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See all- The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu (Book Discussion) - week 1Pier 57, New York, NY
Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Te Ching is one of the true classics of the world of spiritual literature. Whether or not Lao Tzu was a historical figure is uncertain, but the wisdom gathered under his name in the fourth century BC is central to the understanding and practice of Taoism. One of the three great religions of China, Taoism is based upon a concept of the Tao, or Way, as the universal power through which all life flows. The Tao Te Ching offers a practical model by which both the individual and society can embody this belief, encouraging modesty and self-restraint as the true path to a harmonious and balanced existence.
Join us to discuss this classic book over the course of 4-weeks!
Week 1 Sat 8/9 12:30-2:30pm Seahorse Room @ Pier 57Note About the Reading
Since the Tao is very short, but deeply poetic we will also be reading Alan Watts' short book, "Tao:The Watercourse Way" alongside it. This will give us some context, background, and commentary to help frame our discussions.Reading for Week 1
Verses 1 - 18 in "The Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu (18pgs)
and
Chapters 1 & 2 in "Tao: The Watercourse Way" by Alan Watts (36pgs)Feel free to read any translation of the Tao you like
I will be reading the Ursula La Guin Translation
paperback available here
free pdf download here *click on the first slow download option
(other formats available too —epub & mobi for kindle—just search in search bar)
I will also be referencing the website tasuki.org which has all of the major translations side by side for each versehere is the paperback version I will be reading of Alan Watt's book
Free pdf download here *click on the first slow download option
(other formats available too —epub & mobi for kindle—just search in search bar)- Rules for Our Group
1. Be Courteous
Criticizing ideas is totally acceptable. Attacking people’s character is not.
2. Be Concise
Keep comments on topic and relatively brief.
Moderators will do their best to make sure everyone gets a chance to speak who wants to.
3. Do the Reading
If you have not done the reading for the week you are welcome to attend and listen to the discussion, but out of respect for those who have read, you will not be permitted to participate in the discussion.For more info and FAQ on the group click here.
I can't wait to discuss these ideas with all of you!
-Zach - Marx's Capital (week 2)Fort Greene Park Prison Ship Martyrs’s Monument , Brooklyn , NY
Join us at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn to discuss the first volume of Karl Marx's critique of political economy, Das Kapital.
Reading for this meeting:
Chapter 1 "The Commodity" subheading B. Total or Expanded Value-Form through the end of the chapter
Chapter 2 "The Exchange Process"
(about 30 pages that likely include a lot of footnotes)You'll probably want to read the book up to this point too if you want it to make sense.
I'm reading the new translation by Paul Reitter, but feel free to read any translation or edition. The full PDF of the Penguin edition can be found here.
We will plan on meeting in the shady area just southwest of the giant column in the middle of the park. Check this page for location updates and message me or comment if you can't find us!
- Thomas Khun The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Week 2Pier 57, New York, NY
For this three week event we will dive into the history and philosophy of science by reading Thomas Khun's revolutionary work entitled The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. By taking us on a journey through the history of science, Khun challenges the assumption of linear progress in scientific fields. We are encouraged to view science as overlapping conceptual frameworks to understand the world. These paradigms then undergo revolutions from time to time when the old paradigms are brought into crisis by conflicting experimental evidence. In these times of crisis, creativity is required to re-imagine the way the world might operate in order to provide a new paradigm which can explain experimental evidence. Join us as we challenge our misconceptions in order to form a deeper understanding of science in our postmodern world. I will be reading from this version and a free copy can be found here. For the second week we will read chapters 7-10 (p. 66-134). Participants should read the entire reading before attending this in person meeting. For questions please send me a message or post to meetup.
Best,
Brian
