Second, Stoicism originated and became popular - back during the Hellenistic period - at a time of turmoil, where society was changing in dramatic ways, and people felt they had no control over what was happening.

So it is no surprise that at a time when mainstream religion is losing its appeal people turn to secular or at least theologically neutral approaches to living a good life. Someone should do a sociology thesis on this! My guess is that it has to do with a combination of factors.įirst off, Stoicism is a solid philosophy of life, analogous to, say, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. Why do you think Stoicism is proving so popular? It’s over four years since I interviewed you about Stoicism, and there have been quite a few new books published on this topic since then. Foreign Policy & International Relations.He has published 180 technical papers on science and philosophy and is author of the bestselling How to Be A Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life, as well as Nonsense on Stilts, and A Field Guide to a Happy Life. Professor Pigliucci has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology and also a PhD in Philosophy. If you’re serious about starting or deepening your meditation practice, check out the FitMind meditation app. Practices for enhancing daily life using Stoic wisdom How cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was inspired, in part, by Stoicism We go in-depth on Stoicism, what it is, and how to apply it in everyday life.Įveryone has a philosophy of life have you given any thought to yours or are you living one by default?

That’s a classic stoic way of thinking, and we’ll unpack more in this episode. Realize this, and you will find strength.' The stoic philosophy, originating in Greece over two millennia ago, is all about how to live a good life, finding happiness by training your mind.įor example, famous stoic and Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius said, 'You have power over your mind, not outside events. Massimo Pigliucci, PhD is a Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York, former co-host of the Rationally Speaking Podcast, and one of the most influential modern Stoics. You can also listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or any other major podcast platform.

Massimo pigliucci how to be a stoic