ONLINE: “The Underpinnings of Society” (Part 4)

This is the Monday night meeting for Orlando Stoics. It's online.

Last meeting, we considered how communication has influenced society over thousands of years. In our next meeting, we will consider the basics of life and some existential threats. We’ll begin with an article by Massimo Pigliucci describing some basic tenets of how to live a good life according to the Stoics: using reason, understanding externals, and practicing the virtues. Then we’ll explore the ideas of Irvin Yalom on existential psychology. Specifically, how can we better understand and accept our immortality? Yalom argues that anxiety can help us transcend our fear of death and finiteness (this is not a Stoic path, but we shall still consider it).

Finally, we’ll consider how technology affects society (the benefits and the existential threats). In the 1980s, in the first episode of the popular TV series called “Connections,” historian James Burke proposes that life’s basics and conveniences can be removed at any time…and then what would we do? This is the story of the great electrical blackout event of November 1965. We hope you can join us Monday and bring a friend who is interested in history or philosophy.

READING MATERIALS

Massimo Pigliucci on living a good life
https://thestoicgym.com/the-stoic-magazine/article/27

Wikipedia bio on Irvin Yalom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irvin_D._Yalom

Book review of Staring at the Sun (Irvin Yalom, 2008)
https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7879-9668-0

James Burke, “The Trigger Effect”
(watch the first 25 minutes, it’s astounding)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XetplHcM7aQ

Wikipedia overview of the blackout of November 1965
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_blackout_of_1965

TIMEZONES

Meeting time (USA):
7:00PM Eastern
6:00PM Central
5:00PM Mountain
4:00PM Pacific

For our international friends,
Please convert time with the free tool
https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/

ZOOM LINK

CLICK TO START MEETING - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82659560546

If you don't have a computer with camera, you can also dial using a phone. Pick one of these numbers and add ID 826 5956 0546#
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US

Our group enjoys open-minded, respectful conversations on Stoicism and how it relates to science, culture, philosophy, other belief systems, and even pop culture (books and movies). Sometimes "we agree to disagree", but the long-term goal is to improve our minds via group discussions.

In general, Stoicism teaches us how to handle difficult people and events, how to avoid anger and worry, and overall to use moderation in all aspects of our lives.

This meeting is free and open to the public.