Philosophy Now

Philosophy Discussion Meetup – Exploring Life’s Big Questions Through Books Join us for an open and friendly philosophy meetup where we explore life’s deepest questions through thoughtful conversation, shared reading, and discussion. Each participant is welcome to bring a book they are currently reading and share interesting ideas or questions from it. One of our main reference books is Sophie's World, which we often use as a starting point for discussion. 🗓 What to Expect Each meeting follows a relaxed and engaging format: Welcome & Introductions (10 minutes) Brief introductions and sharing what everyone is reading. Book & Topic Sharing (20 minutes) Participants present a short passage, idea, or question from their book. Group Discussion (45–60 minutes) Open discussion based on the shared material, often inspired by Sophie's World and related philosophical themes. Wrap-Up & Social Time (15 minutes) Final reflections and informal conversation. No prior philosophy background is required—curiosity and openness are enough. 🎒 What to Bring Please bring: A book you are currently reading (optional but encouraged) One or two questions or ideas from your book A notebook and pen (optional) If you don’t have a book, you are still very welcome to join and participate. 📍 How to Find Us We meet at: Milchkaffee Kirchstraße 5, 12555, · Berlin, DE Look for a group with books and notebooks on the table Please arrive at least at max 15 min late. The Café will take the empty seats of our table after that. So if you arrive after that, you might not have a place to sit. 🤝 Group Values Respectful and open discussion No judging or “winning” arguments Everyone gets a chance to speak Different viewpoints are welcome Curiosity over certainty Whether you are new to philosophy or a long-time reader, this group offers a supportive space to think together and learn from one another. We look forward to reading, questioning, and reflecting with you.

Are you ready for an experiment? Let’s mix some cutting-edge science with hilarious improv. Come watch a team of Berlin’s funniest improv nerds and science affiliates deconstruct a real scientific talk from a real scientific person and turn it into... well, Laughing Matter. Come join in the fun and leave the venue knowing more about one or two particular scientific fields of research than you did before. Unless you are a scientist, then we can’t guarantee you won’t somehow know less. Doors: 19:30 Show: 20:00 Tix: [https://www.improvworksberlin.com/shows](https://www.improvworksberlin.com/shows)

Let’s visit **Comic Invasion Festival** together! Entry is free! We’ll meet at 13:00 in the lobby of the **Museum für Kommunikation**. After that, everyone is free to explore the festival stands individually at their own pace. You’re welcome to join and leave whenever it suits you. At some point, we’ll move to the museum café **W66**, where we’ll chat about the comics and artist we’ve discovered. You can check the festival programme on their website [comicinvasion.berlin](https://comicinvasion.berlin). There will be lots of workshops and comic readings happening before and after our meetup. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Saturdays, 16:00-18:30, May 9-June 27 Class Show: Saturday July 4 Prerequisites: none! [https://www.improvworksberlin.com/book-online](https://www.improvworksberlin.com/book-online) This writing and performance course will give you the tools to start your journey in standup comedy, along with becoming a better communicator overall. We focus on finding your authentic comedic voice, unlocking your own creativity, editing your material to make it even funnier, and how to overcome nerves. Whether you dream about being a standup comedy star, want to add humour to your work presentations, or just get more comfortable in front of a crowd, our supportive, step-by-step approach will help you find your voice. All you need for this class is a pen, paper and the desire to make people laugh! In the end-of-class show, you’ll get to show off a five-minute set to an invited audience of family and friends. Please note that to benefit the most from this course you'll need to spend time writing material between classes. We can’t wait to laugh and learn with you! Saturdays, 16:00-18:30, May 9-June 27 Class Show: Saturday July 4 Prerequisites: none! Spots are limited in these small classes, so sign up soon! [https://www.improvworksberlin.com/book-online](https://www.improvworksberlin.com/book-online)

