About us
This group is dedicated to the serious study and lived practice of Stoic philosophy as a way of life. Together, we explore how the teachings of the ancient Stoics can be applied thoughtfully and rigorously to the challenges of modern living.
We welcome newcomers and experienced practitioners alike. No prior background is required, only a genuine interest in examining one’s beliefs, habits, and character. Our discussions are structured to meet people where they are, while also encouraging steady growth in understanding and practice.
Our meetings focus on engaging directly with Stoic texts, reflecting on real-life situations, and considering how Stoic ideas apply to the choices we face. We emphasize virtue, self-discipline, sound judgment, and responsibility for one’s inner life not as abstract ideals, but as habits formed through daily attention and effort.
How the course works
We run an ongoing 12-chapter Stoicism 101 course that repeats continuously throughout the year.
- We meet Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday
- Each night covers a different chapter
- After Chapter 12, the course loops back to Chapter 1
- You can join at any point
If you attend one night per week, you will complete the full course in about three months. If you attend multiple nights per week, you can move through the course more quickly. Each session stands on its own while also fitting into the larger structure.
Alongside the main course, every week we host Sunday Stoa, a more community-oriented, book club–style gathering, as well as Friday events that alternate between a Stoic Men’s group and a Neoplatonic discussion hosted through our sister meetup, The Cambridge Platonists.
If you’re looking for thoughtful conversation, sincere self-examination, and a community committed to practicing philosophy rather than merely talking about it, you’re very welcome to join us.
Upcoming events
6
Sunday Stoa #104
·OnlineOnlineIf you're interested in going deeper than just the intro classes and exploring the community side of Stoicism, please join us for Sunday Stoa.
We begin at 4:00 PM (ET) with 10 minutes of Stoic breath meditation followed by 15 minutes of writing practice.
At 4:30 PM, we move into introductions and social time.
Around 5:00 PM, we’ll listen to selections from the original Stoic texts and then discuss the ideas they present.This week, we’ll be listening to Letters 115 and 116 from Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic: On the superficial blessings and On self-control.
Here's the text and video if you’d like to check them out beforehand:
Letter 115
Text: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_115
Video: https://youtu.be/lLkpJjKsLYQ?si=v6_xvC7VZQIGYaG8&t=18632Letter 116
Text: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_116
Video: https://youtu.be/lLkpJjKsLYQ?si=-jQT3r6HM80jzbKS&t=19346Come for the whole thing, or join us whenever it works best for you. See you Sunday!
10 attendees
Stoicism 101: Week 6 - Self-Control
·OnlineOnlineJoin us for an evening of Stoic philosophy and discussion. We'll kick off the event with a short presentation exploring one of the core ideas of Stoicism, focusing on its real-world application with some practices drawn from the texts. Following the presentation, we'll break into smaller groups for a lightly-facilitated discussion about the topic.
This week, we’ll be discussing self-control and the value of voluntary self-denial across several areas of our lives, including food, money, sex, travel, and substance use. We'll also discuss a practice designed to help free us of from the fear of poverty.
Here's the video we'll be watching: https://youtu.be/G1nM9UCJCIs?si=3SYe2bX3xpt3t9A_&t=6203
And here's the text, along with the rest of the resources for the course: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-6r2KFyv7f-vChnX-9eKovdFsQ6DYoc_CV5RZtJb9XA/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks so much for your interest, and please remember:
"There is no such thing as good or bad fortune for the individual; we live in common. And no one can live happily who has regard to himself alone and transforms everything into a question of his own utility; you must live for your neighbor, if you would live for yourself." - Seneca, Letters from a Stoic, Letter 48
13 attendees
Stoicism 101: Week 11 - The Happy Life
·OnlineOnlineJoin us for an evening of Stoic philosophy and discussion. We'll kick off the event with a short presentation exploring one of the core ideas of Stoicism, focusing on its real-world application with some practices drawn from the texts. Following the presentation, we'll break into smaller groups for a lightly-facilitated discussion about the topic.
This week, we’ll be discussing the Happy Life, Stoic joy, and how our pursuit of virtue should also make us the happiest people. We'll also talk about how to deal with critics, and how practice Stoicism if you aren't temperamentally suited for it.
Here's the video we'll be watching: https://youtu.be/G1nM9UCJCIs?si=8Ht89YsSxfG3OcPP&t=12794
And here's the text, along with the rest of the resources for the course: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-6r2KFyv7f-vChnX-9eKovdFsQ6DYoc_CV5RZtJb9XA/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks so much for your interest, and please remember:
"There is no such thing as good or bad fortune for the individual; we live in common. And no one can live happily who has regard to himself alone and transforms everything into a question of his own utility; you must live for your neighbor, if you would live for yourself." - Seneca, Letters from a Stoic, Letter 48
6 attendees
Stoicism 101: Week 1 - What is Stoicism?
·OnlineOnlineJoin us for an evening of Stoic philosophy and discussion. We'll kick off the event with a short presentation exploring one of the core ideas of Stoicism, focusing on its real-world application with some practices drawn from the texts. Following the presentation, we'll break into smaller groups for a lightly-facilitated discussion about the topic.
This week, we’ll be discussing what the Stoics believed and how they acted, the cardinal virtues, tranquility of mind, the Stoic Sage, and role of mindfulness in Stoicism. We’ll also be going over three practices; one from Seneca, one Epictetus, and one from a different-but-complementary philosophical tradition.
Here's the video we'll be watching: https://youtu.be/G1nM9UCJCIs?si=ogBCQOeVu6mn9WAx&t=6
And here's the text, along with the rest of the resources for the course: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-6r2KFyv7f-vChnX-9eKovdFsQ6DYoc_CV5RZtJb9XA/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks so much for your interest, and please remember:
"There is no such thing as good or bad fortune for the individual; we live in common. And no one can live happily who has regard to himself alone and transforms everything into a question of his own utility; you must live for your neighbor, if you would live for yourself." - Seneca, Letters from a Stoic, Letter 48
9 attendees
Past events
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