The Stoic Life | Ep. 42

Philosophy isn't an abstract academic subject: it's a way of life. After lots of requests, Spencer Klavan sits down in this episode of "Young Heretics" to talk through the Hellenistic philosophical schools of ancient Athens, starting with Stoicism—its roots in Greece, its encounter with Christianity, and what it has to say for us today.

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Piloted by its Oxford-educated host Spencer Klavan, Young Heretics explores the concepts of truth, beauty, and everything that makes Western culture great in the face of an increasingly hostile academia, media, and culture. Young Heretics provides an open forum for exploring, understanding, and enjoying the great works of Western literature.

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[magoose]

You remind me so much of your father! The way your words flow and cadence (I think that’s the right word) and you are both very intelligent and kind hearted. Glad he had you on his show and led me here. Love the videos.

[Kampfender_Krieger]

This content is top notch. One of the best videos I have ever seen.

[SheepDogDaddyUSA]

Love your channel Spencer. I share it with my 22 yo son in a hope he’ll be influenced by the lessons of a classicist like yourself.

[mitchellbogatz]

44:14: To say that Stoicism doesn't work because one person gave up on it due to pain, is basically to say that Christianity doesn't work because some people gave up on it under stress of torture. A religion, philosophy or creed - in short, an idea - is only as strong as the character of those who believe in it. This argument seems rather moot.

[StandardsandPractices]

Someone who has a reddit should post this to R/stoicism

[mitchellbogatz]

It saddens me that you didn't read any of the great stoics at all. (Lives of the Eminent Philosophers is a secondary source, albeit a very old one!) Anyway, the two most famous Stoic philosophers by far (Seneca a distant third), are Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, and BOTH believed in the gods. I think a couple of your hypotheses here are misguided.
Final Note, to those who want a full picture here: Enchiridion by Epictetus is literally my favorite philosophical work of all time. I'd recommend everyone on here read it ASAP. (It's short too, so no excuses!)

[StandardsandPractices]

Someone who has a reddit should post this to R/stoicism

[Dontgankmeplx]

Glad I found your channel via your conversation with Andrew Klavan (who I understand is no relation 😉) on the Daily Wire. I am currently reading "A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy" by William Irvine. It has been interesting and beneficial for me to learn how ancient stoic principles can be applicable in the modern chaotic world we live in.

[jasonphillips]

Looking forward to more content on the Stoics, it's a philosophy I really like. Have you considered starting a Young Heretics Discord server? Would make a great place to discuss philosophy, literature, maybe even theology

[flyingmonkey]

As an atheist I do not use Darwinism for ethics. It's simply early biology. Christian ethics are great. Why do you insist that I believe in miracles?