Massimo Pigliucci: What is Stoicism?

About this episode

Eric Metaxas interviews Massimo Pigliucci about the history and practice of Stoicism today.

What is the history of Stoicism and how does one practice it today? Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas sits down with professor and philosopher Massimo Pigliucci , author of the popular How to be a Stoic and Beyond Stoicism , to discuss the history and development of Stoicism, and the line between emotion, reason, and virtue. They discuss the influence of stoicism in pop culture, from ancient Greek icons to modern-day Star Trek. Throughout Pigliucci’s work, he highlights the balance of skepticism and trust as a road to wisdom, as exemplified by Socrates himself. The post Massimo Pigliucci: What is Stoicism? first appeared on Socrates in the City .

People in this episode

Host: Eric Metaxas

Guest: Massimo Pigliucci

Topics covered

• Stoicism
• philosophy
• emotion
• reason
• virtue
• pop culture
• wisdom

Keywords

• Stoicism
• Massimo Pigliucci
• Eric Metaxas
• philosophy
• emotion
• reason
• virtue
• pop culture
• wisdom

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: How to be a Stoic, Beyond Stoicism

Places: ancient Greece, Star Trek

More episodes of Socrates in the City

• Freya India and Mary Harrington: Are Women Becoming Objects? · June 12, 2026 · 1h 9m
• Eric Metaxas and Carl Trueman: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity · June 11, 2026 · 1h 7m
• Eric Metaxas and Margarita Mooney Clayton: Surprising Encounters with the Mother of God · June 10, 2026 · 1h 1m
• Lionel Shriver and Mary Harrington: Is the “Better Life” Dream Collapsing? · June 8, 2026 · 1h 14m
• Eric Metaxas and Peter Giersch: Are Heaven and Hell Real? · June 8, 2026 · 1h 2m
• James Orr and Mary Harrington: Why Aristotle Would Disagree With Modern Politics · May 1, 2026 · 35 min