Mike (MD) Shafer is the founder of The Living Ethos and the creator of Aevitas, a modern philosophical system rooted in strength, struggle, and self-mastery.

MD blends interdisciplinary study, fatherhood, lived experience, and a philosophical range spanning from the Pre-Socratics to modern psychology—delivering grounded, actionable insight for a world in need of clarity and courage. A Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, a lifelong learner with a master’s degree in exercise physiology, and a doctoral candidate in philosophy, MD is a strategist and lifelong student of philosophy, Mike bridges ancient wisdom with present-moment action.

Through his writing, videos, and essays, he invites readers to live deliberately, endure gracefully, and build something worthy of memory. He believes growth is not a luxury, rather it is a duty.