Caleb and Michael talk about Seneca’s 94th Letter to Lucilius. In it Seneca debates the place of rules in the philosophical life with the ancient Stoic Aristo.

It's a topic of theoretical and practical importance. How do you use rules, proverbs, and precepts well when they are such imperfect tools? What's the difference between rules and principles? 

(02:39) The Debate Over Rules

(16:19) Aristo

(21:40) Memorizing Philosophy Does Not Work

(26:02) Rules Are Either Obvious Or Misunderstood

(31:02) Summarizing Aristo

(32:53) Seneca's Response

(45:20) The Point of Rules

(49:54) Are Rules Specific Enough?

(52:38) How To Use Rules

***

Subscribe to The Stoa Letter for weekly meditations, actions, and links to the best Stoic resources: www.stoaletter.com/subscribe

Download the Stoa app (it’s a free download): stoameditation.com/pod

If you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account.

Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/

Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/