About Stoic Wisdoms
Stoic Wisdoms is the largest Stoicism publication on Substack. Through this newsletter, I explore what Stoic philosophy and modern psychology can teach us about the questions we face in everyday life, including the ones that don’t have easy answers.
The Greeks had a name for the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it: akrasia, or weakness of will. The Stoics saw this problem differently. Following Socrates, they believed that our actions reflect the judgments we make in the moment, even when those judgments are mistaken. For them, changing how we act begins with examining how we think.
Marcus Aurelius wrote about maintaining a clear mind while ruling an empire through plague and war. Epictetus, who had once been enslaved, later taught that freedom depends on how we use our own judgment. Seneca wrote about fear and uncertainty while navigating the dangers of Roman political life. Two thousand years later, people are still struggling with many of the same things.
I spend a lot of time studying the original Stoic texts, including the often-overlooked teachings of Musonius Rufus. In my essays, I try to understand what these philosophers really meant and how we can apply their ideas to the challenges we face today. I also enjoy exploring what modern psychology has to say, especially when it helps us understand why we think and behave the way we do.
My hope is that you come away from each post with something useful, whether it’s a new way of looking at a problem or something practical you can try in your own life.
Free subscribers receive one new essay every week.
Paid subscribers receive two to three essays per week in total, along with full access to the complete archive, including over 100 premium essays, practical guides, and longer reflections on Stoic philosophy and modern psychology.
Annual and lifetime Patron subscribers also receive STOIC CONFIDENCE, my ebook on building genuine confidence, at no additional cost.
The goal I have for every reader is sovereignty. Over your attention, your thinking, and how you respond to whatever the world puts in front of you.