Got an outfit you love but nowhere to wear it? This is your excuse 👀✨ **Sip Happens!** invites you to a special edition event: a relaxed social meetup where the only dress code is simple: come as you are 🍸💫 This edition’s topic **“nowhere to wear it”** is all about finally giving your favorite outfits the moment they deserve 👗🕺 Whether it’s bold, elegant, or just something you’ve been saving, bring it out and own it. Expect a lively atmosphere, easy conversations, and a crowd that’s here for the same thing: good company and a great night 🥳 Wear the outfit. Make the night. 💛 \-\-\-\-\-\- We always have several organisers there (male and female), so come say hello to us! We care to make sure that everyones enjoys themselves and we have **no tolerance for bad behaviour or creepiness.** **Follow us on Insta:** @siphappens.berlin **Join us on Telegram:** t.me/siphappens_berlin **👉 Other important notes:** \- 🍸 The locations we visit are bars and clubs\, they are businesses and we are able to keep these events free ONLY if people buy drinks\. Please respect the locations and the event by making purchases \- 🦹‍♂️ Remember to keep an eye on your belongings and prioritize your own well\-being\. We are not responsible for any lost items or personal issues\. \- 📷 By attending our events\, you consent to being photographed or filmed\. Photos and videos taken during the events may be shared on our social media\. If you do not wish to appear in the photos or if you appear in a photo that we post that you would like removed\, please send us a private message as soon as possible on Instagram \(@siphappens\.berlin\)

**[Reserve Seats on Eventbrite](https://ComedyinArtGallery.eventbrite.de/?aff=meetup)** (<= Required for entry, Only 30 available) **Show starts: 8pm in an upscale Mitte Art Gallery** The perfect blend of art, humour and socialising! **Laughing is contagious 😃 and has the power to bond people🙌** Welcome to an event that deserves your presence. We have booked an Art Gallery in Mitte and are showcasing a creative concept show that brings people together through laughs with a thrilling comedy game format. We will be laughing a lot. **Event Details:** Gallery Opens: 7:30pm Event starts: 8:00pm Event ends: 9:00pm *\*Sunday event runs till 9:30pm* **Pay what you want (at the end of the show).** This is an English language event. **[Reserve Seats on Eventbrite](https://ComedyinArtGallery.eventbrite.de/?aff=meetup)** (<= Required for entry) **Host/Comedian:** **Prateek Jajoo (IG: jazz.comedy)** Featured at Comedy Cellar NYC, New York Comedy club, Broadway comedy club. And all cool clubs of Europe. Fresh from two comedy specials in Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Prateek is excited to entertain and laugh with the audience of the city he fondly calls home. IG: @jazz.comedy **Pay what you want (at the end of the show).**

Join us for a daily chess meetup in the heart of Berlin at Schönhauser Allee 174. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, feel free to drop by anytime between 7 PM and midnight, every single day of the week. No registration is required – just show up and enjoy a game in a fun, inclusive, and casual environment. Newcomers can take advantage of a friendly crash course to get started, while experienced players share strategies, discuss best practices, and even explore quirky variants like Duck Chess or Bughouse. Boards, sets, and clocks are provided, with time controls up to 10 minutes per player for a rapid, engaging experience. It’s the perfect way to unplug, detox from screens, and connect with a diverse, kind-hearted community of chess lovers. The gathering welcomes all levels and backgrounds, creating a vibrant, family-friendly space where everyone can enjoy the game and forge real connections.

One of the few concepts in the world which every religion, creed, group etc agrees on is that our time on this planet is limited. Whatever happens to you after that, the stories on that vary from person to person, group to group, but the inevitability of your physical body's limitation is agreed upon by everyone. Yet, no one wants to talk about it, to contemplate, how awareness of one's mortality has influenced whole of human civilisation. Even the oldest known literature, Epic of Gilgamesh, is a story about a man/demi-god, wanting to conquer death and achieve immortality, fails to do so. Life and death have existed side by side closely since forever. It was just more visible before modernity, because of less advanced medicine, less tamed nature etc. Today? Well, its the last topic on most minds. Hence, for this meetup, our topic would be simply, "On mortality". I have found a cozy little cafe (The cafe has great homemade cakes by the way) near a peaceful cemetery. Why a cemetery you may ask? And how can it be "peaceful"? A cemetery may remind you of decay and depression, but instead, it has life all around. Small insects running their society, (if you look closely 😏), flowers, trees, melodic chirping of birds, and the beautiful sunlight tearing through the trees. It has that contrast of and life and death coexisting so close to one another, which today's human's living in so much safety and certainty mostly get repelled away from and hence avoid discussing about it, is the major theme of this discussion.

