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

2021
1 Season

Think like a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World is a thought-provoking and informative show crafted by the team at The Great Courses Signature Collection. The program, which is hosted by award-winning lecturer and professor of philosophy, Ward Farnsworth, offers a unique perspective on how studying the ancient philosophy of the Stoics can help us navigate the complexities of modern life.

The show's premise is centered around the idea that, as humans, we all want to live fulfilling lives that are full of meaning and purpose. However, in today's fast-paced and often chaotic world, it can be challenging to find a sense of direction and balance. This is where the Stoic philosophy comes in. As Farnsworth explains, the Stoics believed that the key to a happy life was to cultivate inner peace, self-discipline, and rational thinking. They believed that by focusing on what is within our control and accepting what is not, we can live a life of meaning and tranquility.

To help viewers understand the Stoic philosophy and its relevance to modern life, the show is structured around ten core concepts. Each episode explores a different theme, such as "The Dichotomy of Control," "Virtue and Vice," and "The Ethics of Emotions." Farnsworth uses a combination of engaging lectures, real-life examples, and ancient Stoic texts to bring these concepts to life and show how they can be applied to everyday situations.

One of the standout features of the show is Farnsworth's ability to make complex philosophical ideas accessible and relatable. He uses clear language and simple examples to help viewers understand even the most abstract concepts. For example, in the episode on "The Art of Letting Go," he uses the analogy of an archer aiming for a target to explain how we can best approach the things in life that are outside of our control. By breaking down these concepts in a way that is easy to understand, Farnsworth makes the Stoic philosophy approachable and applicable to anyone, regardless of their background or level of philosophical training.

Another strength of the show is its use of real-life examples to illustrate the Stoic principles in action. Throughout the series, Farnsworth draws on examples from history, literature, and current events to show how the Stoic philosophy can help us deal with challenges and dilemmas in our lives. For example, in the episode on "The Ethics of Emotions," he uses the story of Socrates' death to illustrate how the Stoics believed that it is not our emotions that determine our happiness, but rather our judgments about those emotions. By using these examples, Farnsworth brings the Stoic philosophy to life and shows how it can be applied to real-world situations.

Overall, Think like a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World is an engaging and informative series that offers a fresh perspective on how we can live more fulfilling lives. Whether you are new to philosophy or a seasoned student of the subject, this show is sure to challenge and inspire you. Through Farnsworth's insightful lectures and practical examples, you will come away with a deeper understanding of the Stoic philosophy and its relevance to modern life.

Think like a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World is a series that ran for 1 seasons (25 episodes) between March 26, 2021 and on The Great Courses Signature Collection

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Seasons

25. Four Family Problems and Stoic Solutions

March 26, 2021

In this final episode, 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?

24. Stoicism for Everyday Life

March 26, 2021

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.

23. Misusing and Misunderstanding Stoicism

March 26, 2021

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.

22. How Stoics Bear Responsibility and Conflict

March 26, 2021

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.

21. Drawing Inspiration from Stoic Role Models

March 26, 2021

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.

20. From Stoic Self-Mastery to Cosmopolitanism

March 26, 2021

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.

19. Marcus Aurelius on Managing Turmoil

March 26, 2021

How can we best practice Stoicism during times of turmoil in our lives? This episode 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.

18. Marcus Aurelius, Virtue, and the Vineyard

March 26, 2021

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.

17. Marcus Aurelius on Being Thankful

March 26, 2021

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."

16. A Manual for the Good Life: The Enchiridion

March 26, 2021

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.

15. Epictetus on How to Be Free

March 26, 2021

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 episode focuses on the fourth and last surviving book of the collected teachings of Epictetus.

14. Epictetus on Desire, Action, and Judgment

March 26, 2021

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.

13. Epictetus on Overcoming Fear

March 26, 2021

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?

12. Epictetus on the Importance of Reason

March 26, 2021

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.

11. Seneca on Grief and Distress

March 26, 2021

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.

10. Seneca on Anger Management

March 26, 2021

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.

9. Seneca's Letters to Lucilius

March 26, 2021

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.

8. The Stoics on Decision-Making

March 26, 2021

According to Epictetus, the discipline of assent, concerned with arriving at correct judgments, is the most difficult to master. Exercises in this episode 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.

7. The Stoics on Interacting with Others

March 26, 2021

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.

6. The Stoics on Desire and Discipline

March 26, 2021

In the first of three episodes 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.

5. Using Stoic Ethics to Achieve Happiness

March 26, 2021

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?

4. How Stoics Understand Providence

March 26, 2021

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.

3. The Stoic Garden: Physics, Ethics, Logic

March 26, 2021

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.

2. Stoicism from Heraclitus to Thoreau

March 26, 2021

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.

1. How to Live like a Stoic Sage

March 26, 2021

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. #Music, Philosophy & Religion

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

Think like a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World is available for streaming on the The Great Courses Signature Collection website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Think like a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World on demand at Apple TV Channels, Amazon Prime, Amazon and Hoopla.