Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied

Explore Marcus Aurelius's life and Stoic practices with Donald Robertson. Dive into the Marcomannic wars, Commodus's succession, and Stoicism's role. Discover intriguing details like the assassination of a general and Marcus Aurelius's Stoic exercises.

The podcast explores the Stoic concept of interpreting situations with creativity and a constructive perspective. It delves into offensive and defensive Stoicism, role ethics, and the teachings of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. The conversation highlights finding 'handles' in every situation to navigate challenges virtuously and find happiness despite external circumstances.

Professor Rob Colter discusses Stoic freedom and its impact on people's lives, teaching Stoicism in various settings. Topics include rationality, role ethics, and underrated Stoic ideas. The conversation explores the transformative power of Stoicism and the concept of personal responsibility within the philosophy.

Delve into the practical aspects of Stoic philosophy inspired by Nassim Taleb's book 'Antifragile.' Explore the concept of Anti-Fragility and the Barbell Strategy for navigating chaos and uncertainty. Discuss the importance of having 'skin in the game' and applying virtuous ethics at different levels. Embrace moral freedom and uncompromising sincerity in judgments.

Dr. M. D. Usher discusses ancient Cynicism, its training program, and living in accordance with nature. Topics include rejecting societal norms, parallels with Socrates, modern cynics, and the connection between stoicism and cynicism. Exploring the spectrum of cynicism, Diogenes' wake-up call, and the philosophy of the cynic life. Comparing Nietzsche's cynicism, the role of stand-up comedians in social critique, and the active lifestyle of ancient cynics.

Caleb and Michael discuss the movie '300' and its portrayal of Spartan stoic virtues. They explore themes of sacrifice, resilience, and redefining victory. The podcast delves into philosophy, Spartan ideals, steelmanning, and the roles of women in ancient Spartan society.

Stoicism expert Scott Aikin defends a revisionary Stoicism. They discuss fatalism, dichotomy of control, skepticism, and determinism. They question the extent of Scott's revisions and delve into the ruin problem of Stoicism. The importance of understanding different traditions and the role of Stoic physics in grounding ethics are explored.

The podcast discusses the objection to Stoicism and the challenge of living by Stoic principles in extreme situations. They explore whether achieving the ideal Stoic sage is possible and the practicality of Stoicism. They also talk about the importance of interpretation in shaping experiences, attaining sagehood, and understanding one's own limits in practicing Stoicism.

Brittany Polat joins Caleb to discuss Stoic compassion and cultivating deeper connections. Topics include becoming more compassionate, the abundance mindset, friendship, forgiving others and oneself, and the importance of practice and meditation. They explore various Stoic practices, such as perspective-taking exercises, gratitude, and self-accountability. The role of patience and meditation in making long-term improvements is highlighted, along with exercises for shifting perspective and incorporating physical techniques in Stoic practice.

Seneca's letter on ethics debates the usefulness of rules in Stoicism. The hosts discuss arguments for and against rules, the limitations of rules in Stoic philosophy, and the importance of managing impressions. They also explore the role of rules in moral development and the importance of internalizing Stoic philosophy.