Think like a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World
Season 1
Think like a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World is an enlightening introduction to Stoicism. Over 25 lessons, you’ll review the lasting influence of Stoic ideas through time, consider what it means to be a Stoic in the 21st century, and participate in workshops and exercises that make up a how-to manual for the modern Stoic.
Where to Watch Season 1
25 Episodes
- How to Live like a Stoic SageE1
How to Live like a Stoic SageStart with an introduction to the basics of Stoic philosophy, which puts an emphasis on living reasonably and pro-socially, and which teaches us to live according to nature. You’ll also get a taste of the two pillars of this ancient school of thought: the four cardinal virtues and the dichotomy of control. - Stoicism from Heraclitus to ThoreauE2
Stoicism from Heraclitus to ThoreauHow has Stoic philosophy evolved over time? First, you’ll place Stoicism among its rivals and influences, including major Hellenistic schools of thought like Epicureanism and Cynicism. Then, follow the course of Stoic philosophy and themes through minds like Seneca, Thomas Aquinas, Baruch Spinoza, and the transcendentalism of Henry David Thoreau. - The Stoic Garden: Physics, Ethics, LogicE3
The Stoic Garden: Physics, Ethics, LogicThe ancient Stoics used a number of metaphors to get their points across, including the metaphor of the garden, whose elements were physics, ethics, and logic. Here, compare how Aristotle and the Stoics thought of logic, and use a story that dates back to the 2nd century BCE to see how Stoic epistemology and psychology are intertwined. - How Stoics Understand ProvidenceE4
How Stoics Understand ProvidenceStoics’s thoughts on providence were much different than Christians would later think of it. Consider three interrelated notions of Stoic thinking that constitute three important aspects of their metaphysics: materialism, cause-effect, and determinism. In the process, you’ll gain a new perspective on an old chestnut in metaphysics and moral philosophy: the problem of free will. - Using Stoic Ethics to Achieve HappinessE5
Using Stoic Ethics to Achieve HappinessIn this lesson, examine what is arguably the most important part of Stoic philosophy: ethics. How do we differentiate between ancient and modern conceptions of what is ethical? How do we define the cardinal virtues of practical wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance, and how can we translate them into everyday practice today? - The Stoics on Desire and DisciplineE6
The Stoics on Desire and DisciplineIn the first of three lessons on how to practice Stoicism as described by Epictetus, learn through a series of engaging exercises how to train your desires and aversions. By bringing attention to the issues outlined here, you’ll help realign your wants with what’s important—and what’s truly within your control. - The Stoics on Interacting with OthersE7
The Stoics on Interacting with OthersHuman beings are eminently social creatures; we have no choice but to negotiate relationships with other human beings. Explore the Stoic discipline of action through exercises that train you how to “keep your peace of mind in mind,” how to deal with insults, how to handle difficult people, and more. - The Stoics on Decision-MakingE8
The Stoics on Decision-MakingAccording to Epictetus, the discipline of assent, concerned with arriving at correct judgments, is the most difficult to master. Exercises in this lesson draw on examples from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and other thinkers to highlight tactics for overcoming mental weakness, controlling outbursts of anger, and bringing urges under control. - Seneca’s Letters to LuciliusE9
Seneca’s Letters to LuciliusExplore in detail some of the 124 letters Seneca wrote in his last years to his friend Lucilius, which offer an informal curriculum on Stoic philosophy. Through these writings, you’ll consider eye-opening thoughts on managing time, on the high standards of friendships, on feeling joy, on judging others, and on coming to terms with death. - Seneca on Anger ManagementE10
Seneca on Anger ManagementFirst, examine the categories into which Stoics divided emotions: involuntary emotional reactions, reactive emotions (like fear), and positive emotions (such as joy). Afterward, turn to what Seneca says about anger, which the Stoics considered the quintessential example of a negative emotion, and uncover an anger management exercise that has helped people for millennia. - Seneca on Grief and DistressE11
Seneca on Grief and DistressOne crucial test of any philosophy of life is whether it’s helpful in unpleasant, unavoidable situations. Learn how Stoicism passes this test by looking at what Seneca (in three powerful letters of consolation he wrote to friends and family) has to say about the fundamental subjects of grief and distress. - Epictetus on the Importance of ReasonE12
Epictetus on the Importance of ReasonEpictetus is a practical, humorous, no-nonsense philosopher. Get to know this ancient Stoic through the first volume of the Discourses, a major treatise on Stoic philosophy written by one of his most illustrious students. Explore, specifically, Stoic views on cosmopolitanism: the notion that we are all members of the same cosmopolis, or world-city. - Epictetus on Overcoming FearE13
