What we’re about
The first Cafe Philosophique was founded in Paris in 1992, at the Cafe des Phares in Place de la Bastille, as an informal, public forum for philosophical discussion. There are now over 150 "Cafe Philos" active around the world.
Cafe Philo New York was established in 1998 by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College, NJ. We gather twice a month on Thursday evenings in the private room of an Afghan Restaurant in East Midtown Manhattan to talk about the philosophical implications of a particular topic. Topics are selected by group vote at the end of each meeting.
Discussions are informal, friendly, and lightly moderated. We welcome those with some background in philosophy, as well as anyone with curiosity, a thoughtful disposition, and consideration for the ideas of others. Attendance has ranged from 5 to 25 "Philistes." While there is no fee, the restaurant requests, understandably, that attendees spend a $5.00 "minimum per" for food and/or drinks.
