Notable Stoics of the 21st Century

Thursday, March 16th 2023

While Stoicism as a philosophical tradition dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, its influence has persisted into the 21st century. Some notable individuals who have been influenced by Stoic philosophy include:

  1. Ryan Holiday: Ryan Holiday is a contemporary writer and speaker who has written extensively on Stoicism, including the books "The Daily Stoic" and "The Obstacle is the Way."

  2. William B. Irvine: William B. Irvine is a professor of philosophy and author of the book "A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy." His work focuses on how Stoic philosophy can be applied to modern life.

  3. Massimo Pigliucci: Massimo Pigliucci is a professor of philosophy and author of the book "How to Be a Stoic." He has written extensively on Stoic philosophy and its applications to modern life.

  4. James Stockdale: James Stockdale was a naval officer and Vietnam War veteran who was also a student of Stoic philosophy. His experiences as a prisoner of war informed his Stoic worldview, which he wrote about in the book "Courage Under Fire."

  5. Tim Ferriss: Tim Ferriss is a writer, speaker, and entrepreneur who has written about his use of Stoic philosophy in his personal and professional life. He has also interviewed many prominent Stoic thinkers on his podcast, "The Tim Ferriss Show."

Overall, while there are no "famous" Stoics in the 21st century in the same sense as the famous Stoics of ancient times, there are many contemporary thinkers and writers who have been influenced by Stoic philosophy and are helping to bring its ideas to a wider audience.