Sheffield Stoic Philosophy Group

The Sheffield Stoic Philosophy Group meets at the Thackeray Room, St Mary's Community Hall on Monday 2 November, from 18:15 to 20:15. It's a free session, and you can arrive from 18:00 if you want to settle in before things get going.

Stoicism started in ancient Greece and is still practised today. It's built on rationality and excellence of character, and on seeing all people as part of an interconnected community. At its core is the distinction between what is in our power — our thoughts, judgements and actions — and what is not, like external events, luck and circumstances. By cultivating virtues like wisdom, justice, courage and moderation, it aims for emotional resilience and inner peace.

The group meets in an informal, friendly setting to work through Epictetus's Handbook (the Enchiridion) paragraph by paragraph, so you're not expected to have read it all in advance. This session continues that reading, and then rounds off with a discussion of Greg Sadler's blog post 'Dealing With The Unduly Demanding In The Workplace' — a practical application of the philosophy to the kind of friction that crops up in a working day. The whole thing is organised by Mark Bryan.

When the discussion wraps up, there's a social: the group can walk about seven minutes to the Springvale Tavern for drinks. It's a free event, running from 18:15 to 20:15 on Monday 2 November at the Thackeray Room, St Mary's Community Hall, Howard Road, Walkley, Sheffield S6 3RX.