The Stoic Challenge: What Should We Do When Bad Things Happen?

Bad things happen. Plans fall apart. People disappoint us. We lose things we care about. Sometimes life simply refuses to cooperate.

The Stoics thought there was a way of responding to adversity that could radically change our experience of it.

In this meetup, we’ll explore an idea inspired by both ancient Stoicism and William B. Irvine’s modern interpretation of it:

Is it possible to develop a way of thinking that makes setbacks less threatening, and perhaps even changes what they mean to us?

If the Stoics are right, the payoff is enormous: not a life without difficulty, but a life in which difficulty has far less power over us.

No previous knowledge of Stoicism is necessary. Come ready to think, discuss, and test the idea for yourself.