Let's meet for the [ACX Spring Meetups Everywhere 2026](https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/meetups-everywhere-spring-2026-times) in the Humboldthain! This will likely be a big meetup, as it was announced by Scott on ACX. From experience, I expect 25–50 attendees. Humboldthain is good to reach by public transport; the next train stops are S+U Gesundbrunnen and S Humboldthain. If you’re reading this, you’re invited. Please don’t feel like you "won't be welcome" just because you’re new to the blog, demographically different from the average reader, or hate ACX and everything it stands for. You'll be fine! I'll buy some snacks; feel free to bring something to share as well. There are also many restaurants around if you get hungry. Location: Big lawn at the center of Humboldthain — [https://plus.codes/9F4MG9WP+36](https://plus.codes/9F4MG9WP+36) Contact: Reply to this event, message me here on Meetup, or join the Telegram group below. Next public toilet: [https://g.co/kgs/bp9nGd](https://g.co/kgs/bp9nGd) Group Link: [https://t.me/+tVWSc66-0UM5MzA6](https://t.me/+tVWSc66-0UM5MzA6)

Sundays, 13:00-15:30, May 10-June 28 Class Show: Sunday July 5 Prerequisites: none! ImprovWorks Berlin is excited to announce our next round of improv comedy courses! We truly believe that everyone can become confident and funny on stage. Over 8 weekly classes, we explore the principles of comedic improvisation primarily through short-form games. Together, we create a conscious, supportive space where we focus on becoming good listeners, making spontaneous choices, and working together as a team. We’ll empower each other with the “Freedom to Fail,” thereby unleashing our inner creativity. The concepts of presence, agreement, trust, commitment and support are fostered through large and small group exercises. We’ll also have a ton of fun and make new friends! In the end-of-class show, you’ll get to show off all you’ve learned to an invited audience of family and friends. Sundays, 13:00-15:30, May 10-June 28 Class Show: Sunday July 5 Spots are limited in these small classes, so sign up soon! [https://www.improvworksberlin.com/book-online](https://www.improvworksberlin.com/book-online)

Apologies everyone for the completely skipped date on Easter! The emails from MeetUp were going straight to spam, so I was convinced there was no interest. For those of you still interested, I would suggest that Sunday, May 10 would be a good replacement date to kick things off. Content-wise, the event would stay the same. Meeting place would be the Schoenbrunn Biergarten Kiosk in Volkspark Friedrichshain. This would also be the first opportunity to discuss alternative times and locations. \-\-\- The first chapter of To Our Friends! A great intro to the style of writing and the fast and furious manner of argumentation from the radical theory collective. Selection for discussion: "Merry Crisis and Happy New Fear" Link to the text: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/the-invisible-committe-to-our-friends

This time we will be discussing Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier Film info: https://www.imdb.com/de/title/tt27714581/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk you will find us inside the bar usually on the left side. if you dont find us ask at the bar where the filmgroup is sitting. Don't forget to watch the film before joining the meetup :)

