What we’re about
We offer free talks and small, seminar-style courses on the great classics of philosophy, economics, literature, and history in NYC.
Our courses are modeled on the type of rigorous, discussion-based seminars found in small liberal arts colleges and graduate programs with the difference that in our courses there are no grades or written homework. They strike a balance between respectful discussion focused on the assigned text and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where free coffee (in-person daytime classes) and free beer or wine (in-person evening classes) are served.
We offer a variety of free talks, interviews, and Q&A's with scholars doing fascinating work on topics like artificial intelligence, the nature of time, theories of love and sexuality, and new perspectives on major historical events. Most in-person courses and events are followed by a social hour either in our meeting spaces or at a nearby bar or restaurant.
Join us for a free talk with an interesting scholar or try one of our courses risk free! We offer a 100% 'no questions asked' refund up to 24 hours after the first course meeting.
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Environmental Ethics: Energy, Ecocide, and GeoengineeringLink visible for attendees
"Climate warming has reached a dangerous level in which natural systems are approaching thresholds for major changes ('tipping points') that would dramatically accelerate climate impacts."
–silverlining.ngoStarts Wednesday, May 28 at 6:30pm and meets 4 times over 4 weeks. Please enroll here in addition to your RSVP on meetup to reserve a spot.
Try this course risk-free! We offer a 100% 'no questions asked' refund on all courses until 24 hours after the first class meeting.This course addresses one of the most controversial and pressing issues in contemporary environmental ethics: the ethical implications of geoengineering, with a special focus on the technique of “marine cloud brightening”.
We explore the complex moral landscape surrounding human interventions in the Earth's climate system as a response to global warming and ecological degradation. Through the lens of marine cloud brightening—an emerging geoengineering technique that aims to increase the reflectivity of clouds over the ocean to cool the planet—we will critically examine the ethical considerations of manipulating natural systems on a large scale. Readings will focus on the scientific underpinnings of marine cloud brightening, its potential impacts on global ecosystems, and the ethical debates it sparks regarding human responsibility, ecological justice, and intergenerational equity.
Through a series of readings and discussions, participants will engage with questions such as: What are the moral implications of deploying geoengineering technologies? Can the risks associated with such large-scale interventions be ethically justified? How do we weigh the potential benefits of cooling the planet against the uncertainties and possible harm to marine life and global weather patterns? The course aims to equip students with a nuanced understanding of the ethical principles at play in the geoengineering debate, encouraging them to critically assess the role of human agency in addressing climate change and to consider the broader ethical implications of intervening in nature's balance.
(Artwork above: Ivan Aivazovsky, 'Wave', 1889)
Click here to enroll.
