Greater Philadelphia Thinking Society

In this meetup, we’ll explore higher order thinking, focusing on how analogy and abstract thinking help us process complex information. Higher order thinking isn’t just about logic; it’s about using analogies to bridge concepts, understand relationships, and solve problems. A key aspect of this is chunking, where we group smaller units of information into larger cohesive wholes, enabling us to tackle more complex tasks and understand broader concepts.

Analogy is central to cognition; it’s more than just a comparison (like "A is to B as C is to D"). It involves recognizing similarities between ideas, connecting mental images and representations. Analogy links new experiences to familiar concepts, helping us form insights and deepen our understanding of the world. It acts as the "highway" of cognition, connecting diverse ideas and enabling us to solve problems and make abstract connections more easily. We will also attempt to explore how analogies provide us with key insights into what it means to be conscious, revealing deeper layers of self-awareness and perception.

Through analogy and abstract thinking, we create a cohesive understanding of the world and tackle challenges in innovative ways. This ability to move fluidly between concepts and ideas is key to creative problem solving and advancing our understanding of complex issues.

Join us on Sunday, November 9th (10:30 AM – 12:30 PM) at the Philadelphia Ethical Society (1906 South Rittenhouse Square) for a morning of reflection, creativity, and philosophical conversation. This is a joint event hosted by the Greater Philadelphia Thinking Society, Philadelphia Philosophy Meetup, and the Philly Stoa.

The Greater Philadelphia Thinking Society (GPTS) and Ethical Culture invite you to a special Day of the Dead gathering that blends art, philosophy, and community reflection. In the spirit of this meaningful tradition, we’ll explore how remembering those who came before us deepens our understanding of life, purpose, and connection. GPTS brings together thoughtful individuals for stimulating weekend conversations in small, welcoming groups, fostering open dialogue across philosophy, ethics, science, culture, and human experience. Ethical Culture treats life as an ongoing moral practice rooted in wisdom, virtue, and compassion. Together, these communities offer a reflective space to honor impermanence, celebrate shared humanity, and discover beauty in transience and purpose in participation.

Featured participants include Cesar Viveros & Ñuuxakun Folklórico Mexicano, who will bring vibrant cultural expression to our shared meditation on remembrance, along with Paige Niezelski, Joe Bullock, and other special guests offering artistic and philosophical reflections on what it means to live well in the face of impermanence.

After the main platform concludes at 12:30 PM, participants are invited to join breakout sessions for deeper dialogue and connection. These smaller circles will offer time to reflect, share personal insights, and continue exploring the morning’s themes together.

Come with an open mind, stay for conversation and community, and leave with a renewed sense of what it means to live fully.

Join us for a special online conversation with Greg Sadler on the life and work of Alasdair MacIntyre, one of the most influential philosophers of the past century.

MacIntyre’s contributions to virtue ethics, moral philosophy, and the role of traditions in shaping moral reasoning continue to influence how we understand the good life, community, and moral practice. His works, including "Plain Persons and Moral Philosophy" and "After Virtue", have inspired scholars, educators, and practitioners across many fields.

Greg Sadler, who studied with MacIntyre as a Faculty Fellow at Notre Dame’s Erasmus Institute, brings both scholarly insight and personal reflections on MacIntyre’s thought and character. This session will explore MacIntyre’s lasting contributions to philosophy and offer an opportunity to reflect on his enduring legacy.