About us
Founded in 2018, Philadelphia Stoa is a philosophical community focused on applying Stoic philosophy to modern challenges. As a registered non-profit organization, our vision centers on inspiring individuals to apply virtue in their daily lives as a path to personal flourishing.
The purpose of our Meetup group is to introduce Stoic philosophy to anyone interested in living a happier and more fulfilling life and to help students of Stoicism practice the philosophy in their daily lives.
Stoicism is a practical philosophy for guiding people in living a good life through cultivating personal excellence, or virtue. Having flourished in ancient Greece and Rome, Stoicism is experiencing a resurgence of popularity today as a result of its value in helping people realize more tranquility and joy amid the complexity of the modern world. Stoicism involves focusing on what we can control in life and not worrying about things we cannot control, enhancing healthy emotions through reasoned judgement, and treating all of humanity with compassion and respect.
Our meetings support people in increasing their knowledge of Stoicism and applying it in their daily lives. Meetings include discussions of Stoic writings, modern interpretations of Stoic concepts, and the Stoic perspectives on problems people may have. We hold meetings three times a month, usually on the second and fourth Sunday and the third Monday of each month. The topic agenda is different for each monthly meeting.
For more information, please visit www.philadelphiastoa.org.
Upcoming events
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The Wisdom of Not Knowing: Skepticism as a Way of Life
Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, USCome join the Philly Stoa as we open a new series on How to Be a (Happy) Skeptic. In preparation for the sessions ahead, we'll be drawing on the work of Massimo Pigliucci, beginning with his Psyche essay "These lessons in scepticism could make the world a better place." His starting point is a paradox worth sitting with: in a time when critical thinking is taught everywhere, our public life has rarely been more crowded with rigid certainties and loyalty to shaky "facts." In an age where certainty is currency, doubt has become a radical act. This session asks what it would mean to treat that doubt not as weakness but as a discipline worth cultivating.
The word skeptic comes from the Greek skeptikos, meaning inquirer, and Pigliucci introduces four ancient figures who each modeled a different way of inquiring well. Socrates shows the strange wisdom of knowing how little we know. Protagoras reminds us that different perspectives serve different purposes and that there is no view from nowhere. Cicero, who coined the word probabilis, invites us to hold our beliefs in proportion to the evidence, spending our confidence carefully. And Pyrrho suggests that suspending judgment on what is not evident can bring a genuine tranquility of mind. Together they offer four reasons to think that a more skeptical world might also be a happier one.
You are welcome to join, whether or not you have read the essay in advance. This series is part of the ongoing partnership between the Philly Stoa and the Philadelphia Ethical Society, and our aim is to create a supportive space for practicing philosophy as a lived discipline through thoughtful discussion and shared reflection.
These lessons in scepticism could make the world a better place
https://psyche.co/ideas/these-lessons-in-scepticism-could-make-the-world-a-better-placeDoubt as the Path to Happiness - Ethical Society of St. Louis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20CaTvuAeto&t=194s6 attendees
Past events
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