Practical Stoicism

The Commitment To A Moral Life (Meditations 3.7)


Listen Later

In this episode, I explore Meditations 3.7, where Marcus Aurelius reminds us that nothing should take priority over Virtue. Many misunderstand Stoicism as a philosophy of detachment, resilience, and isolation, but in truth, it is profoundly prosocial. Being a Stoic means fulfilling our roles within the broader human community, not retreating from it. I challenge the popular but misguided idea of Stoicism as a philosophy for lone survivalists, demonstrating how its core teachings—from Zeno to Epictetus to Seneca—emphasize duty, justice, and engagement with the world. True Stoicism isn’t about turning inward; it’s about striving for moral excellence in every interaction.


“Never value as an advantage to yourself what will force you one day to break your word, to abandon self-respect, to hate, suspect, execrate another, to act a part, to covet anything that calls for walls or coverings to conceal it. A man who puts first his own mind and divinity, and the holy rites of its excellence, makes no scene, utters no groans, will need neither the refuge of solitude nor the crowded streets. What is most worthwhile, he will pass his days neither in pursuit nor in avoidance, and it is no concern at all of his whether the time be longer or shorter for which he shall have the use of the soul in its bodily envelope; for even if he must be released at once, he will depart as easily as he would perform any other act that can be done with reverence and sobriety, being careful all his life of this one thing alone: that his understanding be not found in any state which is foreign to a reasonable social being.” --(Meditations 3.7)


TAKEAWAYS


— The highest priority in Stoicism is the pursuit of Virtue—nothing should stand in its way.

— Stoicism is not a philosophy of detachment or isolation but of prosocial engagement and duty.

— A Stoic does not seek solitude or approval; they act justly regardless of external validation.


LINKS


— Get on the list: https://stoicismpod.com/list

— Go ad-free: https://stoicismpod.com/members

— Order my book: https://stoicismpod.com/book

— Source Text: https://stoicismpod.com/far

— Follow me on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/tannerocampbell.bsky.social

— Follow me on YouTube: https://stoicismpod.com/youtube

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Practical StoicismBy Evergreen Podcasts

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

594 ratings


More shows like Practical Stoicism

View all
The Art of Manliness by The Art of Manliness

The Art of Manliness

14,226 Listeners

Philosophize This! by Stephen West

Philosophize This!

15,040 Listeners

Making Sense with Sam Harris by Sam Harris

Making Sense with Sam Harris

26,348 Listeners

The One You Feed by Eric Zimmer

The One You Feed

2,513 Listeners

Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield by Be Here Now Network

Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield

1,446 Listeners

Philosophy For Our Times by IAI

Philosophy For Our Times

307 Listeners

SOLVED with Mark Manson by Mark Manson

SOLVED with Mark Manson

3,512 Listeners

Stoic Coffee Break by Erick Cloward

Stoic Coffee Break

370 Listeners

The Daily Stoic by Daily Stoic | Wondery

The Daily Stoic

4,749 Listeners

The Daily Dad by Daily Dad

The Daily Dad

571 Listeners

Stoicism for a Better Life by Anderson Silver

Stoicism for a Better Life

45 Listeners

Deep Questions with Cal Newport by Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

1,277 Listeners

The Stoic Handbook by Jon Brooks by Jon Brooks

The Stoic Handbook by Jon Brooks

96 Listeners

Alan Watts Being in the Way by Be Here Now Network / Love Serve Remember Foundation

Alan Watts Being in the Way

722 Listeners

The What Is Stoicism? Podcast by Allan John (What Is Stoicism?)

The What Is Stoicism? Podcast

87 Listeners