Skip to content

Seattle Philosophy Club cover photo

Seattle Philosophy Club

4.6•5844 ratings

Seattle, WA, US

8,378 members · Public group

Share

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

446

Fri, Dec 26 · 7:00 PM PST
•
Online
Agnosticism: An Open Consideration of All Versions.
Online
SEA OF FAITH IN AUSTRALIA (SoFiA) - Melbourne.

Some of us are participating in SoFiA's online event.

"Agnosticism: An Open Consideration of All Versions."

Dr. Neville Buch will present the topic and lead the discussion.

INTRO: "The concept of agnosticism, far exceeding a mere simplistic doubt regarding the existence of a deity, can be broadly understood as a suspension of judgment rooted in the recognition of epistemic uncertainty or the inherent limits of human knowledge regarding a proposition or domain.
Philosophically, agnosticism is often presented as a form of skepticism, characterized by the commitment to circumspection and intellectual honesty, demanding that one withhold belief when the available evidence is deemed insufficient.
In its highest philosophical form, it recognizes that knowledge about ultimate reality or theological claims is unknowable or incomprehensible to finite human reason, a position Kant himself adopted regarding metaphysical matters.
This intellectual posture, however, is not necessarily passive; it can be an active belief that knowledge of "x" is not known and not knowable, leading to an ethical stance where one "ought to be agnostic" and act in accordance with that principle, or conversely, it can be dismissed as a "foolish stance" or "wilful ignorance" when used as a dishonest rhetorical device or against clearly established knowledge.
This perspective holds that because agnosticism about the existence of God is a non-commitment on ontology, it becomes an uninteresting and indifferent philosophical stance compared to focusing on what meaning or universal value can be derived from the realm of signs and symbols."

Wikipedia on Agnosticism

The ZOOM LINK will appear on this page for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 828 1591 9455 - - Passcode: 786285

~ SoFiA promotes the open exploration of religion, spirituality and the search for meaning. They welcome ALL viewpoints, including Atheism.~

SOFiA Website.

Facebook: 'Sofiatalk' - The discussion continues. Have your say!
7 attendees
3 seats left
Fri, Dec 26 · 7:30 PM PST
Fermi Paradox (Robert presents AMZ)
Graduate Seattle, 4507 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA, US
"Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying." Arthur C. Clarke

Astrophysicists estimate that there may be more planets in the observable universe than there are grains of sand on every beach on Earth. Suppose that life only ever arises on an infinitesimal fraction of those planets. Now suppose that complex life evolves only on an infinitesimal fraction of those planets. Now suppose that advanced civilizations develop on only a fraction of those planets. Supposing all that, we would still expect highly technological civilizations to be abundant throughout the universe.

Yet after centuries of probing the cosmos with ever-more sophisticated instruments, humanity has yet to discover evidence of an extraterrestrial civilization. "Where is everybody?" the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi allegedly inquired, in response to this apparent mystery. Seventy five years later, we seem no closer to the answer.

Are the necessary steps--from abiogenesis, to complex life, to technological civilization--just so improbable that we are unlikely to ever encounter an example beyond ourselves?

Or do technological civilizations just tend to destroy themselves before they can find each other across the vastness of space?

Or do they conceal themselves from detection out of caution or fear?

Or is it that extraterrestrial aliens are so, well, alien that we wouldn't recognize them as such even if we found them?

Or is it simply that we are alone after all, the sole example of life to be found in the entire universe?

Where is everybody?

Where are all the aliens?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNhhvQGsMEc

The Great Silence, by Ted Chiang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPnR97b6aGs

Symptom-free (of potentially contagious disease) people with the capacity to listen considerately to diverse viewpoints are invited to attend after successfully RSVPing.

We begin the meeting at 7:30 pm sharp in the mezzanine of the Graduate Hotel. Feel free to come up to 30 minutes early and hang out with us beforehand. After you come down the stairs we may be in either the main room on your left or in the conference room around the corner on your right.

AMAZON FORMAT (AZF):
At the beginning of the meeting the presenter will read the above text 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 is not ready to speak they can just say “pass” and the next person speaks.

After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to comment.

Once everyone has given opening remarks or passed twice, Opening Roundtable is completed and the meeting shifts into its main format.

TIMED DIRECTION FORMAT (TDRF>5):
If there are more than 5 people present we will use the format below.

We will divide up the timed direction discussion 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 Discussion Director and lead the group discussion.

If one is not ready to direct they dimply say “pass” and the next person becomes the Discussion Director.

Anyone who arrives after step 1 (above), may participate but will not get a turn as Discussion Director.

