What we’re about
(We used to be Guelph (Faux) Philosophy)
Enjoy exploring big ideas with a dash of paradox? Keen to connect with neighbors who bring different views and fresh insights? Ready to break out of the routine and discuss your insights on challenging questions? If these questions speak to you, come join our conversation.
Philosophy Unplugged Guelph meets at 10 am on the first Sunday of each month. Our current home is The Common (coffee house), 28 Wilson St. across from city hall.
We are not exactly a philosophy club, nor a philosophy book club. Rather, we aim to create space to socialize ‘big’ ideas. We start with insights based on personal experiences and life’s lessons. The discussions draw on many sources - what we have read, respected thinkers, cultural influences, our education, theories and practices.
Each month we target an intriguing topic to discuss. We add a few reference items like articles or YouTube content, that are available to read, view, scan, or ignore, up to you. The only ask? You come prepared to share, listen and think with an open mind.
We look forward to meeting and becoming ‘philosophy unplugged’.
Upcoming events
1
The Burden of Consciousness
The Common, 28 Wilson St, Guelph, ON N1H 2Z2, Guelph, ON, CAI invite you to book 10 am on Sunday, November 9th for our next meetup. We will meet at The Common (coffee house), 28 Wilson St. in downtown Guelph.
The discussion will aim to explore our experience, and experiences, examining who we are and how we fit. I know, a little ambitious, and potentially intimidating. Nevertheless, we are all seekers, wanderers, explorers of some description, whether it is living in the moment, or undergoing a grand journey.
Considering a rather serious take, Carl Jung wrote, “The development of consciousness is the burden, the suffering, and the blessing of mankind” (“Men, Women, and God,” 1955). Taking advantage of Charlie Munger’s encouragement of inversion, what is the wisdom to be found in the old cliché that ‘ignorance is bliss’? Mark Twain is credited with the quip, “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure”.
In case you wish to explore some background, there are many accessible and well-known essays and articles. Last year we explored the well-known convocation speech by David Foster Wallace, "This is Water", something of a guide to not drowning in the banality of life as an adult. It can be downloaded/read at https://fs.blog/david-foster-wallace-this-is-water/ (which I recommend) or listened to at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCbGM4mqEVw.
A second item we explored last year is "The Meaning of Life" by Richard Taylor, a short and accessible reminder that it's all meaningless (unless you choose to act otherwise). You can download at https://rintintin.colorado.edu/~vancecd/phil150/Taylor.pdf.
A final suggestion is a recent, short and viral YouTube item that I personally found intriguing. The Terrible Paradox of Self-Awareness | Fernando Pessoa is from a seemingly legit and successful source and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qU1sDBU9Cs.
Hope to see you in November.
4 attendees
Past events
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