What we’re about
Welcome to Orlando Stoics! We are a very active group, with 3300+ members and 5 meetings a week. Some meetings are online and others are in-person. All classes are free. We also have annual events, like "Stoicon-X Orlando" in November (for the Modern Stoicism movement) and our Winter Social in December (Stoics are allowed to have fun, too).
Why Stoicism? In our world of instant gratification, constant stimulation, and endless distractions, Stoicism offers a novel perspective on life. Interested in developing an unconquerable mind? Stoicism has the answers. We also link ideas to Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Existentialism, Minimalism, and other "lived philosophy" systems. We love in-depth discussions!
If you join our group, feel free to limit the emails and notifications. Since we have new meetings every week, those emails might be too much for your inbox. Feel free to turn them off (go to our meetup page, click "You're a Member", and then click group notifications). You can still check our meetup page for upcoming events, when you want to.
What is Stoicism? It's an ancient Greek school of philosophy founded about 300 BC in Athens. The first teacher was Zeno of Citium. The school taught that virtue (the highest good) is based on knowledge, and that wise people live in harmony with nature. The school also taught tolerance and self-control. Famous Stoics were Seneca the Younger, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. We also study modern Stoics.
The goals of our group:
1. We read the ancient books, plus the modern books on Stoicism.
2. We discuss Stoicism in the media, pop culture, and arts & literature.
3. We compare recurring themes in Stoicism to history, religion, and psychology.
There have always been people attracted to Stoicism. It was a major influence on Shakespeare, JD Salinger, Tom Wolfe, and Nelson Mandela. It’s also attracted political and military leaders, such as Frederick the Great, President Bill Clinton, and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who said he read Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations over 100 times.
We hope you will join us. The group is open to the public and has no subscription fee. Stoicism can help you cope with life's stresses, while retaining your ethics & character.
We hope to see you soon!
Upcoming events (4)
See all- ONLINE / ENGLISH: Seneca's Essays On AngerLink visible for attendees
This is our series on Seneca and the topic of anger.
Our group enjoys reading the ancient and modern Stoic texts, so this series goes back to the first century, when Seneca wrote his famous essays 'On Anger'. It spans 3 books and 100 chapters. Like most books we've read, we'll be reading in depth. The book is online as a public domain book, so you won't need to buy a book and wait for shipping.
Here are the major themes in the reading:
- The Nature and Origins of Anger
- The Dangers and Consequences of Anger
- The Futility of Anger
- Strategies for Preventing Anger
- Healing after AngerFor those with a Stoic practice, this discussion will be an important exercise: (1) how to pause before reacting with anger, (2) how to improve focus and build awareness of anger, and (3) how to prepare for situations that might cause anger (using Premeditatio Malorum).
For those with an interest in psychology, our discussion will help: (1) to learn how anger leads to poor decisions and regret, (2) how to switch from emotional responses to value-based responses, and (3) how to expect adversity in life and reduce stress.
SCHEDULE
5-23-2025 Book 1 (Chap 1-10)
5-30-2025 Book 1 (Chap 11-21)
6-06-2025 Meeting was skipped
6-13-2025 Book 2 (Chap 1-12)
6-20-2025 Book 2 (Chap 13-24)
6-27-2025 Book 2 (Chap 25-36)
7-04-2025 Book 3 (Chap 1-10)
7-11-2025 Book 3 (Chap 11-20)
7-18-2025 Book 3 (Chap 21-30)
7-25-2025 Book 3 (Chap 31-43)
8-01-2025 Finale (maybe a special guest)READING MATERIALS
The following materials are optional; read in advance if you have time. StoicDan will collect highlights from each book in an outline to further the discussion.
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Of_Anger
Time
Meeting time (USA):
7:00PM Eastern
6:00PM Central
5:00PM Mountain
4:00PM PacificFor our international friends,
Please convert time with the free tool
https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/Zoom Info
CLICK TO START MEETING - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86559843870
If you don't have a computer with camera or mic, then you can attend by telephone. Dial one of these numbers and add meeting ID 865 5984 3870#
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 USIn general, Stoicism teaches us how to handle difficult people and events, how to avoid anger and worry, and overall to use moderation in life. We will discuss how Stoic practice can lead to a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Our group enjoys open-minded, respectful conversations on Stoicism and how it relates to science, culture, philosophy, history, other belief systems, and pop culture (books and movies). If we differ in our opinions, then "we agree to disagree". The long-term goal is to improve our minds via group discussions. Our group does NOT discuss religion or politics.
This event is free and open to the public.
- ONLINE / ENGLISH: The 7-Fold Path to TranquilityLink visible for attendees
Every Sunday, a new lecture. Meeting starts 9:00AM with friendly conversation, then a dialogue at 9:15AM and a Q&A discussion follows.
DESCRIPTION
In turbulent times (uncertainty and increased conflict), tranquility is essential. It offers more than a retreat from reality, but in addition, it becomes a stabilizing force that preserves clarity and morality for individuals and the population. When external chaos threatens our lives and values, inner calm allows individuals to respond thoughtfully rather than impulsively. This promotes reason over fear. In this series, we will explore 7 philosophical and psychological areas that promote tranquility and personal resilience. The world may feel unpredictable, but we can choose wisdom and empathy.
SCHEDULE
6-15-2025 Part 1
6-22-2025 Part 2
6-29-2025 Part 3
7-06-2025 Part 4
7-13-2025 Part 5
7-20-2025 Part 6
7-29-2025 Part 7READING MATERIALS
Part 5. Living Simply (American Transcendentalism): a tranquil life is grounded in simplicity and friendships. One of our guides in this area is Henry David Thoreau and his practices of minimalism and sustainable living. We’ll read a modern blogger who shows how Thoreau helped improve her quality of life. READING: Leeanne’s article on Thoreau (3.5 pages).
https://www.crestingthehill.com.au/2019/08/thoreau-walden-simple-living.htmlTIMEZONES
For our members in other states:
6:00 AM Pacific Time USA
7:00 AM Mountain Time USA
8:00 AM Central Time USA
9:00 AM Eastern Time USAIn other countries, please convert time using this free tool:
https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/ZOOM INFO
The meeting starts at 9:00AM Eastern Time. After 15 minutes of chat, the presentation starts at 9:15AM sharp.
CLICK TO JOIN - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86390590096
This group enjoys open-minded, respectful conversations. If we differ in our opinions, then "we agree to disagree". The long-term goal is to improve our minds via group discussions.
This meeting is free and open to the public.
- ONLINE / ENGLISH: Humanism, Part 2Link visible for attendees
This is the Monday night meeting for Orlando Stoics. It's online.
Humanism is a philosophical outlook that centers on the value, potential, and agency of human beings, viewing them as the foundation for a meaningful existence. Our series will start with the history of Humanism and then discuss various ideas and concepts.
SCHEDULE
7-07-2025 Part 1 - History
Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism#History7-14-2025 Part 2 - Varieties & Philosophy
Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism#Varieties_of_humanism7-21-2025 Skipped Meeting (Dan is traveling)
7-28-2025 Part 3 - Humanistic Buddhism (Dan's in Copenhagen)
AHA Article: https://americanhumanist.org/paths/buddhism/
Fo Guang Shan Article: https://slife.org/humanistic-buddhism/8-04-2025 Part 4 - Humanism & Hinduism (Dan is back in Orlando)
Reading TBD8-11-2025 Part 5 - Humanism in the Workplace
Reading will be Dan's co-authored paper (should be published by then)TIMEZONES
Meeting time (USA):
7:00PM Eastern
6:00PM Central
5:00PM Mountain
4:00PM PacificFor our international friends,
Please convert time with the free tool
https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/ZOOM LINK
CLICK TO START MEETING - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82659560546
If you don't have a computer with camera, you can also dial using a phone. Pick one of these numbers and add ID 826 5956 0546#
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 USOur group enjoys open-minded, respectful conversations on Stoicism and how it relates to science, culture, philosophy, other belief systems, and even pop culture (books and movies). Sometimes "we agree to disagree", but the long-term goal is to improve our minds via group discussions.
In general, Stoicism teaches us how to handle difficult people and events, how to avoid anger and worry, and overall to use moderation in all aspects of our lives.
This meeting is free and open to the public.
- IN-PERSON / ENGLISH: The Practicing Stoic by Ward FarnsworthPanera Bread, Orlando, FL
This is our IN-PERSON event for Saturdays (no Zoom link available). We meet every 2 weeks.
SERIES
Our new series is based on Ward Farnsworth’s book “The Practicing Stoic”, which explores many Stoic topics through the writings of Roman Stoics (Seneca, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius) plus words from other philosophers (Cicero, Plutarch, Montaigne). This will expand our understanding of Stoic practices.
SCHEDULE
2-15 Chapter 1
3-01 Chapter 2
3-15 Chapter 3
3-29 Chapter 4
4-12 Chapter 5
4-26 Chapter 6
5-10 Chapter 7
5-24 Chapter 8
6-07 Chapter 9
6-21 Chapter 10
7-05 Chapter 11
7-19 Chapter 12
8-02 Chapter 13READING
The book is available on Amazon and other book sellers in Kindle, paperback, and hardback. Buying the book is optional:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1567926118No advance reading is needed. StoicDan will bring printed outlines to the meeting. If we run out of printed copies, you can access the Google Document. Go to the official web site (http://StoicDan.com) and click the link for "Saturdays" in the upper right corner.
VENUE
The location is Panera Bread, 2415 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32804. It's on the FIRST FLOOR of the AdventHealth medical building.
Parking is free. As you drive north on Orange Avenue, you will see the AdventHealth building on the right, then turn right, go 2 blocks, turn right again into the parking garage (free parking). Most parking spaces are open, just avoid the reserved spaces.
You can park on the first floor and walk outside, or park on the third floor of the garage and use the air-conditioned bridge to walk to the building.
TIME
The meeting is from Noon to 2PM. No worries if you're late... it's better to be late than not show up. Also, we take a break half-way in the meeting for refreshment and a bathroom break.
ZOOM LINK
Since meeting is in-person only, so no Zoom link is available.
GUESTS
If you want to invite a guest, please ask them to RSVP separately. We have limited number of seat.
COURTESY
This group enjoys open-minded, respectful conversations. We don't talk over each other. If we differ in our opinions, then "we agree to disagree". The long-term goal is to improve our minds via group discussions. Our group does NOT discuss religion or politics.