Chitta Walks is for people whose days move fast, while the mind never fully lands. Thoughts keep looping even when nothing is urgent. The body moves, but attention is elsewhere. Over time, this disconnect drains clarity and ease. This walk is a simple reset. We meet in Berlin’s Tiergarten and walk at a gentle pace. Parts of the walk are in silence, with light guidance and a few short prompts. The walk itself is the practice, bringing body and mind back into the same moment. No apps. No performance. Just a clear space to slow down and notice what is happening. If you want to slow down without withdrawing from life, join a Chitta Walk. ✨ **What to expect (approx. 90 minutes):** * A short arrival and orientation * A guided silent walk (phones off, no conversation) * One concise science-based impulse on attention or stress * Optional reflection in pairs or small groups * A simple takeaway or experiment for daily life 🚶**Who this is for:** * Professionals, creatives, and people in transition. * People who feel mentally busy and want more clarity and balance. * Those curious about mindfulness, but grounded and practical. * Anyone comfortable with silence and gentle self observation. 🔔 **Practical notes:** * Duration: 60-90 minutes * Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing * No prior experience needed * Group size is limited to keep the space quiet and focused 🧭 **Facilitator:** My name is Partha Sarathi, you can call me PS. I have lived in Berlin for over 12 years. With a background in physics and materials science, my interest in mindfulness grew through personal experience with stress and health challenges. I facilitate the space and structure of the walk, inviting shared exploration rather than instruction. 🤔 **Why Chitta Walks?** Chitta is a Sanskrit word referring to the mind or field of awareness, used here in a practical, non-religious sense. Chitta Walks is about noticing how the mind works by slowing down and walking together. Mindful walking makes thought patterns visible in real time, while moving and sensing in the world. The name points to a simple capacity: noticing what is happening in the mind without immediately trying to fix, judge, or optimize it. 🌿 **Possible effects:** A calmer nervous system. Clearer attention. A felt sense of being more present in your body. Subtle insights into how your mind reacts under everyday conditions. A quieter, more grounded way of moving through the city. **Come as you are. Walk. Notice. Leave with a little more space inside.**

***Welcome to the Actors Gym!*** * A fun, supportive training ground where actors play, experiment, and build their craft. * *Through engaging games and exercises, you’ll develop core acting skills and bring them to life by performing a short script at the end of every session.* * This drop-in class welcomes both new and intermediate actors eager to learn, stretch, and have fun. ‍ **DURATION:** 60 – 90 mins (depending on numbers) **ABOUT YOUR COACH:** Geoff is a dedicated professional teacher and actor. He is also active as a writer, director and producer of small-scale projects here in Berlin. He has performed on many stages – as actor, host, and improvisor – and in many short films, across the UK and Germany. He loves to meet and work with new actors, and has a real passion for discovering new talent. His acting profile may be found [HERE](https://www.filmmakers.eu/en/actors/geoff-mills). ‍ **SPOTS:** Everyone is welcome. Beginner-friendly. €15 General Admission (*pay at venue*) Free to members of [DNA Arts](https://www.dna-artclub.com/) \- a vibrant community of artists and performers\. **DNA** members have access to over 5 dance classes and 5 creative workshops each week, covering everything from singing, writing, and marketing to theatre, including also 5+ shows weekly, all completely free for our members.

When judging morality, should we prioritize **intentions/duty** or **outcomes/results**? It introduces two influential philosophers as representatives of these approaches. * **Immanuel Kant (deontology):** An action is moral when it is done from **duty** and follows rational, universal principles (the **categorical imperative**). Certain acts—like lying—are wrong regardless of the consequences; you can’t do a wrong thing for a right reason. * **John Stuart Mill (utilitarian consequentialism):** The morality of an action is determined by its **effects**, specifically how much **happiness/well-being** it produces. Mill argues that some pleasures are “higher” than others, and that good intentions don’t redeem harmful outcomes. ## Discussion Questions 1. **The lying dilemma:** A murderer comes to your door and asks if your friend is hiding inside. Kant would say you must not lie. 2. **Can good intentions rescue a bad outcome?** 3. **The organ harvest problem:** A surgeon has five patients dying of organ failure and one healthy patient in for a checkup. Killing the one to harvest organs would save five lives, and the math works out for the utilitarian. Why does this feel so deeply wrong? Is that feeling a point in Kant's favor, or just a bias we should overcome? 4. **Do rules need exceptions?** Kant insists moral rules must be universal, with no exceptions. But most of us can imagine extreme scenarios where any rule seems like it should bend. Does the need for exceptions fatally undermine deontology, or is the strength of the system precisely that it refuses to bend? 5. **Who gets to calculate the consequences?** Utilitarianism asks us to maximize good outcomes, but we're notoriously bad at predicting consequences. If we can't reliably know the results of our actions, is it practical to base our entire moral system on outcomes? Does this uncertainty push us back toward rules and principles? 6. **Everyday morality:** Think about a real moral decision you've made recently, even a small one. Did you reason more like a Kantian (what's the right thing to do in principle?) or more like a utilitarian (what will produce the best result?)? Do most people naturally lean one way? 7. **Justice vs. the greater good:** A town can prevent a deadly plague by sacrificing one innocent person. The greater good is clearly served. But is it just? Can an action be morally right and deeply unjust at the same time? 8. **The big synthesis question:** Are these two systems actually opposed, or do they often arrive at the same answers by different paths? Is it possible that we need both: rules to guide us in the moment and consequences to evaluate systems and policies over time?

