All About Rules (Episode 113)

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

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Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations.