Should We Care What Other People Think?

Most of us say we shouldn’t care too much what other people think. But in real life, that’s easier said than done. We care about being respected, liked, understood, admired, accepted, and taken seriously. Other people’s opinions can influence our confidence, our choices, our relationships, and even how we see ourselves. The Stoics had a striking view of reputation and approval: other people’s judgments are ultimately outside our control. But does that mean we should simply stop caring what anyone thinks? In this meetup, we’ll explore a harder question: When should other people’s opinions matter to us, and when do we give them too much power? We’ll look at Stoic ideas from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca, along with broader philosophical and psychological perspectives on approval, criticism, reputation, and authenticity. No previous knowledge of Stoicism is necessary. Come ready to discuss, disagree, and test the ideas against real life. We're starting a little later this time, at 6:15pm. Hope to see you there!