Who gave me permission to start a new school of philosophy? Well, nobody, really. That doesn't mean it wasn't the right thing to do and I'd like to briefly explain why.

When Marcus Aurelius began writing his "Meditations", he didn’t expect that he would still be gathering new followers in the 21st century. He simply set out to describe what he defined as a fulfilled life and to motivate the way he chose to live his. He wasn't after fame or glory, but he recognized that people looked up to him as a role model and decided that by living virtuously he could inspire others to be their best selves. 

I intend to use this website as a lectern from which to do the same.

I want this to be an unclouded corner of the Internet where we confront human nature and triumph over it in the search for tranquility.

More than 2000 years have passed since the advent of Stoicism, yet its teachings still ring true. While the interpretation of what a good, moral life is has not changed, the tools at our disposal and our collective understanding of human nature have evolved tremendously. I would argue that the legacy of the Modern Stoic carries the responsibility of incorporating these new facts into the toolkit of the philosophy and of using them to live virtuously in a way that befits the Zeitgeist. 

But ... Stoic Optimizer, isn't it blasphemous to bend and extend a philosophy to fit your times? Aren't Epictetus, Marcus and the gang rolling over in their graves as they watch over us dilettantes? I don't believe that they are. 

Remember that philosophy is not religion - no matter what misguided, fervent online proselytizers would have you believe. Herein lies its beauty: philosophy is a rational search for truth, not a doctrine. It doesn't ask you to 'buy the whole package' and believe even when doing so causes you intense suffering and puts you at odds with reality. 

This doesn't mean that religious or spiritual people are wrong or stupid, they're just different. Their tranquility comes from relinquishing responsibility to a Higher Power and doing their best to please It in hopes of finding inner peace in eternity. We don't do that here.

I have no idea if an afterlife exists and fundamentally neither do you, so our best bet is to live an honorable life while we can and to attain at least some level of tranquility while we're here. If the afterlife does exist, I firmly believe that we won't be punished for being our best, most virtuous selves. 

I'm not going to be handing out colored pills of strength either. If you're after Viagra for the mind, which disappears unless you take your daily dose, this blog is not for you.

As Stoic Optimizers we will be having a conversation in which confronting hard truths and finding rational ways to cope are the norm. We will look towards science, psychology, economics and especially within ourselves to decipher and steer the beast within. 

I encourage you to write back, comment on the posts and suggest topics for investigation. Don't take everything I write at face value; I'm human - ergo fallible - so I might also learn something when you contradict me. 

I'll see you by the porch. Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter using the form below to be notified whenever we're hanging out. Or follow me on social media, if that's more your thing.