On Stoicism | The Art of Living Without Fear for Sleep
Sleepy Philosophy Radio
8,641 views
In the second century, a Roman emperor wrote private reflections never meant for publication. A tutor to Nero composed letters of consolation from exile. A former slave lectured students on the art of living free. Together, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus gave the world a philosophy that has endured for two thousand years.
This gentle, three-hour journey through ancient Stoic wisdom explores the teachings that shaped emperors and slaves alike. You will learn the dichotomy of control, the foundation of Stoic peace. You will discover the four cardinal virtues and the daily practices these philosophers used to cultivate them. You will hear passages from the Meditations, the Letters to Lucilius, and the Enchiridion, presented in a calm, contemplative style designed for restful listening.
Whether you are new to Stoicism or returning to these texts as old friends, let these timeless insights quiet your mind as you drift toward sleep.
Please listen only in safe, restful environments.
If this helped you rest, consider subscribing to Sleepy Philosophy Radio for more longform philosophy.
SUGGESTED READING
Reading the Philosophers Directly:
Meditations, Marcus Aurelius (trans. Martin Hammond, Penguin Classics): https://amzn.to/4rHs9vD
Letters from a Stoic, Seneca (trans. Robin Campbell, Penguin Classics): https://amzn.to/4bS6sDp
Discourses and Selected Writings, Epictetus (trans. Robert Dobbin, Penguin Classics): https://amzn.to/4lwkYFf
Secondary Literature:
The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Pierre Hadot (Harvard University Press): https://amzn.to/4bzehh1
A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy, William B. Irvine (Oxford University Press): https://amzn.to/4ds9LmR
WORKS CONSULTED:
Primary Sources:
Marcus Aurelius. Meditations. Translated by Gregory Hays. New York: Modern Library, 2006.
Seneca, Lucius Annaeus. Letters from a Stoic. Translated by Robin Campbell. London: Penguin Classics, 1969.
Seneca, Lucius Annaeus. Letters on Ethics: To Lucilius. Translated by Margaret Graver and A.A. Long. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2015.
Epictetus. Discourses and Selected Writings. Translated by Robert Dobbin. London: Penguin Classics, 2008.
Epictetus. The Enchiridion. Translated by Thomas Wentworth Higginson. Available at: https://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/ep...
Secondary Sources:
Hadot, Pierre. The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1998.
Long, A.A. Stoic Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
Sellars, John. Stoicism. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006.
Irvine, William. A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.
Robertson, Donald. How to Think Like a Roman Emperor. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2019.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. "Marcus Aurelius." https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ma...
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. "Seneca." https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/se...
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. "Epictetus." https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ep...
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. "Stoicism." https://iep.utm.edu/stoicism/
HASHTAGS:
#MarcusAurelius #Seneca #Epictetus #Stoicism #PhilosophyForSleep #SleepPhilosophy #Meditations #AncientWisdom #VirtueEthics #StoicPhilosophy #BedtimePhilosophy #PhilosophyPodcast #SleepyPhilosophy #DeepSleep #RelaxingPhilosophy
Music by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com/)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Tracks used: Anguish, Blue Feather, Evening Fall (Harp), Gregorian Chant, Heartbreaking, Lightless Dawn, Lone Harvest, Magic Forest, Mesmerize, Mourning Song, Oppressive Gloom, Promising Relationship, Quinn's Song: A New Man, Relent, Smoother Move, Sunset at Glengorm, Trio for Piano Cello and Clarinet, Wounded
4 Comments
On Stoicism | The Art of Living Without Fear for Sleep
Sleepy Philosophy Radio
8,641 views
In the second century, a Roman emperor wrote private reflections never meant for publication. A tutor to Nero composed letters of consolation from exile. A former slave lectured students on the art of living free. Together, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus gave the world a philosophy that has endured for two thousand years.
This gentle, three-hour journey through ancient Stoic wisdom explores the teachings that shaped emperors and slaves alike. You will learn the dichotomy of control, the foundation of Stoic peace. You will discover the four cardinal virtues and the daily practices these philosophers used to cultivate them. You will hear passages from the Meditations, the Letters to Lucilius, and the Enchiridion, presented in a calm, contemplative style designed for restful listening.
Whether you are new to Stoicism or returning to these texts as old friends, let these timeless insights quiet your mind as you drift toward sleep.
Please listen only in safe, restful environments.
If this helped you rest, consider subscribing to Sleepy Philosophy Radio for more longform philosophy.
SUGGESTED READING
Reading the Philosophers Directly:
Meditations, Marcus Aurelius (trans. Martin Hammond, Penguin Classics): https://amzn.to/4rHs9vD
Letters from a Stoic, Seneca (trans. Robin Campbell, Penguin Classics): https://amzn.to/4bS6sDp
Discourses and Selected Writings, Epictetus (trans. Robert Dobbin, Penguin Classics): https://amzn.to/4lwkYFf
Secondary Literature:
The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Pierre Hadot (Harvard University Press): https://amzn.to/4bzehh1
A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy, William B. Irvine (Oxford University Press): https://amzn.to/4ds9LmR
WORKS CONSULTED:
Primary Sources:
Marcus Aurelius. Meditations. Translated by Gregory Hays. New York: Modern Library, 2006.
Seneca, Lucius Annaeus. Letters from a Stoic. Translated by Robin Campbell. London: Penguin Classics, 1969.
Seneca, Lucius Annaeus. Letters on Ethics: To Lucilius. Translated by Margaret Graver and A.A. Long. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2015.
Epictetus. Discourses and Selected Writings. Translated by Robert Dobbin. London: Penguin Classics, 2008.
Epictetus. The Enchiridion. Translated by Thomas Wentworth Higginson. Available at: https://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/ep...
Secondary Sources:
Hadot, Pierre. The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1998.
Long, A.A. Stoic Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
Sellars, John. Stoicism. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006.
Irvine, William. A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.
Robertson, Donald. How to Think Like a Roman Emperor. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2019.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. "Marcus Aurelius." https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ma...
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. "Seneca." https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/se...
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. "Epictetus." https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ep...
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. "Stoicism." https://iep.utm.edu/stoicism/
HASHTAGS:
#MarcusAurelius #Seneca #Epictetus #Stoicism #PhilosophyForSleep #SleepPhilosophy #Meditations #AncientWisdom #VirtueEthics #StoicPhilosophy #BedtimePhilosophy #PhilosophyPodcast #SleepyPhilosophy #DeepSleep #RelaxingPhilosophy
Music by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com/)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Tracks used: Anguish, Blue Feather, Evening Fall (Harp), Gregorian Chant, Heartbreaking, Lightless Dawn, Lone Harvest, Magic Forest, Mesmerize, Mourning Song, Oppressive Gloom, Promising Relationship, Quinn's Song: A New Man, Relent, Smoother Move, Sunset at Glengorm, Trio for Piano Cello and Clarinet, Wounded
What philosophy topics would you like to hear about next? Maybe Plato, Aristotle, Buddhism, or something else? And if you have any suggestions for the videos - like adding soft background music, changing the narration style, or anything else that would make them better for falling asleep - please let me know in the comments below.
I really want to make these videos as relaxing and helpful as possible, so your feedback means everything. Sweet dreams and see you in the next one!