About us
Welcome to Orlando Stoics
Orlando Stoics is an active community of more than 5,000 members, with several meetings held each week. Some events take place in person, while others are held online. All meetings and classes are free.
What Is Stoicism?
Stoicism is a practical school of philosophy founded in Athens around 300 BCE by Zeno of Citium. It teaches that a good life is built upon wisdom, character, and virtue. Stoics seek to live in accordance with nature and reason while practicing courage, justice, self-control, and resilience.
Our discussions draw from ancient Stoic thinkers such as Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, as well as modern writers and practitioners.
Why Study Stoicism?
In a world of constant stimulation, instant gratification, and endless distraction, Stoicism offers a different way of approaching life. It teaches us to distinguish between what is within our control and what is not, respond thoughtfully rather than impulsively, and preserve our character during difficult circumstances.
We also explore connections between Stoicism and Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Existentialism, Minimalism, psychology, and other traditions concerned with philosophy as a way of life. Our meetings encourage thoughtful questions, respectful disagreement, and in-depth discussion.
What We Do
- Read and discuss ancient and modern works on Stoicism.
- Examine Stoic themes in literature, art, media, and popular culture.
- Compare Stoic ideas with insights from history, religion, psychology, and other philosophical traditions.
Stoicism has influenced people from many different backgrounds, including writers, political leaders, soldiers, activists, and ordinary people seeking to live with greater clarity and purpose. Its appeal lies not in promising an easy life, but in helping us meet life’s difficulties with sound judgment, resilience, and integrity.
Joining the Group
Our group is open to the public, and there are no membership or subscription fees. Because we post new meetings frequently, Meetup notifications may generate more emails than you prefer. You can adjust them by visiting our Meetup page, selecting “You’re a Member,” and then choosing “Group Notifications.” You may turn off the emails and still visit the page whenever you would like to see upcoming events.
Whether you are completely new to Stoicism or have studied it for years, you are welcome to join us.
We hope to see you at an upcoming meeting.
Featured event
America at 250: Stoic Virtue and the Future of the American Experiment
On October 24, 2026, the Philadelphia Stoa will host an in-person public conference bringing together leading historians, philosophers, legal scholars, and civic leaders to explore virtue, citizenship, and self-government in the American experiment.
Drawing on Stoic philosophy, the U.S. Constitution, and the ideas that shaped the nation’s founding, speakers will explore how reason, character, self-command, and responsibility can help sustain democracy in an age of technological disruption, institutional distrust, and civic fragmentation.
A healthy society depends not only on good laws and institutions, but also on the character and judgment of its citizens. Together, we will consider what self-government requires of each of us and how we can strengthen the virtues, institutions, and communities that make it possible. The conference is intended to spur future discussion, research, and collaboration around these questions well beyond the event itself.
Featured Speakers
- Dr. Sophia Rosenfeld, Walter H. Annenberg Professor of History, University of Pennsylvania
- Dr. Gregory Sadler, President of ReasonIO and Philosophy Faculty, Marquette University
- Kermit Roosevelt III, J.D., David Berger Professor for the Administration of Justice, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
- Ward Farnsworth, J.D., W. Page Keeton Chair in Law and Former Dean, University of Texas School of Law
- Delegate Cliff Hayes, Virginia General Assembly, Chair of key committees on Technology Policy and Government Operations
- Dr. Massimo Pigliucci, K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy, The City College of New York
Event Details
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT
Location: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Format: In-person conference
Advance registration is required. Please visit the conference page for additional details and to register:
https://luma.com/9ghyl138
Upcoming events
61
IN-PERSON: Reason Not to Worry (Stoic Saturdays)
Panera Bread, 2415 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL, USThis is our IN-PERSON Stoic discussion and reading (no Zoom link available). We meet every 2 weeks on Saturdays.
READING
# Reasons Not to Worry: How to Be Stoic in Chaotic Times
In this thoughtful and approachable book, journalist Brigid Delaney spends a year exploring how Stoic philosophy can be applied to modern life. Blending personal experience with humor and reflection, she turns to ancient thinkers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius to help answer some of life’s most persistent questions—how to find peace, handle uncertainty, and focus on what truly matters.
Rather than presenting Stoicism as abstract theory, Delaney tests its ideas in real time. She compares her own tendencies—impatience, anxiety, and a fast-paced modern lifestyle—with the Stoic emphasis on reason, acceptance, and control. Through this process, she examines how ancient wisdom can be used to navigate everyday challenges, from stress and insecurity to grief and decision-making.
The result is a practical and often humorous exploration of how to live more deliberately. By learning to let go of what cannot be controlled, reflect on what is important, and approach life with greater awareness, Delaney shows how Stoicism can help restore a sense of balance and perspective—even in uncertain or chaotic times.Book Club Format
- Link to purchase the book: Amazon.com
- Read the current chapter of the book before the next meeting
- Write down your thoughts, questions, and concerns, or highlight certain sections of the book you would like to read aloud.
