You have read the quotes and want the substance
Marcus Aurelius on a mug is not a philosophy.
Courses
See what you would learn
Understand what Stoicism would change about a bad day.
A course on Stoic philosophy as the Stoics meant it. It covers distinguishing what you can influence from what you cannot, the difference between feeling an emotion and being ruled by it, and how the ideas apply to ordinary setbacks without turning you cold.
Open Cadence on the App Store, type the sentence when it asks what you want to learn, and answer a few setup questions. Free to start. Android testers can request early access.
Type this when Cadence asks what you want to learn
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.
- Best for
- Philosophy
- Prerequisites
- None. Bring the situation you have.
- Course length
- 7 to 30 lessons, sized to your goal
- Lesson pace
- About 10 minutes a day
- Format
- Read it, or play the audio
- Access
- Available on the App Store, with early features and Android testing access
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, judgements 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 visualisation 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 not feeling
It means not being ruled by feeling. The Stoics felt grief and joy; they examined the judgements underneath.
Stoicism is about enduring hardship
It is about living well. Endurance is one consequence, not the point.
Course questions
What to know before you start.
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?
A course on Stoic philosophy as the Stoics meant it. It covers distinguishing what you can influence from what you cannot, the difference between feeling an emotion and being ruled by it, and how the ideas apply to ordinary setbacks without turning you cold. 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?
Courses run 7 to 30 lessons of about 10 minutes, sized to what you asked for. One lesson a day is the intended pace, and you can go faster. 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.
The sentence to type
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.
Open Cadence on the App Store, type the sentence when it asks what you want to learn, and answer a few setup questions. Free to start. Android testers can request early access.