Philosophy and Coffee @ Heritage Park (Old Town)

Hi fellow philosophy lovers!
We’re coming off a really great first gathering and are excited to host our next one. Before getting into the topic, here’s a quick snapshot of what to expect so everyone feels comfortable walking in:

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### What This Meetup Is (and Isn’t)

• It's a free discussion!
• Casual, come-as-you-are — no dress code, no pressure, chill and laid back
• No need to read ahead - I'm going to read parts of the source material at the event. Feel free to prepare as much or as little as you'd like.
• Bring a chair (outdoor seating has no back support and is uncomfortable!)
• Feel free to bring coffee, water, or whatever helps you settle in
• Curiosity encouraged — prior knowledge is not required
• No obligation to speak — listening is participation too

To help keep the space welcoming and grounded for everyone, we’ll aim to keep discussion centered on philosophical ideas, questions, and shared themes, rather than deeply personal or traumatic experiences. These conversations naturally invite reflection, reframing, and personal insight and Lived experience naturally shapes how we think. It’s welcome when it helps illuminate an idea—but the focus of the gathering is collective exploration, not personal processing. This helps ensure the space remains thoughtful, respectful, and comfortable for all.

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### This Week’s Focus: Aristotle & the Good Life

For this gathering, we’re lucky to have a professional philosopher volunteering to help guide the discussion. We’ll be exploring selections from Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics—specifically Book I, Chapter 2 and Book 2, Chapter 4 which focus on virtue, habit, and how ethical character is formed.
We won’t be racing through text or aiming for academic mastery. Instead, the emphasis will be on:

• Understanding the core ideas
• Asking good questions
• Discussing how (and whether) these concepts apply to modern life

We’ll cover what we can at a natural pace and let the conversation guide us.

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Together, we’ll explore Aristotle’s thoughts on what it means to live well and see how those ideas resonate (or don’t) in modern life. Look forward to seeing you all there!