Philosophy Café • Ideas & Society

A 40-Minute Lunchtime Discussion (12:05–12:45 PM)
This event is listed as one hour on Meetup for scheduling purposes, but the live session runs for 40 minutes to fit a mid-day break.

A structured, small-group online discussion for people who want intelligent, grounded conversation about the forces shaping global power.

Each participant will have up to three minutes to share a perspective from the Menu below or introduce a related insight. After everyone has spoken, the session moves into a short open discussion.

This is a curiosity-driven, non-argumentative space.
Challenge ideas, not individuals.
The focus is on exploration, not debate.

MENU OF TOPICS
GEOPOLITICS & POWER
• Who shapes global events — states, corporations, militias, or AI labs?
• Democracy, policy, and emerging global agendas
• NATO, UN, AIPAC
• Outdated political systems and legacy institutions
• History of empires and recurring power patterns
• Global outcomes and projections toward 2030
• AI’s influence on geopolitical stability and disruption
Attendees may also bring any perspective connected to global systems, society, or power.

# EVENT FORMAT (40 minutes)

Welcome & Framing (2 minutes)
3-minute perspectives
Timed, uninterrupted.
Suitable for 8–10 participants.
Open discussion (10 minutes)
A calm synthesis of themes and questions.
Closing reflections (1–2 minutes)

# SUGGESTED/OPTIONAL QUESTIONS

• Which actors drive outcomes today — governments, corporations, militias, or algorithms?
• What global systems or institutions are collapsing?
• What trajectory feels most likely by 2030?
• Does AI stabilize or destabilize power structures?
• Which political or economic models feel outdated?

***

# CODE OF CONDUCT

1. Speak for up to 3 minutes without interruption.
2. Listen fully to others’ perspectives.
3. Challenge ideas, not individuals.
4. Avoid debating, arguing, or dominating the space.
5. No political extremism, misinformation, or hostile behaviour.
6. One voice at a time, with concise contributions.
7. Respect the time structure and topic boundaries.

Language / Langue
Participants are welcome to speak in English or French.
Vous pouvez participer en français ou en anglais.

The host will facilitate in English, and everyone is welcome.

A guided 40-minute lunchtime discussion (12:05–12:45 PM) on global power, conflict, institutions, and shifting geopolitical realities. Each participant gets up to 3 minutes to share a perspective from the topic list below, followed by open conversation. No debate, no pressure — just thoughtful exploration.

Topics You Can Choose From

• Who shapes global events — states, corporations, militias, or AI labs?
• Democracy, policy, and emerging global agendas
• NATO, UN, AIPAC, and modern alliances
• Outdated political systems and legacy institutions
• History of empires and recurring power patterns
• Global outcomes and projections toward 2030
• Conflict hotspots, proxy wars, and shifting influence

Format

Each participant can speak for up to 3 minutes.
After everyone shares, we move into open discussion.
This is a curiosity-driven, non-argumentative space - challenge ideas, not individuals.

Language / Langue

Participants are welcome to speak in English or French.
Vous pouvez participer en français ou en anglais.
Most people in Montréal are bilingual, so feel free to use whichever language feels natural.

Description en français (brève)

Une discussion guidée de 40 minutes sur le pouvoir mondial, les conflits, les institutions politiques et les changements géostratégiques.
Chaque participant·e peut partager une idée pendant 3 minutes, suivies d’une discussion ouverte.
Espace axé sur la curiosité — sans débat.
Anglais ou français au choix.

A guided 40-minute lunchtime discussion (12:05–12:45 PM) where each participant shares one idea about how AI is reshaping systems, ethics, work, and global power. Everyone gets up to 3 minutes to speak, followed by open conversation. No prep, no debate - just structured, intelligent exploration.

Topics You Can Choose From (or bring your own)

• AI systems and democratic impact
• Workforce automation and the future of jobs
• Ethical tradeoffs and emerging protections
• Corporate vs. state power in shaping AI
• Military use, risk, and global stability
• Reliability, governance, and accountability
• Global outcomes and power shifts toward 2030

Format

Each participant may speak for up to 3 minutes.
After everyone shares, we move into open discussion.
This is a curiosity-driven space — challenge ideas, not individuals.

Language / Langue

Participants are welcome to speak in English or French.
Vous pouvez participer en français ou en anglais.
Most attendees in Montréal are bilingual, so feel free to use whichever language is most natural for you.

Description en français (brève)

Une discussion guidée de 40 minutes sur l’IA, l’éthique, le travail, le pouvoir mondial et l’impact sociétal.
Chaque participant·e dispose de 3 minutes pour partager une idée, suivies d’une discussion ouverte.
Aucune préparation nécessaire.
Langues : anglais ou français.

This is a small-group online discussion for people interested in thoughtful, grounded conversation about how AI is reshaping systems, ethics, and global power.

Each person will have 3 minutes to share (optional) a perspective from the topics below, or introduce a related idea.

After everyone has shared, we’ll move into a short open discussion.
The goal is curiosity, not debate. Challenge ideas, not people.

Language / Langue
Participants may speak in English or French.
Vous pouvez participer en français ou en anglais.
I’ll facilitate in English and everyone is welcome.

Topics
Systems & Futurism
• Work use cases shaping the next decade
• Robotics and automation
• Reliability challenges at scale
• Benefits and limitations of rapid AI adoption

Ethics, Rights & Protections
• Human rights in an AI-driven world
• Worker and civilian protections
• Democratic implications of automated decisions
• Governance and safety frameworks

Power Shifts & Security
• Military and defense applications
• Power shifts between governments, corporations, and AI labs
• Governance gaps and global stability
Participants are also welcome to bring their own perspective related to AI and society.

Event format (40 minutes)
Welcome and framing (2 minutes)
3-minute participant perspectives
Open discussion (about 10 minutes)
Closing reflections