Embracing The Logic Of The Cosmos (Meditations 2.9)

Practical Stoicism

Evergreen Podcasts

Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.8 • 662 Ratings

🗓️ 15 October 2024

⏱️ 13 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, I reflect on Meditation 9 from Book 2 of Meditations. Marcus Aurelius reminds us to always remember the nature of the Cosmos and our place within it. He emphasizes that the Cosmos is a rational and self-sustaining system, and as part of it, we share in that logic and beneficence. Marcus urges us to act in accordance with Nature, meaning that we should strive to be rational and beneficent, just as the Cosmos is. I explore how the Cosmos, though not consciously acting like a human, sustains itself in a way that allows everything within it to exist and perform its roles. By understanding this, we realize that no external force can prevent us from making choices in line with our rational nature. While external circumstances may influence us, it is ultimately our choice how we respond to them. Marcus reminds us that it is not the external situation, but how we make choices, that determines whether we act with wisdom and virtue. I also touch on the Stoic concept of personal responsibility, explaining how we are always accountable for our choices. Even when provoked, such as by an unkind boss, it is our choice how we react, and only we can choose to act with virtue or vice. The key is not just in the choice itself, but in the reasoning behind that choice. By internalizing the understanding that we are in control of our responses, we can aim to align ourselves with the rational and beneficent nature of the Cosmos. "Always remember the following: what the nature of the Whole is; what my own nature is; the relation of this nature to that; what kind of part it is of what kind of Whole; and that no man can hinder your saying and doing at all times what is in accordance with that Nature whereof you are a part." - Meditations 2.9 -- Go ad-free : https://stoicismpod.com/members Follow the print publication : https://stoicismpod.com/print Take the free course : https://understandingstoicism.com Order my book : https://stoicismpod.com/book Source Text : https://stoicismpod.com/far Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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1:19.1	yous to new patrons, and then we'll get right into this week's meditation, which is 2.9.
1:23.7	By the way, this will be a shorter episode this week, and that's just a function of 2.9 not needing that much reflection because of what a straightforward meditation it is.
1:33.4	Thank you to new patrons Danny Brooks, John Kay, David Harrow, and Marcus Smith.
1:40.6	I appreciate your direct support, and I hope you're enjoying the ad-free version of this podcast.
1:45.4	And please remember to drop by the Discord and say hello.
1:48.4	This week's meditation, as I said, is 2.9.
1:51.5	Let's dive right in.
1:53.6	Always remember the following, what the nature of the whole is, what my own nature is,
1:59.9	the relation of this nature to that, what kind of part it is, what my own nature is, the relation of this nature, to that, what kind of part it
2:04.1	is of what kind of whole, and that no man can hinder your saying and doing at all times
	...

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