Sadler's Lectures

This lecture discusses key ideas from the modern Epicurean and freethinker philosopher, courtesan, and writer Ninon de l'Enclos' Letters to Marquis de Sévigné, a work whose authenticity scholarship is divided upon, but which certainly seems reflective of her viewpoints.

Specifically, it discusses a matter that arises early in the letters. The marquis complains that he has not found adult life as enjoyable or sayisfying as he had hoped, and l'Enclos tells him that this is because his heart will remain restless and uneasy until it is filled with the love that, at his age, nature intends for him to feel. She suggests to him that love is an inclination that we can and should manage well so that it does not become a passion. She outlines two mistaken ways to go in making love to sublime, one of which is to subject love to reason, which will inevitably erode it, the other of which is to model oneself after heroic loves of the past and of fiction, which will land one in a frenzy. Her advice is to seek out amusement in love, through romantic involvements.

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This lecture discusses key ideas from the modern Epicurean and freethinker philosopher, courtesan, and writer Ninon de l'Enclos' Letters to Marquis de Sévigné, a work whose authenticity scholarship is divided upon, but which certainly seems reflective of her viewpoints.

Specifically, it discusses her articulation of the general approach that she adopts in her letters to the younger marquis, providing him with an education about love, romance, desire, and sexuality, or in her terms "a course in morals", which is oriented by "gallantry". She aims to be very realistic about the complex nature of the human heart, and about romantic and sexual relationships, desire, and pleasure.

Get Ninon de l'Enclos' Letters to Marquis de Sévigné - https://link.amazon/B0i1mwLWN

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 4000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th century philosopher, novelist, and essayist Albert Camus' short essay "The Enigma", in which he provides some needed discussion of what his attitude towards the absurd, despair, nihilism, and the lack of meaning really are. He notes that many authors and other artists end up not being read or engaged in their works by many of the people who talk about them, but rather turned into something like a public persona by journalists. Camus clarifies that there is no real possibility of an absolute despair or complete nihilism, and that his interest in the absurd was not to be an advocate or representative for it, but rather a lucid explorer of it.

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 4000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus' Lecture 14, in which he discusses a perennially debated question, whether or not marriage is an impediment or hindrance for engaging in philosophy. In his view, marriage definitely is not an impediment, and he mentions examples of philosophers who were indeed married. He also provides several other arguments, one of which is that the philosopher is a teacher and guide for human beings in what is in accordance with nature, and marriage is clearly something that is aligned with our human nature. He also discusses marriage and the household as an integral part of our social nature and the political community

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 4000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus' Lecture 13, in which he discusses what the main or most important aspect of marriage is. The first thing he identifies is coming together for two purposes, a shared life and the generation of children. The latter turns out not to be quite so central, however, given that human beings do that as well outside of marriage, as do all other animals. The shared life ought to include sharing everything in common, including one's own body, with one's spouse, and mutual care or concern for each other as well.

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 4000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus' Lecture 12, in which he discusses the attitude a virtuous person will adopt towards sexual matters (aphrodisia), translated by Lutz as "sexual indulgence". For Musonius, the need for many varied objects of sexual desire is a sign of weakness and luxury, adultery is a very serious vice, and male-male sexual relationships are contrary to nature. In his view, the proper use and indulgence of sexual activity is within the framework of marriage, with the aim of producing children, rather than merely seeking pleasure.

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 4000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus' Lecture 8, in which he sets out reasons why a person in a position of rulership or authority (specifically a king), ought to study philosophy. For a ruler developing and using the cardinal virtues of wisdom, justice, temperance, and courage will be of paramount importance

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 4000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus' Lecture 4, in which, addressing the question whether daughters should be given the same education as sons are, he makes several important points. The first is the answer to the question, namely Yes of course male and female ought to receive the same education, since they are both human beings, and as with other animals, both male and female of the species have the same functions and excellence, which requires the same training.

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 4000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus' Lecture 3, in which he addresses the question whether women just as much as men ought to study and practice philosophy, to which his answer is "Yes, of course". He then provides reasons for this, starting with the fact that women and men as human beings share the same capacities, which they ought to rightly cultivate. He then goes on to consider each of the four cardinal virtues, noting why women as well as men need to develop these virtues. Considering one possible objection, likely raised at his time, that studying philosophy makes women arrogant and neglectful of their duties, Musonius points out that this is really a matter of studying the wrong sort of philosophy, or studying philosophy in a merely theoretical manner without practical application

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 4000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus' Lecture 2, in which he argues that human beings have an innate inclination towards virtue and even the "seeds of virtue" within them. He uses several lines of argument. The fact that certain lines of conduct are required or prohibited shows an assumption that people are responsible for developing and displaying virtue. As opposed to other types of skill or knowledge, where we don't hold people accountable for not knowing them, that of living well is one we do. When we ask people whether they have virtues or vices, they typically claim that they have the virtues, even without a teacher, study, or training.

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 4000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler