About us
Welcome to the Vegas Stoics Meetup! Our group is dedicated to exploring the ancient philosophy of Stoicism as a means of self-transformation and personal development. Through a series of discussions and practical exercises, we aim to apply Stoic principles to modern life and cultivate wisdom, resilience, and inner peace. Whether you are new to Stoicism or a seasoned practitioner, join us on this journey of self-discovery and growth. Let's learn, grow, and thrive together as we navigate life's challenges with grace and courage.
Interested in learning more about Stoicism? See our Stoicism 101 primer.
Upcoming events
2
Vegas Stoics Meetup - June
The Quad behind Urth Caffé, 6820 Helen Toland St Suite 110, Las Vegas, NV, USDiscussion about Chapters 9 & 10 of What Is Stoicism? by Campbell & Whiting.
This is our monthly meetup for the Vegas Stoics group. The time is subject to change based on the weather.
We are working through a brief introductory text as a group. Reading the text is optional but encouraged and low-lift; each month's reading is approximately 10 pages. We'll start the meetup with a brief summary of the reading before discussing it in more depth.- Ch 9: The Circles of Concern (pg 45-48)
- Ch 10: Roles and the Cosmopolis (pg 49-56)
Link to the book:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204016439-what-is-stoicism
If you are completely new to Stoicism, it might be helpful to read the following article before the meeting: https://www.vegas-stoics.com/stoicism-101Ground Rules
- Stoicism is cosmopolitan: Anyone with a genuine interest in Stoicism, regardless of background, is welcome if they adhere to the ground rules and Socratic Guidelines
- We’re all learning: Aim for curiosity, not correction.
- Don’t interrupt: Let people finish; one conversation at a time.
- Share the floor: If you’ve spoken a lot, pause before speaking again.
- Respect confidentiality: Personal stories shared here stay here.
- Stay focused: Brief tangents are welcome but return to the theme.
- Politics and religion: Keep discussions of these topics philosophical and impersonal.
Socratic Guidelines
- Seek the Truth: No view is immune from questioning—everything is open for debate. The purpose of inquiry is to get closer to the truth. It is not to advance an agenda, spare feelings, or win an argument.
- Speak Boldy, Welcome Dissent: Say what you really think. Saying something unpopular is admirable; it moves us closer to truth. Take challenges in the same spirit—especially to your strongest convictions. If a challenger reveals your error, they've done you a favor. Confessing it is a sign of a healthy ego.
- Use Reason: Judge arguments by the quality of their evidence and reasoning, not by who made the claim. For points of contention, seek common ground in first principles, then test each position for consistency against that shared foundation.
- Question Everything, Even Yourself: Be curious and challenge your own beliefs. Too much love for your own ideas turns challengers into enemies and bends your reasoning toward winning rather than truth. Skepticism applies to groups too—distrust easy consensus. If an entire room agrees on something controversial, be ready to dissent. Groupthink is always a risk, and the Devil’s Advocate guards against it.
- Steelman, Don’t Strawman: Don't quibble over misspeaks. Help your counterpart be clear, assume they're smart and mean well, and interpret what they say in its strongest form. Go after the hard truth, not an exercise in semantics.
- Respect: Be Fierce, Stay Civil: Discussions should be rigorous and intense but always courteous. No name-calling, sarcasm, or shouting. Make your claims in ways that don't give personal offense and receive others' claims the same way. Offense—given or taken—is one of the greatest threats to truth-seeking.
- Hold Conclusions Lightly: Conclusions are provisional, even when probable. Keep a reserve of doubt, an awareness of one’s own ignorance and blind spots, and a recollection that others have been equally sure before, only to be proven wrong.
3 attendeesVegas Stoics Meetup - July
The Quad behind Urth Caffé, 6820 Helen Toland St Suite 110, Las Vegas, NV, USDiscussion about Chapters 11 & 12 of What Is Stoicism? by Campbell & Whiting.
This is our monthly meetup for the Vegas Stoics group. The time is subject to change based on the weather.
We are working through a brief introductory text as a group. Reading the text is optional but encouraged and low-lift; each month's reading is approximately 10 pages. We'll start the meetup with a brief summary of the reading before discussing it in more depth.- Ch 11: Emotions (pg 57-62)
- Ch 12: The Stoic God (pg 63-70)
Link to the book:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204016439-what-is-stoicism
If you are completely new to Stoicism, it might be helpful to read the following article before the meeting: https://www.vegas-stoics.com/stoicism-101Ground Rules
- Stoicism is cosmopolitan: Anyone with a genuine interest in Stoicism, regardless of background, is welcome if they adhere to the ground rules and Socratic Guidelines
- We’re all learning: Aim for curiosity, not correction.
- Don’t interrupt: Let people finish; one conversation at a time.
- Share the floor: If you’ve spoken a lot, pause before speaking again.
- Respect confidentiality: Personal stories shared here stay here.
- Stay focused: Brief tangents are welcome but return to the theme.
- Politics and religion: Keep discussions of these topics philosophical and impersonal.
Socratic Guidelines
- Seek the Truth: No view is immune from questioning—everything is open for debate. The purpose of inquiry is to get closer to the truth. It is not to advance an agenda, spare feelings, or win an argument.
- Speak Boldy, Welcome Dissent: Say what you really think. Saying something unpopular is admirable; it moves us closer to truth. Take challenges in the same spirit—especially to your strongest convictions. If a challenger reveals your error, they've done you a favor. Confessing it is a sign of a healthy ego.
- Use Reason: Judge arguments by the quality of their evidence and reasoning, not by who made the claim. For points of contention, seek common ground in first principles, then test each position for consistency against that shared foundation.
- Question Everything, Even Yourself: Be curious and challenge your own beliefs. Too much love for your own ideas turns challengers into enemies and bends your reasoning toward winning rather than truth. Skepticism applies to groups too—distrust easy consensus. If an entire room agrees on something controversial, be ready to dissent. Groupthink is always a risk, and the Devil’s Advocate guards against it.
- Steelman, Don’t Strawman: Don't quibble over misspeaks. Help your counterpart be clear, assume they're smart and mean well, and interpret what they say in its strongest form. Go after the hard truth, not an exercise in semantics.
- Respect: Be Fierce, Stay Civil: Discussions should be rigorous and intense but always courteous. No name-calling, sarcasm, or shouting. Make your claims in ways that don't give personal offense and receive others' claims the same way. Offense—given or taken—is one of the greatest threats to truth-seeking.
- Hold Conclusions Lightly: Conclusions are provisional, even when probable. Keep a reserve of doubt, an awareness of one’s own ignorance and blind spots, and a recollection that others have been equally sure before, only to be proven wrong.
3 attendees