- We will go around the room, and everyone will have a chance to discuss the chapter and ask questions.
- Meaningful application and final discussion.
Outlines will be provided. We recommend that you read the chapter before showing up. We will read the chapters, at least summaries of each, and go over the core ideas together.
SCHEDULE
04-25-2026: Chapter 1 - How to Be Mortal
05-09-2026: Chapter 2 - How to Work Out What Matters
05-23-2026: Chapter 3 - How to Cope with Disaster
06-06-2026: Chapter 4 - How to Be Relaxed
06-20-2026: Chapter 5 - How to Be Good
07-04-2026: Chapter 6 - How to Be Untroubled
07-18-2026: Chapter 7 - How to Be Calm
08-01-2026: Chapter 8 - How to Be Moderate
08-15-2026: Chapter 9 - How to Be on Social Media
08-29-2026: Chapter 10 - How to Be Happy with What You’ve Got
09-12-2026: Chap 11 & 12 - How to Beat FOMO, Comparisons & Anxiety
09-26-2026: Chap 12 & 13 - Beat Anxiety, How To Grieve
10-10-2026: Chapter 13 - How to Grieve
10-24-2026: Chapter 14 - How to Die + EpilogueVENUE
The location is Panera Bread, 2415 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32804. It's on the FIRST FLOOR of the AdventHealth medical building.
Parking is free. As you drive north on Orange Avenue, you will see the AdventHealth building on the right. Turn right, go 2 blocks, and then turn right again into the parking garage (free parking). Most parking spaces are open; avoid the reserved spaces.
You can park on the first floor and walk outside, or park on the third floor of the garage and use the air-conditioned bridge to walk to the building.
TIME
The meeting is from Noon to 2 PM. No worries if you're late... It's better to be late than not show up. Also, we take a break halfway in the meeting for refreshment and a bathroom break.
ZOOM LINK
Since the meeting is in-person only, no Zoom link is available.
GUESTS
If you want to invite a guest, please ask them to RSVP separately. We have a limited number of seats in the room.
COURTESY
This group enjoys open-minded, respectful conversations. We don't talk over each other. If we differ in our opinions, then "we agree to disagree". The long-term goal is to improve our minds via group discussions. Our group does NOT discuss religion or politics.
6 attendees
On Desire: Why We Want What We Want
·OnlineOnlineIn this series, we will be reading and discussing excerpts from On Desire: Why We Want What We Want, by William B. Irvine. Pre-reading is preferred but not essential.
Author's Substack, How To Think More and Better: https://morebetterthinking.substack.com/
Author's website: https://www.williambirvine.com/Desires often come to us unbidden and unwanted, and they can have a dramatic impact, sometimes changing the course of our lives. In On Desire, William B. Irvine takes us on a wide-ranging tour of our impulses, wants, and needs, showing us where these feelings come from and how we can try to rein them in. Spicing his account with engaging observations by writers like Seneca, Tolstoy, and Freud, Irvine considers the teachings of Buddhists, Hindus, the Amish, Shakers, and Catholic saints, as well as those of ancient Greek and Roman and modern European philosophers. Irvine also looks at what modern science can tell us about desire — such as what happens in the brain when we desire something and how animals evolved particular desires — and he advances a new theory about how desire itself evolved. Irvine also suggests that at the same time that we gained the ability to desire, we were "programmed" to find some things more desirable than others. Irvine concludes that the best way to attain lasting happiness is not to change the world around us or our place in it, but to change ourselves.
Join us Monday at 7:00–8:30 p.m. Eastern (EDT)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83956793370?pwd=WPZGfSOwsXLWoLL174uFXLB44fEFn6.1Here’s what that looks like around the world:
United States
Eastern (NY / Orlando) – 7:00–8:30 p.m. Friday
Central – 6:00–7:30 p.m. Friday
Mountain – 5:00–6:30 p.m. Friday
Arizona – 4:00–5:30 p.m. Friday
Pacific – 4:00–5:30 p.m. Friday
Alaska – 3:00–4:30 p.m. Friday
Hawaii – 1:00–2:30 p.m. Friday
South America
São Paulo – 8:00–9:30 p.m. Friday
Buenos Aires – 8:00–9:30 p.m. Friday
Europe & Africa
London – 12:00–1:30 a.m. Saturday
Dublin – 12:00–1:30 a.m. Saturday
Central Europe – 1:00–2:30 a.m. Saturday
South Africa – 1:00–2:30 a.m. Saturday
Middle East & Asia
Dubai – 3:00–4:30 a.m. Saturday
India – 4:30–6:00 a.m. Saturday
Singapore – 7:00–8:30 a.m. Saturday
Philippines – 7:00–8:30 a.m. Saturday
Japan – 8:00–9:30 a.m. Saturday
Australia
Brisbane – 9:00–10:30 a.m. Saturday
Sydney / Melbourne – 9:00–10:30 a.m. Saturday
We’d love to have you join us.15 attendees
Past events
1778
