What we’re about
A casual and friendly reading and discussion group. We are planning to read texts such as Plato, Kierkegaard & Nietzsche.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- FTI: Thinkers Multi-group BYOB potluckNew York Society for Ethical Culture, New York, NY
Come join us for a BYOB potluck with thoughtful discussion. The first time I’ll be joining this event will be March 29th, if it goes well I’ll attend regularly, probably monthly.
1st & 4th Fridays: 7:00PM-09:00PM
NYSEC Meeting House: Ceremonial Hall
All are welcome!
BYOB (no hard liquors)/Potluck
Donations Appreciated but Not Required
Donate Here via Ethical NYC to Support this Event
https://ethicalnyc.app.neoncrm.com/forms/54
+1 (212) 874-5210
info@nysec.org
https://ethical.nyc/
· Location is subject to change for special events. Check website calendars and Meetup pages for various groups for updates and changes.
· Default room is Ceremonial on the 4th Floor. Room is subject to change depending on capacity or activity. Check for any posted signs.
· Use the wheelchair ramp entrance at the Meeting House NOT the Fieldston School. Press both doorbells if the door is locked. The elevator and stairs are right there to take to the 4th floor.
Our friends at various groups are cross-posting this event. Some groups have after-parties.
RULES for In-Person Meeting:- GROUP PROMOTION: Each group may bring flyers or posters advertising membership, donations, and meetings.
- DRINKING: Bring your own booze should be limited to beer and wine, no hard liquors. Everyone should drink responsibly and don't get sloshed. Save the hard drinking for the after parties in outside bars.
- RESPECT FOR DIFFERENCES: While there is overlap among the groups, not every group is the same and thinks the same. Respect each other's differences and different ideologies. Look for common ground not for things to hate. We're all friends here, treat each other as such.
- ARGUMENTS: Listen to each other’s opinion completely in good faith. Ask questions about other's points instead of immediately dismissing. Approach taboo subjects--such as sex, religion, and politics--with strangers cautiously; back out if getting heated. Agree to disagree and walk away if necessary.
- RESPECT FOR THE MEETING HOUSE: Use appropriate trash/recycling cans and clean up after yourselves. Leave the Meeting House better than you found it. Respect the neighborhood, don't act foolishly on the streets when entering and leaving or loitering.
- NO ELECTIONEERING: Due to tax restrictions for many groups being §501(c)(3) tax-exempt, do not discuss, promote, denigrate, or leave/display/hand out materials for any candidate, campaign, party, or proposition on any upcoming election. No electioneering during the event. Other activities prohibited by tax-restrictions are also not allowed.
- SELF-RECOGNITION: Try to speak from your own experiences and own your intentions and impacts. Recognize your own privileges and different backgrounds.
- CONFIDENTIALITY: Meetings are private despite being open to the public. Recordings are prohibited. You may share what you learned, but not direct quotes and identities.
- MEETING MODERATION: The organizers, hosts, co-hosts, moderators, and discussion leaders will use various methods available to ensure compliance with the rules and maintain decorum.
Attending any meeting or event implies agreement with the above rules.
- FTI: How Neurotypicals Can Better Understand and CommunicateLink visible for attendees
Communication Differences: How Neurotypicals Can Better Understand and Communicate with the Neurodivergent.
Speaker: Benjamin Meyer, LCSW-R
Bilingual Psychotherapist/CoachHave you ever wondered how to identify and communicate with a neurodivergent person? Whether they are autistic, have ADHD, dyslexia, OCD, or a learning difference, understanding their communication needs will not only help you to support them, but could also create meaningful neurodiverse relationships. I will describe some common traits in neurodivergent communication and ways you can create an inclusive environment.
Format: Lecture and discussion
Note: social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our organization, feel free to learn more here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E16-qv-OZZoKh4HSyHCtQ_eZA-ko_n3Kd3SwxfLpk84/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.qsvmnmkadvaqTo get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zgAfter registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice: For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.
- FTI: 5 Simple Rules to Live a Better Life - A Conversation with Garrett LangLink visible for attendees
For today's meeting, we will gather to engage in an intellectual discussion group that promises to be as enriching as it is stimulating. The theme of our conversation will be "Five Simple Rules to Live a Better Life," a topic that I believe resonates with the continuous learning and growth we all aspire to.
Here are the five intentions that will guide our discussion:
- Utilizing reason to continually evolve into the best version of ourselves, seeking truth and fairness in our endeavors.
- Embracing transparency in our identity and beliefs, matched with a willingness to trust and an openness to challenge our perspectives with new, possibly conflicting ideas.
- Sharpening our critical thinking to ensure it becomes a reliable compass for sound decision-making.
- Striving to amplify happiness and reduce harm for ourselves and those within our sphere of influence.
- Recognizing our universal desire for love, fostering a readiness to both give and receive it, in all its forms.
Let’s discuss these 5 intentions in more detail, and discuss how we can use them in our daily lives. For those interested in practicing applying these intentions into their daily lives, you can always apply to be a member of the FTI (Currently free) where we practice doing just that. Learn more about us here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E16-qv-OZZoKh4HSyHCtQ_eZA-ko_n3Kd3SwxfLpk84/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.6r8ewdm34lvo
EvSpeaker: Mr. Garrett Lang
Garrett Lang is the Founder and Executive Director of the Free Thinker Institute, a transformative community that blends personal development, ethical exploration, and practical education. Under his leadership, the Institute has grown into a vibrant space where individuals from all walks of life explore deep questions about purpose, ethics, and success in modern society. Garrett is the architect of the “5 Intentions,” a pioneering ethical code designed to foster unity and thoughtful decision-making in an increasingly divided world.
Through weekly events and curated peer mentorship programs, Garrett has built a platform that bridges philosophy with real-world application—empowering members to not only think deeply, but to act meaningfully. His approach to “practical philosophy” makes complex ideas actionable, helping people cultivate both personal growth and professional acumen in fields like product management, software development, and UX design.
A Cornell University graduate with over two decades of experience in technology leadership and entrepreneurship, Garrett continues to innovate at the intersection of values and systems. He brings the same rigor and visionary thinking that helped him double the operating margin of a 200-person company into his work at the Free Thinker Institute, demonstrating that thoughtful, ethical frameworks can be both aspirational and operational.
Learn more at www.freethinkerinstitute.org.
