Why Virtue is the Only Good (Episode 61)

The Stoics thought anyone could be happy in any situation.

This is because virtue is the only good and it is obtainable by anyone.

But why did the Stoics think virtue was the only good?

That’s what Caleb and Michael discuss in this conversation. They frame the discussion around objections to that idea from Scott Aikin, William Stephens, and Massimo Pigliucci (all past Stoa Conversations guests).

Epictetus’s Encheiridion: A New Translation

Virtue cannot be the ultimate good

(02:51) Why This Matters

(09:04) What is Virtue?

(17:45) The Objection

(26:31) Response: Stoic Move I

(31:59) Response: Stoic Move II

(39:43) The Practical Upshots

Become more Stoic with the Stoa app.

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