The Stoic Jew

Scattered Thoughts on Prolonging Life (Aurelius - Meditations 4:50)

October 27, 2021 Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss Season 6 Episode 9
The Stoic Jew
Scattered Thoughts on Prolonging Life (Aurelius - Meditations 4:50)
Show Notes

Synopsis: For better or for worse I decided to record today’s episode when my mind was feeling a bit scattered … and it shows. We begin by reading Aurelius’s “unphilosophic” thoughts about how to put death in perspective, which we compare to the Torah’s stance as spelled out by the Rambam. We then read Epictetus’s counterpoint to the Rambam which leaves us in a quandary, and we compound that quandary with an excerpt from Barbara Ehrenreich’s thoughts on diminishing returns in the efforts to prolong life at the expense of living. Where do we end up? With exactly what is advertised in the title: scattered thoughts.

This week's Torah content has been sponsored by R.R. in appreciation for all the growth and insight that she has gained from these shiurim. To that I say, "Thank YOU, R.R., for helping make that possible!"

Sources:
- Aurelius, Meditations 4:50
- Epictetus, Discourses 3:10
- Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Sefer ha’Mada, Hilchos Deios 4:1
- Barbara Ehrenreich, Natural Causes: An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer
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