Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

In this conversation, Michael Tremblay speaks with Gordon Marino. Gordon is a professor of philosophy at St. Olaf's College and a specialist in existentialism.

In this conversation, they speak about existentialism and in particular the work of Kierkegaard. They discuss the idea of authenticity and human's capacity for self-deception. Towards the end of the podcast, Gordon's experience as a boxing coach and how his athletic journey relates to existentialism.

This podcast will of value to anyone who wants to learn more about approaches to philosophy as a way of life that differ from Stoicism.

Gordon on Twitter

(01:41) What Is Existentialism?

(04:37) Authenticity

(08:26) Emotions in Existentialism

(12:18) How Should We Live?

(14:07) Wait - Who Is Kierkegaard?

(25:48) The Role of Faith

(30:16) Obedience

(30:54) Sport and Coaching

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Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: https://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

In this episode, Caleb and Michael discuss the Socrates and the Socratic method.

The Socratic method is the core philosophical technique. So, it's essential to understand.

Caleb and Michael start start by giving an initial background on Socrates and then move to discussing the strengths and risks of Socratic questioning.

(01:28) Introduction

(04:17) Who Was Socrates?

(12:13) Socrate’s Historical Impact

(14:31) The Socratic Method

(29:35) The Method As A Tool of Ethical Improvement

(39:25) Pros of the Socratic Method

(48:59) The Risks of the Socratic Method

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

This conversation will help you think more deeply about the nature of  rhetoric.

Caleb Ontiveros speaks with the political scientist Rob Goodman. You may recognize his name from the book Rome’s Last Citizen, which he wrote with past Stoa Conversations guest, Jimmy Soni. He's also the author of Words on Fire: Eloquence and Its Conditions.

We discuss ancient Romans, current politics, risk, and rhetoric.

(02:03) Introduction

(03:56) Who was Cicero?

(07:00) Cicero & Cato the Younger

(19:53) Rhetoric

(29:50) Responsibilities of the Audience

(32:57) Politics as Spectators

(36:43) Politics as Conflict

(39:13) Why Rome?

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Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

In this conversation, Michael and Caleb discuss Ryan Holiday’s book The Obstacle Is the Way. They cover the good, bad, and provocative.

Both argue that it’s practically inspiring even if philosophically shallow. Michael argues that in a real sense, it’s not a Stoic book. Caleb pushes back – a little.

(05:30) Protreptic Philosophy

(11:44) The Necessity of Popularization

(14:35) Stoicism as An Operating System

(19:00) Motivational Power

(22:01) Shallow Stoicism

(31:16) Holiday Didn't Understand Stoicism

(33:32) Muddling Through Stoic Theory

(41:38) The Cognitive Theory of Emotions

(47:03) The Spiritual Aspect of Stoicism

(48:54) 3 Disciplines

(53:43) Meditations 5 20

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Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

What is happiness?

In this discussion, Caleb speaks with Marcus Hedahl, a philosophy professor at the US naval academy.

They discuss happiness, its subjective versus objective nature, the meaning of life, what we can and can't reframe, and much more.

It's an excellent conversation for understanding Stoicism, beginning with its account of happiness.

(09:59) The Nature of Happiness

(13:57) Is Happiness Something One Can Search For?

(22:43) The Happiest Person Marcus Knows

(26:36) The Stoic View of Harm

(29:11) Stoics Do Not Judge

(43:08) Is A Longer Life Better?

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Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: https://www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

Are things really right or wrong? Is morality objective?

In this conversation, Caleb gives three arguments for thinking that it is. Michael questions each one. Along the way, they discuss the Stoic response to skepticism, why this issue matters, and how the ancient Stoics grounded their picture of the good life.

(06:51) What is Moral Realism?

(16:12) The Argument from Intuition

(26:47) The Argument from Practical Reason

(40:12) Epistemic Realism

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Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

In this conversation, Michael Tremblay speaks to David Fideler about Seneca. They cover how the Stoic philosopher provided valuable guidance for how to live today. David’s book Breakfast with Seneca serves as the launching point for the discussion.

(03:04) Facing the Mob

(09:06) Cosmopolitanism

(20:03) Authenticity

(24:42) Confronting Death

(29:21) Experiencing Grief

(34:25) Cosmic Gratitude

(41:28) Deep vs Shallow Stoicism

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Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

One of the best ways to understand what Stoicism is and contemporary  Stoic debates is learning about Aristo of Chios.

Today, we’re having debates over the place of physics and logic in Stoicism and the place of Stoic advice today. Well, Aristo challenged the Stoics on these issues hundred of years ago.

In this episode, Michael and Caleb talk about what he had to say, how the orthodox Stoics responded, and what they have to say about the issues themselves.

(02:12) Introduction

(09:17) The Rejection of Logic and Physics

(18:50) Rejecting Preferred Indifferents

(32:20) Rejecting Precepts

Related episodes

Conversation on Traditional Stoicism with Chris Fisher
Conversation with Massimo Pigliucci
Conversation on Six Stoicisms

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Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

In this episode, Caleb speaks with Hampus Jakobsson. Hampus is a venture capitalist and serial entrepreneur. He is currently a general partner at Pale Blue Dot.

We talk about Stoicism and entrepreneurship. It’s a practical discussion centering on how to use Stoicism as a tool to accomplish your goals. You’ll get a number of tactics you can use to solve problems, build habits, and hear how a leading investor and entrepreneur thinks.

 https://hajak.se/

(00:36) Hampus on Stoicism

(03:47) Playing A Single Player Game

(07:35) Identity

(11:48) What's Holding You Back

(14:24) Identity

(21:43) Caring What Other's Think

(28:50) Quitting

(36:31) Misconceptions About Companies

(43:56) Role Models

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Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

Want to become more Stoic? Join us and other Stoics this October: Stoicism Applied by Caleb Ontiveros and Michael Tremblay on Maven

In this episode, Michael and Caleb review Jordan Peterson’s book 12 Rules for Life.

We each pick out 1 idea we believe is true, 1 false, and 1 provocative. There’s a lot to say about this controversial book. Both of us think it has a number of life-changing lessons, but also gets important things wrong.

(04:29) Hierarchy and Feedback Loops

(15:49) Tell the Truth

(23:55) Clean More Than Your Room

(36:03) Too Much Freud

(45:25) The Centrality of Myth

(56:49) Sacrifice

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Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/