Join us at Stoicon 2026: Happiness and Wellbeing
Follow into
Save into
Wisdom has happiness as its goal; it leads the way and opens the doors to that condition. Seneca, Letters on Ethics, 90.27
We are delighted to announce that Modern Stoicism’s annual online gathering will take place this year on Saturday, October 17, at 10 am EDT / 3 pm BST.
Not only will you hear from incredible speakers, you will also have a chance to talk with other practicing Stoics from around the world. It’s a day of learning, thinking, and discussing that will enhance and expand your practice of Stoicism.
This year we are asking questions about happiness and wellbeing. How do we become truly happy? What is Stoic wellbeing, and what is its connection to happiness?
You’ll learn about and discuss these topics:
- What did the ancient Stoics think about happiness, and how can we apply their insights in the 21st century?
- What is Stoic wellbeing? How can we be well in our lives today?
- What are the practices and strategies that lead to long-lasting happiness and wellbeing?
- How can we be happy and well in a world that seems so unhappy and unwell?
Our outstanding roster of speakers includes (subject to change):
Derren Brown is a celebrated illusionist and award-winning “master of mind control” who has been performing on stage and screen since 1992. His one-man stage shows have garnered a record-breaking five Olivier Award nominations and two wins for Best Entertainment. Derren’s 2017 US debut show SECRET won the New York Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience and returned for a sell-out run on Broadway in 2019. His best-selling books include Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Fine and A Book of Secrets: Finding Comfort in a Complex World.
Donald Robertson is a writer, cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist and trainer. He is one of the founding members of Modern Stoicism and the founder and president of the Plato’s Academy Centre nonprofit in Athens, Greece. Donald is the author of several books on philosophy, history, psychotherapy, and self-improvement, including How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism and the Art of Happiness: Practical Wisdom for Everyday Life.
Tim LeBon is Research Director for Modern Stoicism and a BABCP accredited cognitive behavioural psychotherapist. His research focuses on the psychology of Stoicism and includes leading the development of the Stoic Attitudes and Behaviours Scale (SABS), a validated measure of Stoic attitudes and behaviours. He is the author of Wise Therapy, Achieve Your Potential with Positive Psychology, and 365 Ways to Be More Stoic. His current interests include the scientific evaluation of Stoicism and the integration of Stoic philosophy with contemporary psychology.
Anya Leonard is the founder and director of Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom—including Stoicism—to modern minds. She has a MA in Sociology from University of Edinburgh and studied at St. John’s College in Annapolis with a double major in Philosophy and the History of Math of Science. She lives and writes from all over the world.
Matthew Sharpe is Professor and National Head of School of Philosophy at Australian Catholic University. He has taught and supervised philosophy for over two decades, and is the author of numerous articles in the history of ideas, critical and psychoanalytic theory, continental theory, and Stoic thought in journals of philosophy, social theory, legal theory, rhetoric and poetics. He has also written extensively for The Conversation, and was awarded the 2022 Australasian Association of Philosophy media award. Matt is the author of Stoicism, Bullying, and Beyond and is a leading facilitator of Stoic events in Australia.
Ralph Wedgwood is Professor of Philosophy at USC Dornsife, specializing in metaethics, practical reason, and normative ethical theory. He was previously Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford and is the author of numerous books and papers, including Rationality and Belief, The Value of Rationality, and Hierocles’ Concentric Circles.
Alexander MacLellan is a postdoctoral research fellow at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan, researching the social and neurocognitive mechanisms of action for social withdrawal. He also researches the psychological correlates of Stoicism, and whether practicing Stoicism improves mental health and wellbeing.
Organized and hosted by: Phil Yanov, Michael Maune, Brittany Polat
Tickets are by donation—give what you can. All conference proceeds benefit Modern Stoicism, a registered UK charity that shares Stoicism with people all over the world. Learn more about us at modernstoicism.com.
We look forward to seeing you in October! Get your tickets here:
Thanks for reading Stoicism Today! This post is public so feel free to share it.