Join us Building the Future of this Community
Dear Stoic fam,
I want to begin by thanking you! In January, this newsletter became one of Substack’s official bestsellers, as a direct result of your support.
However, in some regards the philosophy we love has now become a victim of its own success.
When I was thinking about starting it, I wondered whether it was really needed and what it could accomplish. Way back in Oct 2012, I was invited to a multi-disciplinary workshop, organized by Chris Gill, professor emeritus of Ancient Thought, at Exeter University. We went on to found the Modern Stoicism organization, the Stoic Week online course, and Stoicon conferences. We contributed, I hope, in our small way, to the renaissance in popularity that Stoicism has gone through since then. However, in some regards the philosophy we love has now become a victim of its own success.
Over the years, I noticed more and more articles, videos, podcasts, and books, which seemed to present Stoicism in a very superficial way, or even to badly misrepresent its central ideas. I also watched as the Stoicism communities on social media grew to hundreds of thousands of members but increasingly became dominated by joke memes, and articles about things like how to get rich quick, etc. This seemed very far removed from the Stoic philosophy of Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. Controversial influencers, such as Andrew Tate and others like him, have jumped on the bandwagon, claiming to be inspired by Stoicism. I noticed that high-quality content from leading experts on the philosophy — like Chris Gill, Massimo Pigliucci, and Chris Gill — was often being drowned out by all the noise on social media.
Not one of my top five recommended resources. Read the Stoics yourself first!I learned, though, that Substack was building a space designed to be different. I began to wonder if starting a newsletter might offer a way to create a community where I could help others to put Stoicism and other branches of Greek philosophy into practice, in ways that might help them in daily life.
Since I started writing here, last October, I have been amazed by the conversation we're creating. The conversation is rational and civil. I receive emails almost every week from people telling me how Stoicism has transformed their lives, the lives of their families, and others they care about. We don't have trolls here, we just have a community, based around common interests and values.
Now, I have a request. You are one of the many, highly-engaged people who subscribe to this Substack newsletter with me at no cost to you, for which I'm grateful, because it helps us to spread the word. Thank you! I'd like to ask you to take the next step and become a paid-up subscriber today, for the price of a few cappuccinos ($7 per month or $70 for the whole year).
Although, I write all of the articles myself, reply to all of the comments myself, it takes a small team to keep a community like this alive and thriving.
We try to keep the content fresh, relevant, engaging, and of real practical benefit to you. We’ve been consistently publishing one article every Tuesday, and have added regular podcast episodes. (“Founding” members also get to enroll free of charge on my elearning courses about Marcus Aurelius and Socrates.) Now, to celebrate our growth, I have added a new monthly column titled “Behind the Scrolls”, containing my analysis and commentary on key passages from ancient texts, specifically for paid-up subscribers. It's your paid subscriptions that make this work sustainable.
If Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life has made you think and enriched your life in any way, we would be honored to have you join us as a paid subscriber and community member.
Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
We’re living in what I like to call the “Third Sophistic”, the modern-era of cyber-Sophists in the form of social media influencers and demagogues! The Internet is awash with divisive political rhetoric, used to provoke fear and anger, in order to manipulate and prey upon the public. Philosophy evolved in ancient Athens precisely as an antidote for the rhetoric of Sophists, the “influencers” of their day. It’s our duty to protect ourselves against those who would exploit us. By learning how to think critically, we can stand on our own two feet, and become more psychologically resilient. This aspect of ancient philosophy reached its pinnacle in the writings of the great Stoic thinkers. The ancient Stoa was a community, first and foremost, where students helped one another to develop their minds, through the use of reason. We can do that again today, cutting through the “smoke and mirrors” and getting back to the basic human virtues — although it does take time and effort.
One final comment… Not everyone who wants to join our community can afford to become a paid subscriber. If that includes you, then please reach out to me directly, and I will do whatever I can to assist you. If that’s not you, though, please consider sponsoring someone else by giving a gift subscription. Substack has a feature, which makes that easy for you, by clicking the button below:
Thank you all, once again, for your support, your questions, and your comments, over the years since I began this journey.
Yours sincerely,
Donald Robertson