The Discussion Director can make statements or ask questions, or interrupt or redirect the discussion at their discretion.

The discussion participants can state their own opinions only when asked by the Discussion Director, not Interrupt others and accede to the Discussion Director’s interruptions or redirections.

When the timer goes off the person speaking finishes their thought and then the next participant clockwise becomes the next Discussion Director.

After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to direct.

At the end of the meeting, participants will have an opportunity to vote on the topic and format for the following meeting.
5 attendees
Fri, Dec 26 · 11:15 PM PST
•
Online
Street Philosophy - Life the Universe and Everything
Online
Another enjoyable free flowing discussion after the regular

Saturday Melbourne Existentialist Society Meeting. Please feel free to join the Melbourne Existentialst Society meeting from 2 pm AEST
https://www.meetup.com/existentialist-society/?eventOrigin=event_home_page

Life the Universe Street Philosophy commences at cessation of
The Melbourne Existentialist Society meeting.
Some of the many topics we have discussed previously,
some of which I could almost follow, are-

The Id, Super Ego and Ego
Where did the laws of physics come from?
Why is there something rather than nothing?
Does Truth exist independent of consciousness?
Hard problem of consciousness.
Conspiracy theories - is there a psychological profile of a habitual conspiracy Theorist.
Previously
Is it possible to have ojective Morality without a concept of God?
Definition of "Information"
How do we know how a particle behaves in an unobserved state if "unobserved" by definition means we don't blinking well see it?
Meaning of meaning in "what is the meaning of life?"
Definition of Language
Ship of Thesis - is the "thing" just a construct?
Tranendentalism
Determinism
Observer effect in quantum physics
--------------
Is there a why to human existence?
Definition of experience.
Method of applying reason.
What does it mean to be "your authentic self?"
Idealism v Realism - ABSOLUTE TRUTH - What does that mean ? does it exist ? Ontology, how equipped are we to fathom the nature of things? HARD PROBLEM OF CONSCIOUSNESS: WHERE DOES CONSCIOUSNESS ARISE?: DOES DNA TRANSLATE TO BEHAVIOUR?, IF SO HOW - definition of rationality - origins of "value" - precision of mathematics - concept of infinity.
Have been having some great flowing discussion as topics arise following conclusion of existentialists meeting, Melbourne, Australia. Thanks to all attendees.
General chat for the philosophically inclined about whatever comes up,
suggest topics as suits you or -
- possible topics
Information
- where is the information in an un opened book, does it exist when unobserved?
Reason
- what is the definition of reason
does it exist in physical laws, i.e. if we can we say "the rock fell because of gravity", how is this different to "what is the reason she chose Pepsi max instead of Coke Zero?"
Validity of evolutionary psychology:
- what evidence is there for evolutionarily selected behaviour, given that we cannot observe the history of the emergence of neurological structures as we can observe evolutionarily selected anatomical changes?
3 attendees
Sat, Dec 27 · 6:00 PM PST
•
Online
🔴Marathon Discussions — A variety of Human related Topics w. Breakout rooms
Online
- https://www.meetup.com/mindshearts-without-borders/events/tdfdssydcfbqb/
- *
- Zoom link posts 15 to the meeting.
***************************************************
📌
No need for preparation. You’re welcome to join from any walk of life.
***************************************************

SOCIALIZE with FRIENDS from AROUND the GLOBE @ our MARATHON SATURDAYS!
*
Discussions for 10-16 hours✨✨💥
*
Bring your Topic, concerns, questions, thoughts..

nonestop however, there would be no more new entrees after the first 8 hours. ( 5:00am EST)

If you crave stimulating conversations, discussions, debates, socializing with interesting international friends, and/or .. You feel lonely,Are an insomniac,
join us!
********************************************

Discussions will include a variety of topics presented by our members;💥💥

*

- life discussions
- philosophy
- Politics
- psychology & Human behaviour
- science , artificial Intelligence & etc.
- metaphorical philosophy & Poetry
- metaphysics
And more

- happy Room! Meet intelligent International friends,

And.. there’s always more. Come and go as you wish.

It is meant to lift our spirits and help us forget about all the serious issues we deal with during the week.
We engage in life’s matters in productive comprehensive ways suitable for almost all curious.

Whether you enjoy the every day language of tackling life dilemmas OR analytical philosophyor maybe just need some company to engage in meaningful conversations, you may join and enter a breakout room with .. the other birds.. of a feather!

We cover everything from politics to spirituality, body to soul and.. all else.

************************************************
18 attendees

Past events

5412

Organizers

Richard Pope and 83 others

Members

8,378

Related topics

Intellectual Discussions

Education & Technology

Critical Thinking