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We offer opportunities for Stoic community and learning. See below for details!
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, this conference asks what kinds of judgment, discipline, and self-government are necessary for constitutional democracy to endure. The American constitutional system was designed with a realistic understanding of human behavior, seeking to slow decision-making, distribute power, and preserve deliberation.
Today, algorithm-driven media, accelerated public discourse, and information environments optimized for engagement rather than truth place new pressure on those democratic assumptions. America at 250 brings together scholars and public thinkers in philosophy, law, history, and technology ethics to explore how Stoic virtue and constitutional design can help us think more clearly about citizenship and governance in the digital age.
The conference will explore urgent questions at the intersection of philosophy, democracy, and technological power.
What lessons from past democratic transformations can help guide governance in the digital age?
How can Stoic virtues of moderation and self-mastery inform oversight of technology-driven political power?
How do limits on attention, emotion, and decision-making shape democratic judgment in digital environments?
Can constitutional democracy endure without citizens capable of disciplined self-government and responsible judgment?
What constitutional, ethical, and civic boundaries should guide algorithmic influence on citizen decision-making?
Invited speakers include leading scholars in philosophy, law, and public life.
Dr. Rosenfeld is a historian specializing in European and American intellectual history and the Age of Revolutions, with a focus on the history of democracy and democratic thought.
Dr. Sadler is a leading figure in contemporary Stoic philosophy and education, known for making ancient wisdom accessible to modern audiences through ReasonIO and his work at Marquette University.
Roosevelt is a constitutional law scholar whose work examines how legal principles adapt to changing social and technological contexts while maintaining constitutional fidelity.
Professor Pigliucci is a prominent leader in the modern Stoic movement, bridging evolutionary biology and philosophy of science to translate ancient principles into practical guidance for contemporary life.
Delegate Hayes is a Virginia legislator chairing key committees on technology, innovation, and government operations.
Jeffrey Rosen is a constitutional scholar and former president of the National Constitution Center, widely recognized as a leading public voice on constitutional principles and American governance.
The conference is designed for a broad but serious audience, including scholars, students, practitioners, and members of the public interested in philosophy, law, citizenship, and the future of democratic life.
The schedule is subject to slight changes, but the day will include morning and afternoon sessions, a lunch break, and a closing keynote.
9:00–9:45 AM — Historian of Democratic Thought
9:45–10:30 AM — Philosopher of Ethics and Stoicism
10:30–11:15 AM — Constitutional Law Scholar
11:15 AM–12:00 PM — Philosopher of Ethics and Stoicism
12:00–1:30 PM — Lunch Break
1:30–2:15 PM — Technology, Innovation, and Legislative Leadership
2:30–3:15 PM — Closing Keynote
3:15–3:30 PM — Closing Remarks
Attendance is free and open to the public, but seating is limited in order to preserve an intimate and substantive atmosphere for discussion. Advance registration will be available through Eventbrite beginning in summer 2026.
Coffee and refreshments will be provided throughout the day. Participants will have time to explore nearby lunch options during the midday break.
Philadelphia Stoa is rebuilding community through ancient Stoic philosophy adapted for modern challenges. It aims to bring people together around the practical pursuit of wisdom, virtue, and rational reflection in a distracted and divided age.
This conference reflects Philadelphia Stoa’s commitment to serious intellectual engagement, public-facing education, and meaningful community partnerships. By connecting Stoic philosophy with constitutional history, cognitive science, and information ethics, the event invites participants into a thoughtful conversation about the future of democratic self-government.
We offer opportunities for Stoic community and learning. See below for details!
