About us
"Human understanding is marvellously enlightened by daily conversation with [others], for we are, otherwise, compressed and heaped up in ourselves, and have our sight limited to the length of our own noses." - Michel de Montaigne
Looking for a place to have discussions about intellectually oriented topics? It can be tough to find these days … that’s what this group is for! If small, focused discussions over a coffee or a beer are something you enjoy, consider joining us!
Being a small group naturally, we’re able to have in-depth conversations among knowledgable people. And this allows us to dig deeper into whatever subject we’re discussing. We aim for members who have considered opinions but aren't rigid about them - people who are open-minded and able to talk about opinions that differ from their own.
Discussions will be based on ideas, and sources for these ideas will usually come from articles, books, videos, podcasts, and films. Topics will be wide-ranging: including real-life issues & interests along with a mix of the sciences, the humanities, the arts, and current events. Members are also encouraged to suggest topics that will be interesting for the group.
Meetings will take place on the weekend at a café or pub/restaurant, over coffee or a beer or something to eat.
If you’re interested, please be sure there's a realistic photo of yourself. And please take a moment to answer these questions, which will appear when you click on the ‘request to join’ button:
-Please list two or three articles or non-fiction books that you’ve found interesting recently?
-What are your sources for news?
-What are your thoughts about science?
-What subjects do you like to talk about?
Upcoming events
2
In Defense of Difficult Reading
Portland, OR, Portland, OR, USLet’s read a review of a new book: What’s So Great About the Great Books? Why You Should Read Classic Literature (Even Though It Might Destroy You) by Naomi Kanakia, and then discuss her ideas.
From the book:
“The moment we come into contact with other people, we realize that the world precedes us. We come into a rich world that’s already full of preexisting ideas, which we discover through conversation, through the media, and through books. We determine our morality not in isolation but in relation to this world and to the choices it offers us.”From the review:
“Kanakia contends that Great Books have earned their status because of their integrity. They are, she writes, “unflinchingly honest.” They have self-searching “rigor,” “a certain seriousness,” and “sensitivity.” Reading them can cultivate the same in us. More refreshing and, for me, unexpected, is her insistence that our commitment to diversity should include the diversity of other times. This “conversation with the past” adds depth and dimension to our own perceptions of the world. Indeed, reading these classics helps us to better understand our embeddedness in a long and complex context:”https://theamericanscholar.org/in-defense-of-difficult-reading/
~Michael
4 attendees
What does it mean to forgive someone?
Portland, OR, Portland, OR, USWhat does it mean to forgive someone for something they did in the past, and what does it require of the forgiver? Let’s watch and then discuss a recent film that addresses the psychological complexity and difficulty of doing this.
Exhibiting Forgiveness is a 2024 American independent drama film written and directed by Titus Kaphar, who is an American contemporary painter and filmmaker. The film stars André Holland.
"André Holland lays himself bare in a characteristically wonderful performance in this vivid portrait of a family coming to terms with the past.”
“An emotionally wrenching drama set to resonate with those who have also had to confront the complicated equation of radical forgiveness.”
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/exhibiting_forgiveness
You should watch the movie on your own sometime before the meeting. It can be streamed from Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango, and possibly elsewhere.
~Michael
1 attendee
