You have read the quotes and want the substance
Marcus Aurelius on a mug is not a philosophy.
Courses
Start with three things you can do today
How to practice Stoicism in daily life
Understand what Stoicism would change about a bad day.
Begin with the Stoic distinction between your own judgments and actions and outcomes you cannot command. Use it to examine a specific setback and choose a considered response. This is a philosophical exercise, not a promise to remove distress or a substitute for support.
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A starting goal
I want to understand Stoic philosophy and how it approaches everyday setbacks. Help me distinguish what I can influence from what I cannot, without treating emotions as something to suppress.
Change any word so it fits your situation. The course is built from what you type and a few setup questions.
Start today
Three things you can do before the course exists.
Useful on their own. The course is for when you want the whole skill, not just the first move.
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Name the event and your interpretation
Original example: your train is canceled before an important appointment. The cancellation is an event; "the whole day is ruined" is an interpretation. In the opening of the Enchiridion, Epictetus distinguishes what is up to us from what is not.
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Choose a response without claiming control of the result
You might check alternatives, notify the person waiting and decide what matters next. Those are actions you can attempt; getting there on time also depends on circumstances. The distinction does not require pretending that the disruption is pleasant or unimportant.
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Review the judgment you acted on
Ask whether your response was reasonable and considerate given what you knew. If not, name a different action for a similar situation. This modern illustration is not the whole of Stoicism, and a difficult emotion does not prove that you failed at philosophy.
Sources: Epictetus, Enchiridion 1: what is and is not up to us, Carter translation. Practical examples are starting points, not promised results.
- Best for
- Philosophy
- Prerequisites
- None. Bring the situation you have.
- Course length
- 7 to 30 lessons
- Pace
- Yours. One lesson at a time, as often as you like.
- Format
- Read it, or play the audio
- Access
- Available on the App Store and Google Play, with an optional early testing list
Before the course is built
Setup asks about your situation first.
Lesson 1 opens on the moment you describe, and the examples use your role. For this request, expect questions like these.
- What drew you to Stoicism: a difficult period, the popular books, or curiosity about the philosophy?
- Do you want the practice, the ideas, or the history?
- Is there a situation you would like to think through Stoically?
Right for now
If any of this sounds familiar, start here.
You are worn down by things you cannot control
The news, other people and outcomes eat your peace.
You worry Stoicism means suppressing feelings
You want steadiness without becoming numb.
Course arc
Where the course goes, in order.
Cadence writes the lessons for you, so the exact path follows your answers. This is the ground a course built from this sentence covers.
01 / 06Who the Stoics were
Zeno to Marcus Aurelius, and what they were trying to answer.
What is up to you
The dichotomy of control, and why it is harder and more useful than it sounds.
Emotion
Impressions, judgments and assent: the Stoic account, and why it is not suppression.
Virtue as the good
What the Stoics meant by living well, and how it differs from feeling well.
The practices
Morning preparation, evening review, negative visualization and the view from above.
A bad day, Stoically
Walking through a real setback with the tools.
What changes
What you will be able to do, and what you will stop believing.
You will be able to
Use the dichotomy of control
Sort a difficult situation into what is yours to act on and what is not.
Work with emotion, not against it
Understand what the Stoics actually said about feeling.
Apply it daily
Bring a few Stoic practices into ordinary setbacks.
Ideas this course corrects
Stoicism means ignoring harm or never seeking help
Examining your response does not require accepting mistreatment or refusing practical support.
One control list captures the entire philosophy
The exercise is an entry point. Read the wider text and question its assumptions rather than treating a slogan as a complete philosophy.
Course questions
What to know before you start.
How to practice Stoicism in daily life: what can I do today?
Name the event and your interpretation. Original example: your train is canceled before an important appointment. The cancellation is an event; "the whole day is ruined" is an interpretation. In the opening of the Enchiridion, Epictetus distinguishes what is up to us from what is not. Choose a response without claiming control of the result. You might check alternatives, notify the person waiting and decide what matters next. Those are actions you can attempt; getting there on time also depends on circumstances. The distinction does not require pretending that the disruption is pleasant or unimportant. Review the judgment you acted on. Ask whether your response was reasonable and considerate given what you knew. If not, name a different action for a similar situation. This modern illustration is not the whole of Stoicism, and a difficult emotion does not prove that you failed at philosophy.
Is this a fixed course?
No. Cadence builds the course when you type the sentence and answer a few setup questions, so the lessons follow your situation. This page describes what a course built from this request covers. You see the whole path before Lesson 1.
Who is this course for?
Begin with the Stoic distinction between your own judgments and actions and outcomes you cannot command. Use it to examine a specific setback and choose a considered response. This is a philosophical exercise, not a promise to remove distress or a substitute for support. It sits under Philosophy in the Ideas & discovery part of the library.
Do I need any prior experience?
No. Setup asks what you already know and where you want to use it, and the course starts from there. Bring a real situation if you have one; the examples are built around it.
How long does it take?
Most courses run 7 to 30 lessons. The course length is sized to what you asked for. You set the pace: one lesson at a time, as often as you like. Lessons can be read or played as audio.
Does this course award a certificate or degree?
No. Cadence is for practical self-learning and does not award accredited degrees or professional certification.
Start today
Type it, answer a few questions, open Lesson 1.
A starting goal
I want to understand Stoic philosophy and how it approaches everyday setbacks. Help me distinguish what I can influence from what I cannot, without treating emotions as something to suppress.
Want new features first?