What we’re about
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
Facebook: Please feel free to comment on the lectures: - www.facebook.com/Existentialist-Society-866984573402226/
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Hellenism's Influence on the ReligionsLink visible for attendees
EXISTENTIALIST MEETUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Our monthly online Meetup presentation 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?"HELLENISM'S INFLUENCE ON THE RELIGIONS"
Following Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire in 330 BC, the subsequent Hellenic Empires encouraged their various subject ethnicities to keep their own traditional religions. Nevertheless the religions were influenced and effected:
In the Seleucid Empire the Zoroastrian religion's human Messiah became intensely anticipated and came to be regarded as divine. Consequently, the Parthian Empire's religion was a form of Hellenized Zoroastrianism.
The Ptolemaic Empire's Isis religion incorporated the Eleusinian Mysteries.
The one exception to Hellenic tolerance was Judea, where a Seleucid Emperor attempted in vain to suppress its religion.David Miller will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Background information for those interested:
Wikipedia's entry on the Hellenistic PeriodThe Zoom Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 827 9846 2717 - - Passcode: 940994Existentialist Society's Website
- Early Christianity in AsiaLink visible for attendees
SEA OF FAITH IN AUSTRALIA (SoFiA) - Melbourne.
Some of us are participating in SoFiA's online event.
John Noack (Carl Jung Society) will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Wikipedia's entry on Christianity in Asia
The ZOOM link will appear on this page for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 882 9853 4533 - - Passcode: 618213SoFiA promotes the open exploration of religion, spirituality and the search for meaning. They welcome ALL viewpoints, including Atheism.
Facebook: 'Sofiatalk' - Please join their ongoing discussions.
- Poetry and Philosophy: Heidegger and CelanLink visible for attendees
EXISTENTIALIST SOCIETY - Melbourne, Australia.
An online presentation, followed by discussion. All viewpoints welcome.
Dr. Desmonda Lawrence will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Abstract:
Todtnauberg: A meeting between Paul Celan and Martin Heidegger:
The tension between how poetry as art relates to our existence as citizens of a society is stretched to breaking point in Theodore Adorno’s famous pronouncement that there can be no poetry after Auschwitz. Paul Celan implicitly replies that after ‘that which happened’ to mankind and to language, poetry meant, more than ever, a reaching out; a handshake; a message in a bottle. He writes: “I went with my very being towards language”.
Martin Heidegger wrote some of his most influential work ‘almost within earshot of the death camps’ and his relations with Nazism, as well as his refusal to ever address the issue later in his life, has tainted his reputation and the reception of, if not the content of, his work. Paul Celan visited Heidegger in 1967, in Todtnauberg, in the Black Forest.In this talk I will briefly discuss Celan’s life and work, address his interest in Heidegger’s philosophy and open up a close reading of the poem entitled Todtnauberg that ‘records’ his meeting with Heidegger.
Following the talk, I would like to invite participants into a discussion of the poem, and of any issues of interest in relation to Celan’s and Heidegger’s work more broadly.
(View the poem in the Comments section, below):The Zoom Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 881 9777 9874 - - Passcode: 611432Existentialist Society's Website
- Wokeism: The New Age ReligionLink visible for attendees
AGNOSTICS GROUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Some of us are participating in their online event.
Michael Sherlock will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Michael's Blog on Wokeism
The Agnostics Group discusses the pros and cons of Agnosticism.
They welcome ALL viewpoints, including criticism of Agnosticism.Agnostics Group's past topics
Agnostics Group FacebookThe ZOOM Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 838 4774 8215 - - Passcode: 712274