College of Stoic Philosophers

Now Taking Applications for the Marcus Aurelius School (hereinafter referred to as the MA School). This is a one-year program of distance learning suitable for working adults. Our school for SES graduates is not oriented to the usual academic graduate school emphasis on learning more and more about less and less. In this program you will make the difficult transition from theory to practice. You will learn how to apply abstract knowledge to the real world. This is and always has been the final stage in a Stoic philosopher's formal education.

The Curriculum of the Graduate School can be outlined as follows:

LOGIC

Review mneme: everything you need to remember about formal Logic
Dialectic: from syllogisms to research, investigation, and persuasion
Rhetoric: working with the rules and tools of effective prose
Independent Studies: Finding the better way in Stoic Logic

PHYSICS

Review mneme: everything you need to remember about formal Physics
Bridge: From Physics to Ethics in the Lazy Argument
Theology: A philosophical god, the final study and practice of Stoic physics
Independent Studies: Finding the better way in Stoic Physics

ETHICS

Review mneme: everything you need to remember about formal Ethics
Applications: Marcus Aurelius observes life, business, and government
Real Work: Success in the life of human interactions
Independent Studies: Finding the better way in Stoic Ethics

PROSOCHÉ ("Attention is the fundamental Stoic spiritual attitude")

Hypomnemata: Classical meditation through personal journaling
Elective: Chosen from any number of meditation practices according to interest

BOOK REVIEWS: Reading reviews written on essential works.

DISSERTATION: Original essay on any aspect of Stoic philosophy. Length to be determined by student, tutor, and subject matter. Essay must be suitable for publication and preservation in the College of Stoic Philosophers Library.

Successful Completion of the Marcus Aurelius School program will entitle the graduate to certification as a formally declared "Stoic Philosopher" (SP). This honorable title is not a goal or final product of one's intellectual life but recognition of one's chosen path and commitment to living as a lover of wisdom. It is a beginning, not an end.

You May Apply if you have completed the Stoic Essential Studies (SES) Course and are 30 years of age of older. Unlike academic degrees, the title of Stoic Philosopher is not given to our graduates in recognition of coursework mastery alone. It is given in recognition of mastery and commitment to living the life of a Stoic philosopher. The faculty of the College have agreed that maturity is a necessary component of such a commitment. However, in those instances when an applicant believes s/he is mature enough to enroll in the graduate program before the minimum age requirement s/he may petition the Scholarch and Dean of Students for a waiver.

There are four terms in the MA School program spanning an entire year, with each term beginning January 03, April 03, July 03, and October 03. A student may begin the program on the beginning date of any one of these terms but will follow the sequence noted in the Curriculum Outline above, beginning with Logic. That is, a student will start with Logic, the first course in the program, regardless of which term he or she wishes to enroll.

Each term has a fee of $39, for a total of $156 USD for the entire course. Fees may be paid each term, $39 USD per term, but must be remitted at least two weeks prior to the commencement of the next term to continue in the program. Fees can be paid by clicking on the Donate Button on the Home page and following instructions there. Please note: because the fees for this program are so low, they must also be non-refundable.

Contact Erik Wiegardt, Scholarch of the College of Stoic Philosophers, with any questions regarding the Marcus Aurelius School: cyberstoic@aol.com

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