William O. Stephens
Philosopher and Professor Emeritus at Creighton University specializing in Stoicism, ethics, and ancient philosophy. Author of several books on Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, including Marcus Aurelius: Philosopher-King.
Best podcasts with William O. Stephens
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Apr 25, 2026 • 34min
Why “Meditations” Needs a New Name—According to William O. Stephens
William O. Stephens, a Stoicism scholar and professor emeritus at Creighton, digs into why Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations may have the wrong title. He explores the book as a loose notebook of reminders, how translations reshape Marcus’s voice, and why Marcus was neither saint nor villain. They also get into death, power, mercy, and the puzzle of Commodus.
Mar 16, 2026 • 1h 6min
784 Marcus Aurelius: Philosopher-King (with William O. Stephens)
William O. Stephens, a philosophy professor and Stoicism scholar, guides listeners through Marcus Aurelius’s life as a ruling philosopher. The conversation covers Marcus’s upbringing, Stoic practice and private memoranda, his austere character, co-rule with Lucius Verus, wartime leadership and the Antonine Plague, and the tension between philosophical ideals and imperial realities.
