Practical Stoicism

The Illusion of Free Will? (Meditations 3.10)

Mar 11, 2025

Delve into the profound teachings of Marcus Aurelius as he urges us to embrace the present moment. Explore essential truths about life's brevity and our limited control over fame and fate. Unpack the intriguing interplay between free will and determinism, illustrated by metaphorical shapes that reflect our habits. Learn that focusing on personal character development is key, rather than trying to control the uncontrollable. Recognize your limitations and cultivate virtue in your daily choices.

23:04

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Focusing on the present moment allows individuals to exercise their true power, emphasizing that past and future are beyond our control.

Understanding the brevity of life encourages meaningful choices and the development of virtuous character through consistent habit formation.

Deep dives

Emphasizing the Present Moment

The discussion highlights the importance of focusing solely on the present moment, as past experiences are merely memories and the future remains uncertain. It asserts that true power and choice only exist in the present, reminding listeners that they cannot control events that have already happened or will happen. This perspective encourages mindfulness, as individuals often overlook the present while dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. The insight serves as a call to prioritize our actions and choices in the here and now, reinforcing that it is the only time where we can genuinely exert influence.

Intro

3min

Embracing the Present: Life's Fundamental Truths

7min

The Nature of Change and Habituation

5min

Navigating Free Will and Determinism

6min

Embracing Limitations and the Launch of a New App

2min

In this episode, I explore Meditations 3.10, where Marcus Aurelius reminds himself—and us—that we only ever live in the present moment. He urges us to remember three things: life is short, the space we occupy is small, and fame is fleeting. But why does he emphasize this? Because knowing who we are and becoming the best version of ourselves is what truly matters.

This discussion dives into the Stoic understanding of determinism and free will. I explore how our choices shape our character over time, using Chrysippus’ analogy of cones and cylinders to explain how habitual actions determine our future choices. Along the way, I challenge common misunderstandings about fate, examine neuroscientific insights on decision-making, and explain why our focus should be on habituating ourselves toward virtue rather than trying to control the uncontrollable.

Meditations 3.10:

“Therefore throw all else aside, and hold fast only these few things; further calling to mind at the same time that each of us lives only in the present, this brief moment; the rest is either a life that is past, or is in an uncertain future. Little the life each lives, little the corner of the earth he lives in, little even the longest fame hereafter, and even that dependent on a succession of poor mortals, who will very soon be dead, and have not learnt to know themselves, much less the man who was dead long years ago.”

Three key takeaways from this episode:

— The present moment is the only place where we have power. We cannot change the past, and the future is beyond our control.

— Habitual choices shape our character. Stoicism teaches us to be intentional about the habits we form because they dictate how we act when we’re not thinking.

— We cannot control everything, but we can control how we respond. Our role is not to change the world but to become virtuous people who act justly within the world we inhabit.

Join The Society of Stoics to engage in deeper discussions and support the show: https://community.stoicismpod.com

Purchase a copy of my book: https://stoicismpod.com/book

Read the source text used: https://stoicismpod.com/far

Follow me on Bluesky: https://stoicismpod.com/bluesky

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices