Massimo Pigliucci discusses stoicism, its applicability to the world of modern politics, and even the possibility of ghosts existing.
What would Marcus Aurelius think of the modern political climate?
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We tend to think of Stoicism as a philosophy of passive resignation - but Massimo Pigliucci argues that true agency requires recognising both the limits of our power and knowledge. For Pigliucci, the Stoic dichotomy of control does not breed political helplessness, but actually equips us to combat systemic issues like climate change by focusing our energy on actionable steps.
#philosophy #stoicism #politics #marcusaurelius
Massimo Pigliucci is a philosopher of science, biologist, and one of the world’s most prominent advocates for modern Stoicism. Born in Italy, he holds PhDs in both biology (University of Connecticut) and philosophy (University of Tennessee), and has authored numerous books that explore the interface between science, ethics, and reason. He is currently Professor of Philosophy at City College of New York, where he specializes in philosophy of science and practical ethics.
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00:00 Ancient philosophy for modern problems
00:44 What connects your interests across evolutionary biology, Stoic philosophy, and debunking the paranormal.
02:11 What aspects of Stoicism helped with your mid-life crisis?
03:05 Is there a risk that Stoicism’s “Dichotomy of Control” could reinforce political helplessness in the modern era?
06:34 How does the “Dichotomy of Control” apply to climate change activism, especially in the face of resistance from powerful corporations?
07:48 How has your work debunking pseudoscience changed during the post-truth era?
11:42 Since the pandemic, have you noticed changes in how you relate to other people in the marketplace of ideas?
13:26 What have been your favourite disagreements with other academics?
16:32 Is there any good evidence for the existence of ghosts?
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