The Sunday Stoic

Today Dan and Steve discuss Musonius Rufus's lecture 12: "On Sexual Indulgence". We discuss his views of sex, and marriage and how not all things the ancients thought are applicable to today. Today's Reading: https://dn721903.ca.archive.org/0/items/MUSONIUSRUFUSSTOICFRAGMENTS/MUSONIUSRUFUSSTOICFRAGMENTS.pdf

Nicholas Peters, a District Fire Management Officer for the U.S. Forest Service joins the show to discuss Stoicism and the qualities of a good leader. We also talk about firefighting as well as parenting.

Steve and Dan discuss the eleventh Lecture of Musonius Rufus - What Means of Livelihood is Appropriate for a Philosopher? The ideal answer, according to Musonius Rufus, is that of a farmer. While farming is a rare occupation in the modern era, it has and had much to recommend it. Musonius argues that farming is ideal for people studying and leading a philosophical life, because working the land wi...

Steve and Dan discuss Lecture 10 of Musonius Rufus - Will the Philosopher Prosecute Anyone for Personal Injury? Musonius Rufus takes a firm stance that anyone worthy of the term philosopher would not sue someone for personal injury. Interestingly, personal injury seems to have been a very broad category in the time of Musonius Rufus, everything from physical assault, to insults, to hard glances. M...

Steve and Dan discuss the 9th lecture of Musonius Rufus, That Exile Is Not an Evil. Exile and banishment imposed by civil authorities is far less common in the 21st century than it was during the Roman Empire and Classical Greece. However, there are common situations where modern folks find themselves having to move away from the towns and cities where they grew up and have the strongest connectio...

Steve and Dan discuss the eighth lecture of Musonius Rufus - That Kings Also Should Study Philosophy. Musonius Rufus argued that Kings should study philosophy if they are interested in becoming a good king. Because how could someone be a good king, if they are not a good person? Ergo, since philosophy is the most sure way of cultivating Virtue, a good king is by necessity a philosopher. Although M...

Steve and Dan discuss the seventh lecture of Musonius Rufus - That One Should Disdain Hardships. They discuss how Musonius Rufus argues that when we see people willing to go to extraordinary lengths to acquire Externals, it should inspire us to go to similar lengths and take similar risks to develop what matters most - Virtue.

Steve and Dan discuss the sixth lecture of Musonius Rufus - On Training. In the previous lecture, Musonius Rufus argued that practice was more beneficial than studying theory for the cultivation of Virtue. In this lecture, Musonius Rufus describes what sort of training should be done by a Stoic practitioner. For example, Musonius Rufus divides training into two categories. The first category is fo...

Steve and Dan present an abbreviated version of Lecture 5, and discuss whether cultivating Virtue is best brought about through the study of theory, or putting basic philosophical principles into practice every day. Many people who study philosophy favor reading a great deal of philosophical theory and give little thought to practical application in life, for example, what is done in modern academ...

In this rebroadcast, we revisit the trial of Socrates—a pivotal moment in the history of Western civilization and a powerful influence on the Stoic tradition. Facing accusations, judgment, and ultimately death, Socrates offers an enduring example of courage, integrity, and commitment to principle.

Steve and Dan continue their journey through the lectures of Musonius Rufus. In this episode, they discuss Lecture 04, "Should Daughters Receive the Same Education as Sons." In Lecture 03, Musonius Rufus argued that women were equally capable as men in Reason and capacity to pursue Virtue. In Lecture 04, Musonius argued that women should receive the same philosophical education as men, a...

Steve and Dan continue the journey through the lectures of Musonius Rufus. This is the third lecture, "That Women Too Should Study Philosophy." In it, Musonius argues that women should study philosophy because, just like men, they have been gifted by Nature / God with Reason.

Steve and Dan discuss the second lecture of Musonius Rufus, That Humanity is Born with an Inclination Toward Virtue. Musonius Rufus argues that humanity is born with the seeds of Virtue present in the fiber of our being.

Steve and Dan discuss the first lecture of Musonius Rufus, "That There is No Need of Giving Many Proofs for One Problem." Musonius Rufus argues that rather than endless proofs of philosophical concepts, it is better to provide a few lucid and powerful proofs, enough to convince the student of the truth of the claims being presented. Musonius further argued that it is of the utmost import...

What makes a true friend? This week, Marcus Aurelius reminds us that we exist for one another, while Seneca argues that genuine friendship is an act of virtue—not a transaction based on convenience or personal gain. Join us as we explore what it means to become the kind of friend who remains loyal in hardship, gives without expecting a return, and helps strengthen the human hive. After all, the tr...

Steve and Dan discuss Seneca's Letter 95, "On the Usefulness of Basic Principles." Are precepts, rules and lists of do's and don'ts sufficient to live a good life? Or do we need doctrine, a philosophical framework through which you can evaluate every sense impression and develop an impulse to appropriate action? https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_...

Dan discusses how the contemplation of Cosmic Flux can reduce anxiety, put the importance of events into perspective, and help us break free from ruminations on the past and feelings of anxiety about the future. Also ... beavers!

This week on The Sunday Stoic , we're joined by Daniel Strain , founder of the Spiritual Naturalist Society and former Executive Director of the Society, for a thought-provoking conversation exploring the intersection of Stoicism , Spiritual Naturalism , Humanism , and Buddhism . Together we examine how these philosophical traditions can help us cultivate wisdom, compassion, resilience, and a...

Steve and Dan discuss Seneca's Letter 105, wherein Seneca has advice for how to lead a more tranquil life. Seneca describes how to minimize other people's envy, hatred, fear and contempt, so as to have a smooth flow of life.

Stoicism often gets a reputation for being stern and unyielding, but the ancient Stoics never intended us to become detached spectators of our own lives. Their goal was to help us engage more deeply with the world around us. In this episode, we talk about the importance of balancing philosophy with joy—getting out there, making memories, appreciating the people we love, and living a full and meani...

This week I’m revisiting a conversation with my former colleague Dr. Ben Waggoner, who joined me to explore his translation of the Hávamál . This Old Norse poem—preserved in medieval Iceland—offers a blend of practical wisdom, sharp observations about human nature, and guidance for living well. In our discussion, Ben walks us through the cultural background of the text, the challenges of translati...

In this episode, Dan discusses the Stoic Spiritual Exercise of Circumscribing the Present. Dan describes how Circumscribing the Present can: - Ensure we do not suffer more than is necessary, - Help us in moments when circumstances are threatening to overwhelm us, and - Help us to be more effective actors in the world while we are fulfilling our social roles through appropriate action. Dan also tou...

Steve and Dan discuss the Stoic practice of Voluntary Hardship (aka Voluntary Discomfort and Voluntary Suffering), which is physical discomfort that we choose to expose ourselves to for the purpose of improving ourselves.  Voluntary Hardship is implemented for practice in the Discipline of Desire & Aversion with a view to cultivating the Cardinal Virtues of Temperance and Courage. Examples of...

Steve and Dan discuss Diogenes the Dog (aka Diogenes of Sinope), who founded the Cynic movement, and was a precursor of the Stoic school. Some of the most important Stoic concepts come to Stoicism though Diogenes.  For example, Living According to Nature, Virtue is the Only Good, and Cosmopolitanism. Steve and Dan discuss their favorite Diogenes the Dog anecdotes, who was an undeniably shocking an...

In this episode, Steve and Dan discuss the Stoic concept of Amor Fati (Love Your Fate). They explore whether Amor Fati is tenable under different conceptions of Divine Providence.