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Rated 4 out of 5 by Jonathan Baron from Excellent Except For the Political Messages An outstanding, comprehensive, and accessible examination of the philosophy of Stoicism. And it would be a five-star course except for the bizarre and unnecessary insertion of contemporary politics. In fairness to Dr. Pigliucci, he's a current professor at a prominent university in the United States. Hence his insertion of "she" as a generic indefinite pronoun rather than "he" when the latter has been out of use for half a century. If using "he" as a generic pronoun is wrong, is "she" therefore correct? No. Is using a stock photo of two women to signify a couple more enlightened? Are stock photos emphasizing racial and ethnic diversity even applicable to the subject? Does this represent Stoic thinking? Not in my view. It's both distracting and unnecessary. Stock photos of any sort are always a bad idea and politics has no place in a serious course on philosophy. But I'd still highly recommend this course.

Date published: 2025-05-04

Rated 4 out of 5 by RGold from Good Intro to Stoicism, But Imperfect I enjoyed Dr. Piglucci's course as a good introduction to the crux of Stoicism. It presented the context as a reaction against other Ancient philosophies (Epicureanism and Cynicism). It attempted to highlight the main points from the main texts from the three great Roman thinkers of Stoicism--Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus and Seneca. I chose to watch this course after my first reading of The Meditations, the most famous text from them. I appreciated the Professor's seriousness with the subject material--he is modern practitioner of this ancient philosophy. And has shared with us some of the ways he has adapted a good deal of applications about how to apply it to our modern world. However, this course is far from perfect--It cannot hold a candle to Robert Solomon's Existentialism course, for example. 1) Too much repetition: Sometimes, Dr. Piglucci explicates an idea with the same quotation he used earlier in the course. This is annoying and superfluous. The concept of "cosmopolitanism" is repeated and repeated. 2) Using Spiderman, a comic book hero, as an exemplar of Stoicism was laughable. 3) The section which questions the authenticity of modern billionaires (Buffet, Bezos, Gates) as living exemplars of stoicism was also dubious and a bit silly, since we are not able to get into the heads of these famous men. (It seems a bit anti-stoical to be judging others.The basic point of Stoical philosophy is to be responsible for one's own actions, not to be too concerned with what others think or do.) So, I think this course would be more intellectually engaging if it was re-edited with some parts removed. Dr. Piglucci comes into stoicism from the perceptive of a modern scientist. However, His attempts to marry Stoicism with Modern Science has philosophical contradictions--The stoical universe is place where everything has a purpose. If one reads Marcus Aurelius, one can see that he is deeply religious man. The Professor spends a little time on these metaphysical issues in an early lecture, but his attempts to justify stoicism from the background of modern science, was short and unconvincing.

Date published: 2025-04-17

Rated 5 out of 5 by B Ford from Thanks for this course Thank you very much for making this course! It falls into one of my favorite categories of Great Courses: the kind that can inspire the audience with renewed interest to pursue the topic in more depth. While a populace that strives for virtue clearly benefits a society, stoicism avoids the pitfalls of utilitarian reasoning such as the end justifies the means in whatever benefits the majority. The philosophy of stoicim also benefits individual practitioners by containing so much wisdom it leads to a calmer, happier, more peaceful life.

Date published: 2025-01-02

Rated 5 out of 5 by rosa24 from Excellent I believe to learn more about this excellent program, I have to watch it again. There are lot information for me to learn and practice. I will try every day to put in practice what I learn today. Thank you very much to the professor Mr. Massimo for his excellent work

Date published: 2024-06-04

Rated 3 out of 5 by dale331331 from heavy accent This course sounds like it would be interesting. When I moved from New Jersey to the mountains of southern Virginia it seemed some of the people were speaking another language. Their Appalachian accent made it sound to me as though they had marbles in their mouth and I had to guess what they were saying. I think this lecturer said he was raised in Italy and his accent is thick and heavy. Good luck understanding what he is saying.

Date published: 2024-04-17

Rated 4 out of 5 by DaGeek from I May Watch Again First a couple caveats. Professor Massimo Pigliucci has a bit of an accent, but after a few minutes it became a non-issue. Truthfully, his English, grammatically and idiomatically, is better than my particular Southern dialect. Second caveat: This is not a casual watch. Some Wondrium courses can be watched without devoting 100 percent of your attention to them. This is not one of them. The professor makes you think. I have had very little exposure to the philosophy of Stoicism. As he stated, I thought it was about keeping a stiff upper lip. I had read Marcus Aurelius’ ”Meditations”. If I were being honest I did not get a lot out of it. I am going to go back and reread it after this. I also have the urge to read the other Stoic philosophers presented in this course. Professor Pigliucci does a wonderful job presenting the various foundational Stoics. He presents a lot of their quotes or passages from their works that he then dissects to point of easy understanding. I have more familiarity with Buddhism. As I watched the course, I keep thinking about the similarities of the two philosophical approaches to life. This was a point he reinforced towards the end of the units. If I have a gripe it is that at times he was a bit redundant, presenting the same passage/quote multiple times over the 25 units. My other vague gripe is that the final unit on applying Stoicism to everyday life did not quite do it for me. He presented in a Dear Abbey style format that seemed a bit strange. All in all a very good course that I enjoyed. I may let it settle a while and go back and watch it again. There is a lot of meat on this bone, and will take a couple passes to digest it all.

