Stoicism is the pursuit of Virtue (Aretê), which was defined by the Ancient Greeks as "the knowledge of how to live excellently," Stoicism is a holistic life philosophy meant to guide us towards the attainment of this knowledge through the development of our character. While many other Stoicism podcasts focus on explaining Ancient Stoicism in an academic or historical context, Practical Stoicism strives to port the ancient wisdom of this 2300-plus-year-old Greek Philosophy into contemporary times to provide practical advice for living today, not two millennia ago. Join American philosopher of Stoicism Tanner Campbell, every Monday and Friday, for new episodes.
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Stoicism is the pursuit of Virtue (Aretê), which was defined by the Ancient Greeks as "the knowledge of how to live excellently," Stoicism is a holistic life philosophy meant to guide us towards the attainment of this knowledge through the development of our character. While many other Stoicism podcasts focus on explaining Ancient Stoicism in an academic or historical context, Practical Stoicism strives to port the ancient wisdom of this 2300-plus-year-old Greek Philosophy into contemporary times to provide practical advice for living today, not two millennia ago. Join American philosopher of Stoicism Tanner Campbell, every Monday and Friday, for new episodes.
In this episode I sit down with philosopher and author Massimo Pigliucci to talk about his book Beyond Stoicism—and why, in his view, no single philosophy can capture everything it means to live well. We dive into the limits of ancient Stoicism, what modern life can borrow from other Greco-Roman schools, and how practices like skepticism, tempered hedonism, and transcendence can enrich our pursuit of virtue today.
Key takeaways from this episode include:
— Stoicism was born from synthesis, and Seneca himself urged students to “scout” wisdom wherever it’s found.
— A plural, evolving philosophy of life may serve human nature better than rigid allegiance to one school.
— A balanced life draws on Stoic eudaimonia, Epicurean moderation, and skeptical humility.
— Temperance, especially with pleasures like food, drink, and social media, is essential—sometimes the Stoic move is total abstention until self-mastery returns.
— The Epicurean cure for the fear of death (“when death is, we are not”) remains one of the most rational and freeing insights in philosophy.
— Reconnecting with nature, exercising logic and critical thinking, and cultivating moments of awe are timeless practices for a flourishing life.
— Massimo’s forthcoming book How to Be a Happy Skeptic (Penguin/Random House, June 2026) explores Cicero’s life and the Stoic-skeptical blend as a model for thoughtful living today.
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Practical Stoicism
Stoicism is the pursuit of Virtue (Aretê), which was defined by the Ancient Greeks as "the knowledge of how to live excellently," Stoicism is a holistic life philosophy meant to guide us towards the attainment of this knowledge through the development of our character. While many other Stoicism podcasts focus on explaining Ancient Stoicism in an academic or historical context, Practical Stoicism strives to port the ancient wisdom of this 2300-plus-year-old Greek Philosophy into contemporary times to provide practical advice for living today, not two millennia ago. Join American philosopher of Stoicism Tanner Campbell, every Monday and Friday, for new episodes.
