Musonius Rufus, Lectures - On Sexual Indulgence - Sadler's Lectures

Podcast: Sadler's Lectures · Lectures on classic and contemporary philosophical texts and thinkers by Gregory B. Sadler

Opublikowano: 2026-10-19

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus' Lecture 12, in which he discusses the attitude a virtuous person will adopt towards sexual matters (aphrodisia), translated by Lutz as "sexual indulgence". For Musonius, the need for many varied objects of sexual desire is a sign of weakness and luxury, adultery is a very serious vice, and male-male sexual relationships are contrary to nature. In his view, the proper use and indulgence of sexual activity is within the framework of marriage, with the aim of producing children, rather than merely seeking pleasure. To support my ongoing work, go...