What we’re about
Philosophy Café in Rochester, NY is a group that reads philosophy texts and meets to discuss them.
All are welcome! Our meetings are open to “beginners” and “experts,” alike. No prior experience with philosophy is required or expected. If you have an interest in philosophy, we’d love for you to join us!
We meet on the second Saturday of each month at 11:15 a.m., unless indicated otherwise.
A typical meeting starts with a short, general introduction of the topic and the readings, and then we break into small groups (3-5 people) to discuss. At some point, we re-mix the small groups so we each get to talk with and hear from different people. And at the end, we sometimes bring everyone back together as a big group to share observations that came out of the small group discussions.
More info: [PhilosophyCafe.net](https://philosophycafe.net)
Upcoming events
3
Philosophy Cafe meeting - Sat., Nov. 8, 2025, 11:15 am
740 University Ave, Rochester, NY, USMeeting info:
- When: Second Saturday of each month at 11:15 a.m.
- Where: Writers & Books, 740 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607.
- Map: https://goo.gl/maps/ix5sYdvhRNnP4gzf8
- More info: https://philosophycafe.net
- Contact: https://philosophycafe.net/contact
_
Discussion topics:- Philosophy; History of Philosophy
- Readings: https://philosophycafe.net/events/#next-meeting
_
Philosophy Café in Rochester, New York is an informal group that reads philosophy texts and meets to discuss them.Our meetings are open to “beginners” and “experts,” alike. No prior experience with philosophy is required or expected. If you have an interest in philosophy, we’d love for you to join us!
6 attendees
Nietzsche: On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense
Brighton Memorial Library, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester NY 14618, Rochester, NY, USHi Folks,
Please join us for our next group discussion featuring Friedrich Nietzsche’s provocative essay On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense. In this brief but dazzling text, Nietzsche dismantles our everyday assumptions about truth, language, and knowledge — asking what it really means to “know” something, and whether truth itself might be a useful illusion.
📖 About the Text
Written in 1873 but unpublished in Nietzsche’s lifetime, On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense is an early and essential statement of his thought. In it, Nietzsche argues that what we call “truth” arises not from an objective reality, but from shared metaphors, conventions, and instincts — a human artifice we’ve forgotten is an invention.📚 Reading & Participation
The essay is only about 10 pages long, making it ideal for close reading and discussion. You’re encouraged to read the essay in advance — any translation is fine. A popular and accessible version can be found here.
For beginners here is a shorter AI generated 2 page summary of the text in more accessible language.💬 Discussion Format
- We breakout into groups of around 4
- The facilitator will provide one theme from the piece which we discuss for 20 minutes.
- Then we switch groups and change the theme.
- We have about 4 group changes depending on number of attendees and time.
Bring your curiosity, openness, and willingness to wrestle with Nietzsche’s playful seriousness.
📍 Location
Brighton Memorial Library
Friday, November 22 — 12 PM to 2 PM
RSVP for the exact room and additional details.🌐 Event Details
All are welcome — no prior background in philosophy required.🪶 Questions or Feedback?
If you have questions or feedback, feel free to reach out to me on Meetup.Best Regards,
Ryan1 attendee
Philosophy Cafe meeting - Sat., Dec. 13, 2025, 11:15 am
740 University Ave, Rochester, NY, USMeeting info:
- When: Second Saturday of each month at 11:15 a.m.
- Where: Writers & Books, 740 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607.
- Map: https://goo.gl/maps/ix5sYdvhRNnP4gzf8
- More info: https://philosophycafe.net
- Contact: https://philosophycafe.net/contact
_
Discussion topics:- Philosophy; History of Philosophy
- Readings: https://philosophycafe.net/events/#next-meeting
_
Philosophy Café in Rochester, New York is an informal group that reads philosophy texts and meets to discuss them.Our meetings are open to “beginners” and “experts,” alike. No prior experience with philosophy is required or expected. If you have an interest in philosophy, we’d love for you to join us!
1 attendee
Past events
45
