Stoicism has influenced musicians for centuries

In recent years – and especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – interest in Stoicism has surged, with people looking to this ancient philosophy for insights into how to manage destructive emotions such as anxiety, anger and grief.

But you might be surprised to learn that for centuries, musicians have incorporated the teachings of the Stoics into their compositions.

Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” is a particularly salient example.

Tufts University musicology professor Melinda Latour explains how the album’s lyrics – which explore themes such as aging, death, fear and greed – could have been ripped from the musings of Marcus Aurelius.

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