Our guest in this episode is Nancy Sherman, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University and a leading expert on ancient ethics and modern moral psychology. Drawing on Aristotle and the Stoics, Nancy explores what it means to live well, to cultivate resilience without emotional suppression, and to nurture our capacity for connection in a fragmented world. She discusses how Stoic ideas have been both misunderstood and rediscovered—from Silicon Valley’s self-help culture to the search for calm and meaning among younger generations. Through themes of responsiveness, character formation, and moral self-knowledge, the conversation bridges ancient wisdom and contemporary challenges in education, leadership, and mental health.

00:01:02 – Motivation and Driving Force

00:04:37 – Aristotle and the Soul

00:09:03 – Stoicism and Aristotle

00:11:46 – Stoicism and the Self-Help Industry

00:14:23 – Stoicism and Spiritual Practice

00:18:50 – Stoicism and Bildung

00:24:47 – ResponsAbility and Wise Response

00:28:24 – Responsiveness in Education and Professional Life

00:33:47 – Stoicism, Resilience, and Mental Health

00:37:06 – Stoic Exercises in Higher Education?

Between Theory and Practice – Questions for Reflection
How might the insights from this dialogue inspire your own practice? The following questions are intended to inspire further inquiry, whether explored individually or in conversation with colleagues, students, or peers.

1. Nancy Sherman emphasizes that resilience is not simply a matter of self-control, but is deeply connected to our relationships, emotions, and social context. In your own professional life, how do you balance the desire to remain composed and effective with the willingness to acknowledge vulnerability, dependence, or loss? What might change if resilience were understood less as self-sufficiency and more as a relational capacity?
2. The Stoics encourage us to focus on what is within our control, while Aristotle reminds us that human life is shaped by circumstances beyond our choosing. When facing a difficult situation in your work, how do you discern what genuinely calls for your response and what must be accepted as beyond your control? How might this distinction help you act more wisely and responsibly in practice?

Literature:

• Sherman, N. (forthcoming): How to Have a Soul: What Aristotle Teaches Us about Lasting Happiness. Yale University Press.
• Sherman, N. (2021): Stoic Wisdom – Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience. Oxford University Press.
• Sherman, N. (2015): Afterwar: Healing the Moral Wounds of Our Soldiers. Oxford University Press.
• Sherman, N. (2007) Stoic Warriors - The Ancient Philosophy behind the Military Mind. Oxford University Press.
• Sherman, N, (1991): The Fabric of Character: Aristotle's Theory of Virtue. Clarendon Press.