What we’re about
We're a community that practices and discusses philosophy, being free and open to all levels and backgrounds. We offer seminars, a variety of discussion formats, and the occasional lecture / guest speaker.
Many meetings will have fewer RSVPs than people who actually attend. This is because overtime people stop making use of Meetup.com and instead communicate with their groups via Discord, Slack, Zoom, E-mail, or similar You can think of the list of events hosted on this Meetup as advertisements for groups seeking new participants.
Our philosophy offerings are organized and facilitated by volunteers. If you have a philosophy offering - or an offering that compliments the study of philosophy, such as in literature, the sciences, and so on - that you'd like to advertise through this Meetup, please contact the organizer. We're grateful to those who want to enrich Seattle with study and discussion!
Participants must speak, write, and act in a considerate, professional, and respectful manner, and be prepared for the meetings that they attend, having reviewed the materials to the degree necessary to participate. If you haven't reviewed the materials but still wish to attend an event, please consult the event facilitator regarding the best manner for you to be present.
We look forward to studying philosophy together!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Sober Philosophy: Water (Mark presents ORF, TDLF > 5)Graduate Seattle, Seattle, WA
Symptom-free people with negligible blood-alcohol levels and the capacity to listen considerately to diverse viewpoints are invited to participate.
We begin the discussion at 7:30pm sharp in the mezzanine lobby of the Graduate Seattle hotel. Feel free to come up to 30 minutes early and hang out with us beforehand. When you enter the hotel from the front door go between the elevators on your left and the main lobby bookshelves on your right until you find the stairwell to your left. Go up one flight of stairs and open the first door you come upon to the mezzanine lobby.
Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula H2O. It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless,[c] and nearly colorless chemical substance, and it is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a solvent[19]). It is vital for all known forms of life, despite not providing food energy or organic micronutrients.
Bruce Lee speaks on Water (1-minute YouTube video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJMwBwFj5nQDao De Jing 8.1 - 8.3 (Translation by Pepper & Xiao):
1. The highest kindness is like water.
2. Water's kindness benefits everything, yet it doesn't strive.
3. It even lives in places that everyone dislikes, like the Dao.Dao De Jing 78.1 - 78.9 (Translation by Pepper & Xiao):
1. In this world nothing is softer and weaker than water,
2. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong,
3. Nothing can surpass it,
4. Nothing can replace it.5. Weak is better than strong,
6. Flexible is better than hard.7. In this world,
8. None fails to comprehend this,
9. None can practice it.AMAZON FORMAT (AZF): All material used as a basis for discussion will be consumed at the beginning of the meeting by all members simultaneously as follows:
- We will watch the Bruce Lee video together on a laptop.
- We will take turns reading lines 8.1 – 8.3 and 78.1 – 78.9 of the Dao De Jing aloud.
OPENING ROUNDTABLE FORMAT (ORF):
- The topic presenter begins the discussion by explaining why they are interested in the topic and some introductory thoughts on it.
- Each participant in turn going clockwise from the presenter describes their general thoughts on the topic.
- If one has nothing to say they just say pass and the next person speaks.
- Once everyone has had a chance to give their introductory remarks on the topic the Opening Roundtable is completed and the meeting shifts into its main format.
TIMED DIALOGUES FORMAT (TDF):
For the main discussion, we will use this format if there are more than 5 participants.- We will divide up the timed dialogues time by the number of participants plus one (for a buffer). A timer will be set for this amount of time.
- Each participant in turn will become a Dialogue Leader and lead a Dialogue with any one other participant who accepts their invitation (including someone who previously invited them).
- Any participant can decline a dialogue invitation.
- Anyone who arrives late, may listen but will not get a turn as Dialogue Leader and thus will only participate in a dialogue if invited.
- The Dialogue Leader can make statements or ask questions, or interrupt or redirect the Dialogue Invitee at their discretion.
- The Dialogue Invitee can state their own opinions only when asked by the Dialogue Leader, not Interrupt the Leader and accede to the Dialogue Leader's interruptions or redirections.
- When the timer goes off the person speaking finishes their thought and then the next participant clockwise becomes the next Dialogue Leader.
At the end of the meeting, participants will have an opportunity to nominate and vote on the topic and format for the following meeting.
If you have any questions about the event, please put them in the comments below.