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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.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Practical applications of Stoic virtue ethics • justice vs legality • moral progress with difficult people • rational choice, consent, harm • environment and habits • avoiding groupthink and unhealthy crowds • character-focused self-examinationThis podcast presents Stoicism as a lived ethical practice aimed at moral progress rather than emotional suppression, toughness, or self-help “life hacks.” Guided by contemporary commentary and close readings of classical sources such as Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Musonius Rufus, it focuses on what the Stoics meant by virtue (aretê), practical wisdom, justice, temperance, and courage, and how those ideas can be applied in modern life.
Across the episodes, the emphasis is on making clear, responsible choices under real-world constraints. Discussions often center on how Stoicism evaluates actions not by taboo or purity rules, but by whether choices are rational, freely made, and consistent with justice and non-harm. Ethical reasoning is applied to sensitive and contested areas of everyday life, including sex, power, consent, coercion, and personal responsibility, with attention to how repeated choices shape character over time.
A recurring theme is Stoicism’s pro-social orientation. The podcast examines how to relate to other people—especially difficult or morally flawed people—without dehumanizing them, and how to reduce resentment by treating wrongdoing as rooted in ignorance about good and evil. It also explores the influence of social environments: how crowds, groupthink, and communities can quietly erode self-control, reinforce vice, or contribute to relapse, and how seeking better surroundings can be part of a Stoic obligation rather than a failure of resilience.
Another consistent concern is the difference between legality, compliance, and justice. The podcast argues that Stoicism does not require blind obedience to leaders or laws, and it considers what rational engagement and courageous action look like when institutions or authority conflict with fairness. Throughout, the perspective is that few situations come with simple rules; instead, Stoicism offers a framework for disciplined self-examination, ethical clarity, and steady improvement in how one judges, chooses, and acts.
| Episodes: |
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🏛️ The Marcus Aurelius Fan Club [Special Edition] 2026-Feb-13 89 minutes |
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Zeno vs. Aristo on Indifferent Things 2026-Feb-08 12 minutes |
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Is Sex Work Un-Stoic? 2026-Feb-01 19 minutes |
Stoicism Is Not Compliance Nor Blind Obedience2026-Jan-25 22 minutes |
Toxic Soil2026-Jan-19 10 minutes |
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Seneca: Avoiding Crowds and Group Think 2026-Jan-11 22 minutes |
✅ 2026 Audience Survey2026-Jan-07 2 minutes |
Difficult People and Moral Progress2026-Jan-05 21 minutes |
Trailer [Updated January 2026]2026-Jan-03 5 minutes |
Where have all the episodes gone? [Welcome to Practical Stoicism 2026]2026-Jan-03 10 minutes |