About us
The Existentialist Society is for those who question whether life has a meaning and a purpose. And for those who despairingly ponder whether one can live without self-deception or without hedonistic escapism. Yet who, despite the anguish of life's futility and meaninglessness, still seek purpose and an authentic existence.
The Existentialist Society is for those who are fascinated by the ideas of Simone de Beauvoir, Nicholas Berdyaev, Martin Buber, Rudolph Bultmann, Albert Camus, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Viktor Frankl, Martin Heidegger, Karl Jaspers, Franz Kafka, Nikos Kazantzakis, Soren Kierkegaard, R.D. Laing, Gabriel Marcel, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, Max Stirner, Paul Tillich, Colin Wilson, etc.
'Existentialism' is an umbrella term covering diverse and often conflicting schools of thought. Consequently we are not agreed on who or what is an Existentialist; we simply agree to disagree.
Inspired by the Student Revolt of the late Sixties, the Existentialist Society commenced in 1971.
LECTURES take place at 2pm on the first Saturday of the month.
All are welcome. Participation is free.
NOTE: Due to the pandemic, our physical in-person Meetups and lectures were cancelled. All the lectures are now online via Zoom. This enables participation by those interstate and overseas.
Following our monthly lecture, during the extended question and discussion period, additional comments are encouraged from those of our participants who might have more knowledge than the speaker on particular aspects of the topic, as well as from those who have an alternative viewpoint.
Sometimes our lecture topics have no direct bearing upon Existentialism. The speakers on such topics may or may not be conversant with Existentialism.
The Existentialist Society has no formal membership, so there is no membership fee.
See the Existentialist Society website for future lectures, past transcripts and videos etc: www.existentialistmelbourne.org
Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@existentialistsociety8453
Facebook: Please feel free to comment on the lectures: - www.facebook.com/Existentialist-Society-866984573402226/
Upcoming events
6
Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress.
·OnlineOnlineATHEIST SOCIETY - Melbourne, Australia.
Some of us are participating in their online event.
Dr. John Perkins (Secular Party of Australia)
will present the topic and lead the discussion.
"REASON, SCIENCE, HUMANISM AND PROGRESS."
A review of Steven Pinker's book: Enlightenment Now
The ZOOM link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 821 8220 9968 - - Passcode: 544683
The Atheist Society welcomes ALL viewpoints, including criticism of Atheism.
Enquiries: atheist7agnostic@gmail.com
Facebook and Website for past and future Atheist Society topics, etc.33 attendees
Fernando Pessoa: Portuguese Litterateur.
·OnlineOnlineEXISTENTIALIST SOCIETY - Melbourne, Australia.
An online presentation, followed by discussion. All viewpoints welcome.
Dr. Desmonda Lawrence will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Wikipedia on Fernando Pessoa
The ZOOM LINK will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 869 8452 0342 - - Passcode: 735736
Existentialist Society's Website - - - Youtube - - - Facebook16 attendees
The Map is Not the Territory: Navigating Your Mental Maps
·OnlineOnlineAGNOSTICS GROUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Some of us are participating in their online event.
Dr. Steve Parker will present the topic and lead the discussion.
"The Map is Not the Territory: Navigating Your Mental Maps"
~The Agnostics Group discusses the pros and cons of Agnosticism.
They welcome ALL viewpoints, including criticism of Agnosticism~
Agnostics Group Facebook
The ZOOM Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 854 4520 2677 - - Passcode: 404849
Existentialist Society's Website - - YouTube - - Weekly Zoom Meetups13 attendees
Escaping the Gospels.
·OnlineOnlineEXISTENTIALIST MEETUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Our monthly online series on the History of Religion.
The presentations are followed by questions, comments and discussion.
All viewpoints welcome.
Early Religion: An Alternative History
What do the historians and archaeologists think of the veracity of religious legends? Legends are an amalgamation of history and mythology. But how much of each?
"ESCAPING THE GOSPELS."
If Saint Paul seems not to know of so many of the events listed later in the Gospels, does it mean that those events never occurred?
David Miller will present the topic and lead the discussion.
For those interested:
YouTube on Bart Ehrman's Is Paul the Founder of Christianity?
And Paul and Jesus at Odds
Wikipedia's entry on Prof. George Wells
The Zoom Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 875 6504 9250 - - Passcode: 121327
Existentialist Society: Website - - - YouTube7 attendees
Past events
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