The Tranquility
of Order
An evening with Dr. Mark Anderson, Chair of Philosophy and Director of Classics at Belmont University, on the ancient Greeks and their path to a calm soul.
The Quiet Path
to Happiness
Every man pursues happiness; few ever find peace. The ancient Greeks had a word for the thing itself: ataraxia, freedom from disturbance, a serenity that holds even in the squalls and storms of fate. This evening we recover that older, sturdier idea of the good life.
In his new book, Life Is Not Suffering, Dr. Mark Anderson traces his own passage out of a dark despondency into “a simple, relaxed, at times almost blissful condition of happiness.” The book’s final chapter, simply titled “Happiness,” is where that journey lands, and it is the subject of our evening together.
Drawing on Epicurus and the four-fold cure (don’t fear the gods, don’t fear death, what’s good is easy to get, what’s bad is easy to endure), Anderson makes the case that much of our unhappiness is self-inflicted, the product of an endless “seeking game” the mind can never win.
Join us for a talk, a dinner, and a real conversation among men about what it takes to live well.
Mark Anderson, Ph.D.
Dr. Mark Anderson is Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Director of Classics at Belmont University in Nashville, where he has taught for more than two decades. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy and an M.A. in Classical Studies from Vanderbilt University.
His work centers on Plato and Nietzsche and on philosophy as a way of life. He is the founder of the Philologoi, a long-running discussion group, and the author of several books, including Plato and Nietzsche, Pure: Modernity, Philosophy, and the One, and Thinking Life: A Philosophical Fiction.
His latest book, Life Is Not Suffering, turns from the seminar room to the porch. This evening, Dr. Anderson shares its closing meditation on happiness, and the practical wisdom every man can carry home.
“Live your life well, and this is what you’ll find, especially as you age: not suffering, but peace. The tranquility of order.”
Our Evening Schedule
2026
Private Venue in Sylvan Park
Cocktail attire
What Men Say
of the Meriwether Table
Consistently some of the most profound, thoughtful, and intentional events I’ve ever attended. Highly recommend Meriwether to anyone interested in education, philosophy, and values.
Greatly enjoyed lectures and study club at Meriwether. Highly recommend to any man looking for a community of others on a path of improvement to achieve greater in life. Amazing camaraderie and lifelong connections.
Meriwether Academy represents a real-world attempt to define and restore traditional values, especially traditional American values. As such, Meriwether is fighting the good fight and doing a good job of it! Highly recommended.
Seating is limited. This is an evening for men who want more than distraction, who take seriously the work of living well: a steady mind, a good life, and a little hard-won peace. We hope you will join us.
Questions? Email us at warren@meriwetheracademy.com