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: How to Think Like a Roman EmperorLink visible for attendees
This is our series on Donald Robertson’s book “How to Think Like a Roman Emperor”. We will learn about the life of Marcus Aurelius and his philosophy practice. As usual on Friday nights, we will cover the book in-depth; see schedule below.
SCHEDULE
8-08-2025 Chap. 1
8-15-2025 Chap. 1 continued
8-22-2025 Chap. 2
8-29-2025 Chap. 2 continued
9-05-2025 Chap. 3
9-12-2025 Chap. 3 continued
9-19-2025 Chap. 4
9-26-2025 Chap. 4 continued
10-03-2025 Chap. 5
10-10-2025 Chap. 5 continued
10-17-2025 Chap. 6
10-24-2025 Chap. 6 continued
10-31-2025 Chap. 7
11-07-2025 Chap. 7 continued
11-14-2025 Chap. 8 (just 1 part)
11-21-2025 FinaleREADING MATERIALS
The book is available on Amazon and other booksellers. Various formats are available: audio, paperback, Kindle. Reading in advance is optional; StoicDan will collect highlights from each part of the book in an outline for the meeting.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F9YYR62
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: Philosophy of Mind, Part 7Link 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
Philosophy of mind explores the nature of consciousness, our personal thoughts, and our mental states. In addition, how does the mind relate to the body, and how are we affected by life experience? One of the pillars of this topic is understanding what causes us to act: how our desires, beliefs, intentions, and emotions translate into physical behavior. We will review both ancient and modern ideas in this series of 7 dialogues.
SCHEDULE
8-10-2025 Part 1: Mental Causation
8-17-2025 Part 2: Neuro Philosophy
8-24-2025 Part 3: Brain Structure
8-31-2025 Part 4: Intentionality and the Mind
9-07-2025 Part 5: Agency & Identity
9-14-2025 Part 6: The Extended Mind
9-21-2025 Part 7: Shaping Intelligence
9-28-2025 Open micDESCRIPTION
Part 7: Shaping Intelligence 9-21-2025
How can we use—and improve—our intelligence? This is one of the defining questions of our time. The modern age challenges us in ways that past philosophers could scarcely have imagined. We face rapid technological change, constant information overload, and now the rise of AI, which can act as both a tool and a partner. This week, we’ll explore three key facets of this challenge: (1) using intelligence in service of our moral duties, (2) cultivating better reasoning skills, and (3) applying intelligence toward human flourishing.
First, we turn to Immanuel Kant’s ethics as a deontological framework. Kant emphasized moral duty and the inherent rightness or wrongness of actions—regardless of their outcomes. For Kant, the moral worth of an action lies in the motivation behind it: a genuine sense of duty guided by reason. Considered in this way, morality is not separate from intelligence but a way of shaping it, aligning our intellectual capacities with a rational, principled life.
Next, we will focus on training our minds to think with clarity. A crucial step is to recognize and avoid fallacies in reasoning. Scott Sprouse, in The Reasoning Skills Workbook (Section 8), categorizes fallacies into several types: imprecise use of terms, invalid arguments, and flaws in the underlying structure—or “fabric”—of the argument itself. By learning to identify these pitfalls, we sharpen our reasoning and avoid common thought traps. Clarity of thought, in this sense, becomes a discipline that strengthens intelligence.
Finally, we will consider the idea of human flourishing—using intelligence to pursue meaning, engagement, and resilience. Martin Seligman, a leading figure in the field of Positive Psychology, identifies five elements of well-being: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement. The latter, Seligman notes, is “...pursued even when they bring no positive emotion, no meaning, and nothing in the way of positive relationships.” The challenge today is knowing when to rely on AI and when to resist outsourcing our choices, so that we remain active participants in our own growth and fulfillment.
READING MATERIALS
1. Kant on Morality (scroll down to key principle of “Good Will”, one page)
https://godandgoodlife.nd.edu/resource/do-your-duty-kant/2. Scott Sprouse “The Reasoning Skills Workbook” (go to table of contents, click section 8, one page)
https://books.google.com/books?id=Y9k2DwAAQBAJ&pg=PP23. Wikipedia Article on Martin Seligman (read section on well-being, one page)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Seligman#Well-beingTIMEZONES
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: Seneca - Inside the MindLink visible for attendees
This is the Monday night meeting for Orlando Stoics. It's online.
Seneca is one of the major ancient Stoics, partly because his writings were very revealing, and partly because his works have survived so much history. This Monday, we’ll review an article by Ryan Holiday plus an AEON article with an introduction by Massimo. Hope you can join us!
SCHEDULE
9-22-2025 Articles
https://dailystoic.com/seneca/
https://aeon.co/classics/massimo-pigliucci-on-senecas-stoic-philosophy-of-happinessTIMEZONES
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.
