “suppressing feelings,” and why Stoicism is far more about love, courage, community, and responsibility than about detachment.

In a world of constant stimulation and quick reactions, Stoicism helps us return to clarity. It shows us that emotions are not enemies but signals, invitations to examine ourselves more honestly. By the end of this episode, you’ll see that Stoicism isn’t about shutting down your humanity; it’s about living wisely, lovingly, and courageously within it.

Listen to the full episode to get a clear introduction into Stoicism and Emotions, and follow this up by reading Margaret Graver's book.

Learn more about Margaret Graver here:

Dartmouth Faculty Page:
https://classics.dartmouth.edu/people/margaret-graver

Books:
• Stoicism and Emotion – University of Chicago Press
https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/S/bo3625910.html

• Seneca: The Literary Philosopher – Cambridge University Press
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/seneca/O01F0E7E3C9D6469A4C47A65BE85866E

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