A Stoic's Perspective on Immigration (Broadly)

Practical Stoicism

Evergreen Podcasts

Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.8 • 662 Ratings

🗓️ 11 August 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode I explore how Stoic principles apply to the controversial and often emotionally charged topic of immigration. Using the Circles of Concern as a framework, I examine why Stoics must care for all members of the Cosmopolis, even when cultural differences challenge us. I also break down why preserving culture “at all costs” is un-Stoic, and how moral reasoning—not fear, nationalism, or rigid legality—should guide immigration policy and enforcement. Real-world examples, from COVID-era mask debates to refugee scenarios, help illustrate how Stoic justice differs from legal justice and why discernment is essential. Key takeaways from this episode include: Stoicism calls us to care for everyone in the Cosmopolis, even when differences exist, but requires reasoned discernment about how to act in distant circles of concern Preserving culture “at all costs” is not Stoic; the only pursuit worth that cost is perfect moral knowledge Stoic justice is based on moral reasoning and context, not on strict adherence to law or partisan ideology For an ad-free version of this podcast please visit https://stoicismpod.com/members For links to other valuable Stoic things, please visit https://links.stoicismpod.com If you'd like to provide feedback on this episode, or have question, you may do so as a member. Email sent by non-members will not be answered (though they may be read). This isn't punitive, I just cannot keep up. Limiting access to members reduces my workload. You're always invited to leave a comment on Spotify, member or not. Thanks for listening and have a great day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's so funny because when you look at the guys, that's never a topic of conversation. Yeah. What you look like? Yeah. Did you watch the football last night? It's never about, I'll watch your skincare routine. Whereas women walk into a room and because we've been taught to be pitted against each other. Yeah. Not always, but sometimes there's, oh my God, you know, I can't. It's a bit of a barrier. Yeah, yeah. and it shouldn't be there.
0:01.1	We should be trying to change that stereotype. always, but sometimes there's, oh my God, you know, I can't. It's a bit of a barrier. Yeah, yeah, and it shouldn't be there.
0:22.2	We should be trying to change that stereotype, believing that there is space for everybody.
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0:57.7	Welcome back, ProCaptan. I'm glad you're here. This is the start of season three, the
1:02.6	official start. So as promised in the previous kind of episode zero of season three, we're going
1:07.9	to be talking about immigration. Now, initially, I was going to focus on
1:11.2	U.S. immigration, but I think that's probably a bit too narrow. And to be honest, there's no reason in
1:16.2	particular that we should focus only on that, although there are some unique things going on there
1:21.4	that we will touch on. And so this episode is going to be more about the concept of immigration
1:26.0	at large, let's say, or in general is better.
1:29.8	I would encourage you, no matter how you feel during any portion of this, to listen to the whole thing.
1:35.9	It is not a very stoic thing to assent to an impression of anything before we've been given all the facts available to us.
1:43.1	And so if you think at any point in what you're about
1:46.0	to hear, I'm going in a direction that you don't like, you might want to stick around because I
1:50.2	might not be going in that direction. Now, you could be right. Maybe I am, but you won't know,
1:54.9	for sure, which is something you should want as a stoic, unless you stick through the whole thing.
1:59.5	So here we go. Episode one of
	...

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