Global Stoa

Join us for our monthly conversation with a scholar in Modern Stoicism or another branch of philosophy. This month, we welcome Rob Colter, Senior Lecturer and Department Head of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Wyoming, and a leading voice in bringing ancient Stoic wisdom into contemporary practice.

Rob founded and directs Wyoming Stoic Camp, an immersive experiment in living like a Stoic set against the backdrop of the Wyoming Rocky Mountains. Since 2014, this unique gathering has brought together participants from across the USA and Europe for intensive study of central Stoic texts, including Epictetus' Enchiridion and Discourses, and Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, complemented by early morning hikes, philosophical practices, and the opportunity to explore what it truly means to "live in agreement with nature."

Rob is also the Executive Director of Wyoming Pathways from Prison, a prison education program where he teaches Stoicism to incarcerated individuals, demonstrating the transformative power of philosophy in challenging circumstances. Additionally, he co-hosts the Philosophy as a Way of Life podcast with Massimo Pigliucci, featuring conversations about living philosophically with Stoicism at the heart.

In our conversation, Rob will explore:

• How Stoicism offers practical wisdom for navigating turbulent modern times—politically, economically, and technologically
• The liberating power of the Stoic theory of emotion and the practice of "examining our impressions."
• Managing difficult situations, challenging people, and emotional reactivity through Stoic principles
• Living with greater integrity and making virtuous decisions in everyday life
• Insights from his decades of teaching and practicing Stoicism, both in academia and with diverse populations, from college students to inmates

Rob has been studying and teaching Stoicism for decades and has found that these ancient ideas can be powerful tools for improving one's life today. Since then, his work has focused on exploring the relationship between philosophical theory and practical living.

Our group fosters open-minded, respectful dialogue on Stoicism and its intersections with science, culture, history, other belief systems, and popular culture. We are committed to thoughtful discussion and intellectual growth. When views differ, we agree to disagree.

The conversation will be hosted by Joe Bullock, followed by a Q&A session where attendees can ask Rob their questions directly.

We look forward to an engaging discussion with someone who truly lives what he teaches!

Learn more about Rob Colter:

We continue our 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, 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!

Throughout history it has always been true that people don’t know as much as they think they do. The ancient Greeks and Romans formulated an approach to life based on this notion. They recognized that adjusting our beliefs to the evidence while keeping in mind that we could be mistaken is the path to a just society—and a happy and meaningful life.

During this retreat we will adopt the ancient Roman public advocate, orator, statesman, and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero as our guide to reveal the benefits of cultivating curiosity and doubt in the pursuit of a life worth living. Cicero’s skeptical philosophy is more relevant than ever in our current age of misinformation.

Join Rob Colter, John Sellars and Massimo Pigliucci for an exploration of Cicero’s life and works, during which we will examine the foundations for a good life, from how to formulate our values to how to nurture friendships; from being a good citizen and fighting for social justice to handling grief, pain, and even death. Skepticism as a philosophy was developed during a time of violence, social upheaval, and political turmoil. Taking a page from Cicero’s book, we, too, can adopt a practical philosophy of reason and learn to live well through uncertain times.