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Can Ancient Philosophy Teach Us How to Succeed? | Tom Morris on Aristotle, Stoicism & Living Well
What does it actually mean to succeed in life? And could Aristotle, the Stoics and other ancient thinkers have better answers than our modern obsession with money, status and achievement?
In this episode, Anya Leonard speaks with Tom Morris, public philosopher, former Notre Dame professor and bestselling author of If Aristotle Ran General Motors. Together they explore what happens when ancient philosophy leaves the classroom and enters everyday life: from business and leadership to personal success, politics and the search for meaning.
Drawing on Aristotle, Seneca, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius and others, Tom challenges conventional ideas of success and offers a deeper vision rooted in developing our talents, helping others and pursuing genuine human flourishing.
The conversation also explores the extraordinary modern revival of Stoicism, whether we can separate great ideas from the flaws of the people who held them, and how ancient concepts of virtue, community and responsibility might help us navigate the divisions of modern society.
Key Topics:
Why ancient philosophy still speaks to modern problems
What happened when Tom brought Aristotle into corporate America
Why success isn't simply about money, power or status
Aristotle, eudaimonia and the meaning of human flourishing
How to find the useful “gold nuggets” in ancient philosophy
Should we reject thinkers whose values don't match our own?
Philosophy, patriotism and the search for shared values
Can ancient wisdom help us move beyond political extremes?
Why Stoicism has become a worldwide phenomenon
The forgotten philosophical traditions we should rediscover
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
01:00 – From philosopher to corporate America
05:03 – Why ancient wisdom connects with people
10:53 – Our hunger for meaningful ideas
14:08 – What is true success?
16:13 – The Seven C's of Success
17:52 – Eudaimonia & human flourishing
18:46 – If Aristotle Ran General Motors
20:13 – “Cherry-picking” ancient wisdom
24:04 – Can we learn from flawed thinkers?
28:07 – Philosophy, patriotism & shared values
32:17 – Can philosophy overcome division?
42:11 – Why Stoicism is booming
46:38 – Stoicism & political division
49:25 – Can individuals change society?
53:29 – Finding the middle ground
58:54 – What lies beyond Stoicism?
1:00:30 – Final thoughts
What does success mean to you? And which ancient philosopher has given you the most useful guidance for modern life? Let us know in the comments.
If you enjoy conversations that bring ancient wisdom to modern problems, subscribe to Classical Wisdom for more interviews on philosophy, history, Stoicism and the ideas of the ancient world.
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About Tom Morris
Tom Morris is a public philosopher, speaker and bestselling author who has spent decades bringing philosophical ideas into business, leadership and everyday life. A Yale-trained philosopher and former professor at the University of Notre Dame, he has written more than 30 books, including True Success, The Stoic Art of Living, The Everyday Patriot and If Aristotle Ran General Motors.