Epictetus on Overcoming FearTake an in-depth look at the second volume of Discourses, written by Epictetus, with an aim to apply its insights to your own life. What does Epictetus tell us about what’s under our complete control? How do we make sense of the trade-off between material things and family relations? What pieces of wisdom can we use to manage our everyday anxieties? - Epictetus on Desire, Action, and JudgmentE14
Epictetus on Desire, Action, and JudgmentEpictetus employed the concepts of desire, action, and assent as disciplines to understand the entirety of Stoic philosophy. Place these concepts in the historical context during the tyrannical reign of Roman Emperor Domitian, then learn how to use them as a powerful framework through which to lead a better, more meaningful life. - Epictetus on How to Be FreeE15
Epictetus on How to Be FreeAccording to the Stoics, if you want to live a free life, you have to be the master of your own desires—chiefly by eliminating them. Get philosophical tips on how to do that. This lesson focuses on the fourth and last surviving book of the collected teachings of Epictetus. - A Manual for the Good Life: The EnchiridionE16
A Manual for the Good Life: The EnchiridionEpictetus wrote Enchiridion (“a little thing in the hand”) as a practical manual for living how to live what the Greco-Romans considered a worthwhile life. Enchiridion was a well-known text throughout the Middle Ages, into the Renaissance, and beyond. Get to the core of its teachings on how to change your desires and aversions. - Marcus Aurelius on Being ThankfulE17
Marcus Aurelius on Being ThankfulMarcus Aurelius’s mastery of Stoic philosophy helped him navigate frontier wars, a rebellion, and a plague. Examine the first four chapters of Meditations, which describe exercises in gratitude and contemplations on adversity and death. His most interesting— and misunderstood—idea was: “The universe is transformation; life is opinion.” - Marcus Aurelius, Virtue, and the VineyardE18
Marcus Aurelius, Virtue, and the VineyardNow, turn to highlights from the next four chapters of Meditations. You‘ll consider the Stoic sense of duty, an analogy involving vineyards that captures our desire for praise and our fear of criticism, the inevitability of change, the lust for fame, and other human traits. - Marcus Aurelius on Managing TurmoilE19
Marcus Aurelius on Managing TurmoilHow can we best practice Stoicism during times of turmoil in our lives? This lesson describes the last four chapters of Meditations. Explore how not to catastrophize, how to be mindful of labels, and how to practice a sunrise exercise that goes back to the 6th century BCE. - From Stoic Self-Mastery to CosmopolitanismE20
From Stoic Self-Mastery to CosmopolitanismWhat do the Stoics say about our diets, or the furniture in our houses, or the proper lengths of a man’s beard? These are some of the many topics you’ll explore in this fascinating conversation that revolves around one of the most influential of Stoics, and least-known: Gaius Musonius Rufus. - Drawing Inspiration from Stoic Role ModelsE21
Drawing Inspiration from Stoic Role ModelsRole models are a crucial aspect in the practice of Stoicism. First, meet two individuals Seneca suggested his contemporaries should model themselves after: Cato and Gaius Laelius Sapiens. Then, consider contemporary role models—real and imagined—who fit the Stoic concept, including Nelson Mandela and Spider-Man. - How Stoics Bear Responsibility and ConflictE22
How Stoics Bear Responsibility and ConflictWe all play different roles throughout our lives, each of which naturally produces conflict, such as, the role of parent or friend. Learn how to recognize the call for different roles in your life by following four criteria laid down by Epictetus, including considering your social relations and listening for a “divine” sign. - Misusing and Misunderstanding StoicismE23
Misusing and Misunderstanding StoicismDo Stoics move through life with stiff upper lips? Is Stoicism all about suppressing emotions? Can Stoicism help make you rich and famous? Here, look at some of the common misconceptions about Stoicism, how they diverge from the philosophy’s intent, and what we can learn from them. - Stoicism for Everyday LifeE24
Stoicism for Everyday LifeWhy would anyone living today wish to become a Stoic? Professor Pigliucci answers this question by comparing Stoicism with three other philosophies of life you’ve probably heard of: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. He then reveals how his own practice of Stoicism has helped him in his life. - Four Family Problems and Stoic SolutionsE25
Four Family Problems and Stoic SolutionsIn this final lesson, unpack four examples of personal crises in contemporary life that reveal just how helpful Stoicism can be in guiding our everyday thoughts and practices. What can you learn from a struggling adult child, a home-maintenance mishap, a tormented married couple, and a father’s terminal illness?