The Philosophy Lab

Beginning this month we are going to start a series featuring an in-depth look at the Discourses of Epictetus, a book that has literally changed my life and that I think is one of the most important of the entire Western philosophical canon, if not of philosophy worldwide.

The idea is to slowly and deliberately make our way through all four extant books of the Discourses (unfortunately, four more books have been lost), taking our time to discuss what Epictetus says, why he says it, and whether it may be helpful to us denizens of the 21st century. This may take a long time and a good number of meetings, so pace yourselves!

I recommend the Robin Waterfield translation of Epictetus, published in 2024 by the University of Chicago Press. It is, I think, by far the best modern translaton available.

This first meeting will begin, of course, with Discourses 1 and continue as far as we can get to in an hour. It would be helpful if you could read the text ahead!

Please note that the zoom link will be shared with registered atteendess via Meetup email, so make sure your settings allow for communications from Organizers. Also, for security reasons (i.e., reducing the chances of "zoom bombing"), the meeting will be locked five minutes after starting time, no exceptions. Please be on time!

[Cross-posted from NYC Stoics]

The Stoics developed a system of valid reasoning and argumentation that nowadays we would call "logic". However, the ancients didn't call it this; instead, they called it "dialectic". This seems strange on its face. Dialectic comes from the Greek roots meaning "speaking between" and usually involves back and forth questioning amongst two or more people, like Socrates did with his interlocutors, and which seems mostly absent from Stoic dialectic. Yet no ancient sources ever called the Stoics out for mislabeling their system of reasoning. Why is that?

At this final online meetup of 2025, we'll conclude our study of Stoic logic by attempting to answer this question as well as explore the meaning and practice of dialectic more broadly.

To prepare for this meetup, please read Luca Castagnoli's chapter in Ancient Models of Mind: Studies in Human and Divine Rationality entitled How Dialectical was Stoic Dialectic in full and come prepared with any points you'd like to discuss or questions you may have. You can download the chapter for free here.

[Cross-posted from NYC Stoics]

Come join us for in-person Stoic discussion!

Here's our agenda for this meetup:

4-5pm: informal, optional hangout:

• Grab some food from Market 57 and let's just hang out and chat about whatever. It's okay to skip this part if you just want to come for the Stoicism

5-7pm: The main event:

• Open Q&A and discussion about Stoicism
• Deep read of Enchiridion 27: we'll read through Enchiridion 27 together and share our main practical takeaways. (You can compare multiple public domain translations here: https://enchiridion.tasuki.org/)

You're welcome to come only for the Stoic discussion from 5-7pm, or just show up at 4pm for the more open hangout and discussion.

Notes on the venue: We'll be in Oyster Classroom in Pier 57 (25 11th Ave New York, NY 10011), which I reserved just for our group. Outside food is not permitted, but food from the nearby Market 57 is. Here's a map of the interior of Pier 57: go to Oyster Classroom.

We live in times of social and political turmoil. So did the Stoics two millennia ago. Is there any guidance they could give us about how to navigate that kind of challenge? It is often said that the Stoics did not have much to contribute to discussions of politics, because Stoicism is an inward-looking, personal philosophy. But is that really the case?

Join John Sellars and Massimo Pigliucci for an exploration of Stoicism and politics, with the aim not just to learn from the ancients, but to figure out, together, reason-based approaches to what is happening around the world right now.

Suggested readings:

Seneca’s On Clemency and On Benefits.
Cicero’s On Duties.
Epictetus’s Discourses.
Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations.

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Location: Hotel Atlantico (Cavour room), Via Cavour 23, Rome (Italy).

This event is sponsored by the Stoa Nova school for a new Stoicism, and will be facilitated by two of its faculty.

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Program

Friday, 9 January

Morning session: Introduction—Stoicism and politics. Political thought before the Stoics, engagement versus retirement, cosmopolitanism.

Afternoon session: Cicero (and Panaetius)—On Duties.

Saturday, 10 January

Morning session: Seneca—On Clemency and On Benefits.

Afternoon session: Epictetus and the Stoic Opposition. Stoicism and tyranny.

Sunday, 11 January

Morning session: Marcus Aurelius and politics, selections from Meditations.

Afternoon: Half-day excursion to either the Roman Forum (if the weather is good) or Palazzo Massimo and the Baths of Diocletian. (Both latter locations are part of the Roman National Museum, only one ticket needed).

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About the facilitators:

Massimo Pigliucci is an author, blogger, podcaster, as well as the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His new book is Beyond Stoicism: A Guide to the Good Life with Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans, and Other Ancient Philosophers (with Greg Lopez and Meredith Kunz, The Experiment). He is also the best selling author of How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life.

John Sellars is a Reader in Philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London (where he is currently program lead for Philosophy). He is a founder member of the London Centre for Ancient Philosophy. John is also a member of two non-profit organizations aimed at bringing the ancient philosophy of Stoicism to a wider audience, Modern Stoicism (of which he is the current Chair) and The Aurelius Foundation. John’s books include The Fourfold Remedy: Epicurus and the Art of Happiness (Allen Lane, 2022) and Lessons in Stoicism: What Ancient Philosophers Teach Us about How to Live (Allen Lane, 2019).

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Fee: $250/person. Payment by PayPal (PLEASE pick the “friends” not “business” option to avoid a processing fee).

Refund (minus Meetup and PayPal processing fees) if: (i) the seminar is canceled; or (ii) if you cancel by midnight (ET) on 9 November 2025.