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- Why I am a Humanist.Link visible for attendees
ATHEIST SOCIETY - Melbourne, Australia - Online.
Some of us are participating in their online event.
Les Allan (Rational Realm) will present the topic and lead the discussion:
"Why I am a Humanist."
The ZOOM link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 848 1072 3176 - - Passcode: 160784The Atheist Society welcomes ALL viewpoints, including criticism of Atheism.
Enquiries: atheist7agnostic@gmail.com
Facebook and Website for past and future Atheist Society topics, etc.
- A History of Possession: Max Stirner's influence on the Modern Manifesto.Link visible for attendees
EXISTENTIALIST SOCIETY - Melbourne, Australia.
An online presentation, followed by discussion. All viewpoints welcome.
Dr. Wayne Bradshaw (James Cook University)
will present the topic and lead the discussion.~ Wayne will be connecting Max Stirner to the more explicitly existentialist thinkers like Buber, Sartre and Camus ~
Wayne Bradshaw's book:
"The Ego Made Manifest: Max Stirner, Egoism, and the Modern Manifesto"Wikipedia on Max Stirner
The Zoom Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 812 9967 8705 - - Passcode: 591073Existentialist Society's Website - - - Youtube - - - Facebook
- Beyond the Label: Unpacking Evil.Link visible for attendees
AGNOSTICS GROUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Some of us are participating in their online event.
Dr. Steve Parker will present the topic and lead the discussion.
"Beyond the Label: Unpacking Evil and
Embracing a Nuanced Understanding of Morality"When we use the term evil, it often feels as though we’re entering complex moral terrain. What exactly do we mean when we label something as evil? Is there a more nuanced way to address the darker aspects of human behaviour without resorting to such a heavy, loaded term?
~ 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: 867 5878 7366 - - - Passcode: 162059 - When and why was the Bible written?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?"WHEN AND WHY WAS THE BIBLE WRITTEN?"
Could the rude shock of the unexpected withdrawal by the Assyrian Empire from the Levant in the 7th century BC, and their handing over of control to the Egyptians, have catapulted the Judeans into commencing to cobble together their sacred legends, oral and written, in order to get on the right side of their God, Yahweh?
The events leading up to the eventual conquest of the Assyrian Empire by the Medes and Babylonians in 609 BC, were the backdrop to the collecting, writing and re-writing of the early legends of the Old Testament by the Judeans.
We will be looking at the influence of these momentous events on the construction of the Bible as presented in the book: "The Bible Unearthed" by Israel Finkelstein, Professor of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University and his historian colleague, Neil Asher Silberman. YouTube Audiopedia summary of their book.
A relevant Biblical enigma is why the Judean King, Manasseh (698 BC to 642 BC) gets condemned so harshly in 2 Kings, yet in 2 Chronicles (written two to three hundred years later) he is surprisingly rehabilitated into becoming one of the Bible's few righteous Kings.
David Miller will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Relevant Emperors, Pharaohs and Kings (to google, if you wish):
Ashurbanipal, Neo-Assyrian Emperor.
Psamtik I and Necho II, Pharaohs of the 26th Dynasty of Egypt.
Manasseh and Josiah, Kings of Judah.The Zoom link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 892 3776 1846 - - Passcode: 107832Existentialist Society's Website