Date published: 2024-02-17

Rated 5 out of 5 by Arete Moment to moment from Amazing! I have read many books on Stoicism and already knew some of the details, but this program offered so much that I was not aware of. The speaker, Massimo is excellent and well spoken. Highly recommended.

Date published: 2023-12-22

Rated 4 out of 5 by Jetwoman1000 from Interesting Like many Wondrium and Great Courses lectures, as a woman I often feel left out as women have been rendered invisible through much of recorded history and as I listen, I often wonder how different some of our views might be. But history has deemed our thoughts and lives as barely important as opposed to the great thinkers, ie: men's take on reality and how they rule the world. How well has it worked in the world, all this pontificating on virtuous life? I think the lecturer is knowledgeable and as an avid learner and thinker, I am always hungry for wisdom. But.......our world is so much poorer for the way women have been relegated to inferiority to bolster the superiority of male thought, male rule, male pontificating. I supposed some of you who read this review, if you read it, will label me some disparaging term so as to dismiss me and the ideas of women. So be it. I cannot change your perspective. Only you can. So I will continue to listen to Wondrium and the Great Courses but with some frustration and sadness.

Date published: 2023-10-13

Think like a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World

Trailer

01: How to Live like a Stoic Sage

Start 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.

29 min

02: Stoicism from Heraclitus to Thoreau

How 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.

28 min

03: The Stoic Garden: Physics, Ethics, Logic

The 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.

26 min

04: How Stoics Understand Providence

Stoics’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.

27 min

05: Using Stoic Ethics to Achieve Happiness

In 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?

27 min

06: The Stoics on Desire and Discipline

In 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.

25 min

07: The Stoics on Interacting with Others

Human 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.

24 min

08: The Stoics on Decision-Making

According 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.

25 min

09: Seneca’s Letters to Lucilius

Explore 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.

27 min

10: Seneca on Anger Management

First, 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.

27 min

11: Seneca on Grief and Distress

One 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.

26 min

12: Epictetus on the Importance of Reason

Epictetus 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.

26 min

13: Epictetus on Overcoming Fear

Take 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?

26 min

14: Epictetus on Desire, Action, and Judgment

Epictetus 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.

25 min

15: Epictetus on How to Be Free

According 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.

28 min

16: A Manual for the Good Life: The Enchiridion

Epictetus 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.

28 min

17: Marcus Aurelius on Being Thankful

Marcus 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.”

28 min

18: Marcus Aurelius, Virtue, and the Vineyard

Now, 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.

28 min

19: Marcus Aurelius on Managing Turmoil

How 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.

27 min

20: From Stoic Self-Mastery to Cosmopolitanism

What 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.

27 min

21: Drawing Inspiration from Stoic Role Models

Role 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.

28 min

22: How Stoics Bear Responsibility and Conflict

We 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.

29 min

23: Misusing and Misunderstanding Stoicism

Do 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.

29 min

24: Stoicism for Everyday Life

Why 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.

30 min

25: Four Family Problems and Stoic Solutions

In 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?

19 min

Overview Course No. 5030

Distilled to its essence, the ancient Greco-Roman philosophy known as Stoicism is a philosophy of personal betterment. Professor Pigliucci, who knows first-hand just how transformative a Stoic approach to life can be, has designed these 25 lessons as an enlightening introduction to the basics of Stoic philosophy and ways to incorporate its lessons into your own life.

For example, the Stoic understanding of ethics was far broader than the study of right and wrong, encompassing questions concerning one’s goals and one’s relationship to other people. Also, the Stoics felt that logic was another requirement of a well-lived life, because good thinking helps protect us from living according to nonsensical notions.

Throughout the course, you’ll investigate what these great philosophers’ words and deeds can teach us about living life in the 21st century. What does Seneca tell us about managing our time in the best way possible? Why did Epictetus suggest to debate patiently with disagreeable people? Can Marcus Aurelius’s philosophy of being mindful of the labels we give ourselves help make the world a better place?

This course includes plenty of exercises you can use to retrain your mind to take on a more Stoic view of your life and the world around you. Yes, you’ll come away with an incredible wealth of knowledge about the history and principles of one of the most enduring philosophies of life—but you’ll also be on your way to a more meaningful life for yourself.

About

Massimo Pigliucci

I would like to invite you to join me on an engaging journey to discover the heart of stoicism, one of the most fascinating and eye-opening philosophies you can study.

ALMA MATER

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

INSTITUTION

The City University of New York

Massimo Pigliucci is the K. D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at The City University of New York. He received a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, and he has been interviewed by numerous national and international media outlets. His books include The Quest for Character, How to Be a Stoic, and Nonsense on Stilts. He also produces a podcast called Practical Wisdom.