Explore Wisdom
Browse by author, core text, concept, or tag.
Core Texts
Authors
Marcus Aurelius
121–180 AD
Seneca
c. 4 BC – AD 65
Epictetus
c. 50 – c. 135 AD
Zeno of Citium
334–262 BC
Chrysippus
279–206 BC
Cleanthes
331–232 BC
Cato the Younger
95–46 BC
Musonius Rufus
c. 20–30 – c. 101–102 AD
Posidonius
c. 135–51 BC
Panaetius
c. 185–110 BC
Ryan Holiday
1987–present
Donald Robertson
1970–present
Massimo Pigliucci
1964–present
William Irvine
1952–present
Core Concepts
Memento Mori
The ancient practice of reflection on mortality.
Amor Fati
A love of fate; embracing everything that happens.
Dichotomy of Control
Distinguishing between what we can and cannot control.
Logos
The universal divine reason or cosmic order.
Virtue
The sole good and the key to a flourishing life.
Premeditatio Malorum
The premeditation of evils; visualizing negative outcomes.
The View from Above
A cosmic perspective to shrink personal anxieties.
Sympatheia
The interconnectedness of all things in the cosmos.
Stoic Mindfulness (Prosochē)
A state of vigilant, present-moment awareness.
The Philosopher King
Plato's ideal ruler, embodied by Marcus Aurelius.
Ataraxia
A state of serene calmness and untroubled peace of mind.
Apatheia
Freedom from destructive emotions and passions.
Negative Visualization
Imagining loss to increase gratitude and reduce attachment.
Preferred Indifferents
Things that are neither good nor bad but naturally preferred.
Stoic Physics
The Stoic understanding of the material universe and fate.
The Four Cardinal Virtues
Wisdom, Justice, Courage, and Temperance - the foundation of character.
Stoic Therapy
Using philosophical principles to treat emotional disturbance.
Morning Reflection
Beginning each day with philosophical preparation and intention-setting.
Evening Review
Daily self-examination and reflection on progress in virtue.
Stoic Joy
The positive emotion that comes from living virtuously.
Cosmic Perspective
Viewing life from the standpoint of universal nature and time.
Stoic Acceptance
Embracing reality as it is, not as we wish it were.
The Philosophical Life
Living according to reason and virtue rather than impulse and convention.
Prosoche
Continuous attention to the present moment and philosophical principles.
View from Above
Mental exercise of observing life from a cosmic or elevated perspective.
Oikeiosis
The natural process of extending care from self to others.
Katalepsis
Clear and certain knowledge gained through proper judgment.
Phantasia
Initial impressions or mental representations of external objects.
Sunkatathesis
The act of giving assent or agreement to impressions.
Hegemonikon
The ruling or governing part of the soul; the rational mind.
Prokope
Moral progress or advancement in philosophical development.
Kathexis
A stable disposition or settled habit of character.
Autarkeia
Self-sufficiency and independence from external circumstances.
Eudaimonia (Stoic Version)
Flourishing life achieved through virtue and wisdom.
Kataleptic Impression
Self-evidently true perceptions that compel rational assent.
Reserve Clause
Adding 'fate permitting' to our plans and expectations.
Spiritual Exercises
Daily practices for developing philosophical wisdom and virtue.
Discipline of Desire
Training ourselves to want only what is within our control.
Discipline of Action
Acting with virtue and social responsibility in all situations.
Discipline of Judgment
Forming accurate opinions about what is truly good, bad, or indifferent.
Preferred and Dispreferred Indifferents
Things that are naturally preferred or avoided but don't determine happiness.
Cosmic Sympathy
The interconnected unity of all things in the universe.
Living According to Nature
Aligning human life with rational and social aspects of our nature.
Stoic Therapy Techniques
Practical methods for treating emotional disturbance through reason.
The Stoic Sage
The ideal of perfect wisdom and virtue, rarely if ever achieved.
Stoic Paradoxes
Seemingly contradictory truths that reveal deeper wisdom.
Stoic Determinism
The belief that all events follow from prior causes according to natural law.
Stoic Materialism
The view that everything, including thoughts and emotions, is material.
Connection Between Physics and Ethics
How understanding the universe informs moral living.
Stoic Emotions vs. Natural Feelings
Distinguishing between destructive passions and appropriate responses.
Stoic Temperance (Sophrosyne)
Self-discipline and moderation in all aspects of life.
Stoic Justice (Dikaiosyne)
Fairness, integrity, and service to the common good.
Stoic Courage (Andreia)
Bravery in facing challenges and doing what is right.
Stoic Wisdom (Sophia)
Practical knowledge of how to live well and make good decisions.
Antipatheia
The absence of destructive emotions and passionate attachments.
Kataleptic Phantasia
Clear and certain mental impressions that provide reliable knowledge.
Phantastic Impression
False or misleading mental representations that should not receive assent.
Prolepsis
Natural preconceptions and common notions shared by humanity.
Kathorthoma
Perfectly virtuous actions performed by the ideal sage.
Hamartemata
Moral errors and mistakes in judgment made by imperfect humans.
Epithumia
Irrational desire for things we judge to be good.
Phobos
Irrational fear of things we judge to be bad.
Hedone
The emotion arising from the false belief that external pleasures are truly good.
Lupe
The emotion of distress arising from false judgments about external losses.
Preferred Externals
Things that are naturally preferable but don't determine our happiness.
Dispreferred Externals
Things naturally avoided but which don't determine our unhappiness.
Eupatheia
Healthy emotions based on correct judgments about reality.
Boulesis
Rational desire or wish based on correct understanding of the good.
Eulabeia
Appropriate caution based on accurate assessment of real dangers.
Chara
Genuine joy arising from virtue and right action.
Stoic Agape
Universal love and benevolence toward all rational beings.
Katalexis
The act of grasping truth through reliable knowledge.
Sympathetic Connection
The fundamental interconnectedness of all things in the cosmos.
Hexis
A stable disposition or settled state of character.
The Possible and Impossible
Understanding what can and cannot be achieved through human effort.