IMPORTANT!!! THE DATE OF THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CHANGED TO SUNDAY MAY 17, 2026!!! A very unusual choice for his group... Unknown Number: High School Catfish is an American [true crime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_crime "True crime") documentary film directed by [Skye Borgman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skye_Borgman "Skye Borgman") and released to [streaming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streaming_media "Streaming media") on [Netflix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netflix "Netflix") on August 29, 2025. The documentary explores the events and investigation into an unknown person [cyberbully](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberbullying "Cyberbullying") and [harassing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harassment "Harassment") teenagers in [Beal City, Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beal_City,_Michigan "Beal City, Michigan") using an unknown number via insults and sexual claims. It also explores the increasingly great impact of the harassment on the community, the eventual reveal of the culprit, and the trial that followed. IMPORTANT INFO: I strongly suggest not reading anything about it online before seeing it. It's best viewed with no previous knowledge. This documentary contains crude terminology and deals with cyberbullying, which may be a trigger for some folks. Please be ready to discuss the movie by 7PM. Thanks. Unfortunately, it is only available on Netflix. If you would like to attend but do not have Netflix, say so and maybe we can figure something out.

Main Library, Meeting Room 2B Join us for a welcoming evening of reflection, gentle music, and meaningful conversation. We’ll begin with a short grounding moment, followed by a brief reading from spiritual or philosophical traditions, and an open reflection circle where participants can share (or simply listen). Libera Animae is an interfaith community focused on inner growth, creativity, and authentic connection. All backgrounds are welcome.

Join me for a small, mindful photography walk in nature. (**NOTE Time is 9:00 AM EST(Meetup is having technical Issue))** This is a slow, intentional gathering — not focused on fitness or perfect photography — but on simply pausing, observing, and being present. We’ll walk at a gentle pace, with moments of quiet, and a few light prompts to help you notice details you might normally miss. 📷 You don’t need any photography experience — a phone camera is enough. This is also not a business networking event. It’s a calm space to connect with nature and, if it feels natural, with like-minded people. 🌿 What to expect: • A slow-paced, relaxed walk • Moments of silence and observation • Simple reflection prompts 📍 Location: [ Red Trabue Nature Preserve] ⏱ Duration: \~60 minutes This is a small, initial gathering as I begin creating this space through WellGratiVibes — a blend of mindfulness, nature, and quiet connection. If this resonates with you, you’re welcome to join.

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

Private Group. Closed to the Public Knowing ourselves and understanding our abilities is the first step toward wielding our gifts with control and accuracy. In subsequent classes we will verify and hone our talents with activities and discussion. These are hands-on workshops and participation is expected. The goal of our series will be to develop expertise in areas of particular interest such as mediumship, channeling, divination, healing and, etc.. Our ultimate directions will be determined by class members as we evolve. I look forward to sharing and discovering with you. - Cynthia

Practical AI for Power BI Developers A year ago, “agentic AI” was mostly hype for Power BI teams. Today, it deserves your undivided attention. For Power BI pros, there is now a real opportunity to reduce repetitive development work, accelerate delivery, and help developers do more, but only when strong DataOps practices are in place to make AI workflows effective. This session is a no-nonsense introduction to effective AI patterns for Power BI and Fabric development. Along the way, we will make sense of the growing pile of terminology, including skills, plugins, hooks, and MCP. You will see examples of how modern AI tooling can help with development tasks across Power BI and Fabric, along with the prerequisites, guardrails, and DataOps principles needed to use it responsibly. Whether you're burned out on AI hype or already using Copilot CLI daily, this session will show you the foundations that are finally making AI-assisted development genuinely useful.