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- The Sociology of Evil.Link visible for attendees
EXISTENTIALIST SOCIETY - Melbourne, Australia.
An online presentation, followed by discussion. All viewpoints welcome.
Prof. Steven Lance Stoll will present the topic and lead the discussion.
We will look at historical inhumanity and genocides and discuss why average humans participate in these activities.
Steven will be discussing Social Psychologist James Waller's book:
"Becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Genocide and Mass Killing".Steven Lance Stoll taught in US universities and colleges as an Adjunct Professor of Sociology and the Social Sciences.
~ "While most of my work was teaching basic Sociology courses like Introduction to Sociology, Marriage and the Family and Social Problems, I also designed courses on Evil.
What has always fascinated me about Sociology is its connection to and involvement with a variety of other disciplines from History to Psychology, from Anthropology and Archaeology to Economics, Political Science and the hard sciences" ~The Zoom Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 897 3005 8976 - - Passcode: 114793Existentialist Society's Website - - - Youtube - - - Facebook
- Believe as little as possible!Link visible for attendees
AGNOSTICS GROUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Some of us are participating in their online event.
Dr. Paul Tonson will introduce the topic and lead the discussion.
Believe as little as possible!
A strategy to negotiate the overkill of religious belief-systems.~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: 822 2252 4410 - - Passcode: 218568 - Darius the Great: A Usurper?Link 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?"DARIUS THE GREAT: A USURPER?"
We are all aware of the importance of the Rosetta Stone for the decipherment of Egyptian demotic and hieroglyphics.
But how many of us are aware of the equally important Behistun Inscription of Darius the Great (519 BC)? It was written in triplicate in languages from three separate language-families: Old Persian (Indo-European), Babylonian/Akkadian (Semitic) and Elamite (Elamo-Dravidian). By utilising the Behistun Inscription the scholars were able to begin deciphering the cuneiform of those ancient civilisations.The Jerusalem Temple was rebuilt by 516 BC by the returning Babylonian Exiles.
Did Darius the Great help fund its reconstruction in order to gain legitimacy because he was a usurper? (Ezra: 5&6).We will be looking at A History of Zoroastrianism Vol.2 by Mary Boyce,
Emeritus Professor of Iranian Studies, University of London.David Miller will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Background information for those interested:
World History Encyclopedia: Behistun InscriptionThe Zoom link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 872 7087 6688 - - Passcode: 419951Existentialist Society's Website - - - YouTube - - - Facebook
- Hegel for Beginners.Link visible for attendees
SEA OF FAITH IN AUSTRALIA (SoFiA) - Melbourne.
Some of us are participating in SoFiA's online event.
Philip Khalid (College Professor of Philosophy at the University of San Agustin, Philippines) will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Hegel's Philosophy of Spirit deals with conscious beings (humans) and their development through psychological, social, and historical dimensions.
The Philosophy of Spirit is essential to understanding how Hegel views human beings not just as individuals but as historically embedded and socially constituted beings.
It is a powerful attempt to reconcile individual freedom with collective life and is foundational for many areas of modern thought, including Existentialism, Marxism, and Critical Theory. (AI)The ZOOM LINK will appear on this page for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 814 4280 3748 - - Passcode: 717229~ SoFiA 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.
