Philosophy and Coffee @ Heritage Park in Old Town

What to expect:

• Free event
• Casual attire — come as you are
• Laid-back, chill vibe
• No expertise required
• No reading ahead necessary - it helps to get a good understanding as we don't have enough time to get through whole texts but we will cover the big concepts from each work.
• No pressure to speak — listening is participation
• Bring a chair! Outdoor seating is uncomfortable.
• Bring a sunhat

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In this meeting we’ll be reading and discussing selections from the work of Soren Kierkegaard (1813 – 1855).
Kierkegaard (1813 – 1855) is known as a religious reformer and foundational thinker of a new approach to philosophy, later called Existentialism.

He published under a series of pseudonyms, including "Johannes de Silentio" (used for Fear and Trembling). This work explores the nature of faith not from a merely rational approach, but as lived experience.

We will also look at his work Either/Or which explores living an aesthetic vs. an ethical life, and the imperative to choose one or the other.

LInks to the texts:

We will focus on the section titled "Tribute to Abraham" in Fear and Trembling, which you can find here:
https://philpapers.org/archive/KIEFAT-15.pdf

We will discuss the beginning of the section titled "The Balance between the Aesthetic and the Ethical in the Development of the Personality" in Either/Or, available here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uA9r2hMk4YGYKAnnlabyIXeBh7jKAFiw/view?usp=share_link

We may discuss an excerpt from Works of Love available here:
Kierkegaard - Works of Love A Philosophy of Existence―How Love Saves Us from Isolation
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10NYRPzS1L7bymN0lWgsKPalZpSNkn6Wl/view?usp=share_link

This is not a lecture, debate club, therapy group, or religious study. It’s an informal, open discussion centered on original source material, curiosity, and respectful listening.
We'll provide discussion prompts and share useful links to source material for anyone interested, but showing up is enough.
☕ Coffee encouraged
🪑 Please bring your own chair for comfort (the seating in the outdoor classroom does not have back support)
🌳 Outdoor setting
Location:
The outdoor “classroom” area at the end of Heritage Park Old Town next to the Gazebo
Come for ten minutes or stay the whole time.
Bring curiosity—or just bring yourself.