The branch of New Acropolis Dominican Republic opened its doors for a special event entitled ‘Between Pain and Virtue: an encounter with the Stoics’, which brought together more than 30 participants of different ages for an evening of reflection, interaction and philosophical experience.

The activity, which was free to attend with voluntary donations, was led by the director of New Acropolis Dominican Republic, Dr Gabriel Paredes, a psychologist with a master’s degree in Disaster Risk Management, and by instructor Eva Rodríguez, a lawyer specialising in Conflict Management and Culture of Peace.

The meeting combined dramatised readings in the first person, reflecting situations of pain and adversity common in Dominican society, with moments of open dialogue with the audience. Through these dynamics, attendees were able to experience first-hand the teachings of Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius on how to transform pain into learning and cultivate virtue as a path to freedom.

The event also included a shared refreshment break, which served to strengthen ties between participants and members of the School of Philosophy, and a talk on the four cardinal Stoic virtues: wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance.