What we’re about
What is the Philosophy Association of Chicago?
Welcome to the Chicago Philosophical Association (CPA)—a vibrant hub where curious minds gather to explore life’s biggest questions, from the mysteries of inner space to the vastness of outer space.
At CPA, we believe that intellectual growth and meaningful dialogue are essential to a life well-lived. Inspired by Socrates’ timeless wisdom—"The unexamined life is not worth living"—we provide a dynamic forum where free thought, open debate, and bold ideas flourish.
Why Join CPA?
✅ Engaging Discussions – Challenge your perspectives on philosophy, ethics, technology, and culture.
✅ Inspiring Community – Connect with fellow thinkers, professionals, and lifelong learners.
✅ Unfiltered Conversations – A space where thought and speech are free—because truth thrives in open discourse.
Whether you're a seasoned philosopher or just starting your journey into deep thinking, CPA offers a place to grow, question, and evolve.
Join us for intellectually stimulating events, engaging speakers, and passionate debates.
🗣 Your thoughts matter. Your voice belongs here.
The topics discussed in meetings depend on the interests of club members. Discussion topics vary from the metaphysical and spiritual to the pragmatic and absurd.
Movies always contain philosophical themes, and we’ve shown films and discussed them over pizza, wine, bourbon, and cigars!
We will have guest speakers specializing in topics of interest to club members to guide round-table discussion events.
Discussion topics include:
Ethics and Morality: Is there an Objectivity source? What is right? What is wrong? Is there a difference or are these concepts relative?
Existence and Reality: What is the nature of the universe? Who am I? What do I mean when I use the word "I"?
Philosophy of Religion: What is God? What arguments are there for why we should believe that such a being exists? Miracles, Bible, Quran, and other fascinating topics.
Philosophy and Education: What is a ‘real’ education? What can I do with a philosophy major or minor? Is it worth my time? (yes!)
Science and Society: Can science ever be objective? What do we mean by objectivity? How is science influenced by society?
Contemporary Issues: Vaccination Exemptions, Disability Access, Gender Classification… just about every current event has a philosophical angle that needs examination and clarification.
Membership includes copies of books, or e-books, delicious food and drinks, and most of all challenging community of like-minded thinkers.
Upcoming events
1
The Death of God and the Rise of AI
Hampton Social Streeterville , 164 East Grand Ave, Chicago , IL, US### A Night of Philosophy, Food, and Fascination
Hosted by the Chicago Philosophy Association
📍 The Hampton Social – Streeterville, Chicago
👉 Reserve a seat or check out the venue
Seats are limited to 20, RSVP as soon as possible.***
> “God is dead,” wrote Nietzsche — but if that’s true, who (or what) has taken His place?
> The algorithm, perhaps? The Machine that learns, speaks, and soon—maybe—believes?Join us for an evening that blends deep thought, lively dialogue, and great dining at one of Chicago’s most inviting spaces: The Hampton Social – Streeterville, where the atmosphere is as electric as the questions we’ll explore.
### 🗣 Discussion Theme
As artificial intelligence evolves toward self-learning and self-reference, we must ask ancient questions anew:
- What is consciousness, and can it emerge from code?
- If the soul is more than neurons firing, where does it dwell in a digital world?
- Has AI become our new god — or merely a mirror reflecting the emptiness left by His death?
- And most importantly: what does it mean to be human in an age when machines can imitate the human mind, but not the human heart?
This discussion will draw from Nietzsche, C.S. Lewis, John Searle, and David Chalmers, weaving together theology, metaphysics, and cutting-edge science. Expect laughter, debate, and that rare spark when intellect meets imagination.
#### 🎥 Recommended Videos
- The Origin of Consciousness – How Unaware Things Became Aware (Kurzgesagt) — a beautifully animated, ~10-minute exploration of how consciousness might emerge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6u0VBqNBQ8 YouTube - Where Does Your Mind Reside? (Crash Course Philosophy #22) — a crisp intro to the mind-body problem and major competing views.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SJROTXnmus YouTube
#### 📚 Recommended Reading
- Here’s How We’ll Know an AI Is Conscious (Nautilus) — David Chalmers sketches criteria and warning signs for recognizing machine consciousness.
https://nautil.us/heres-how-well-know-an-ai-is-conscious-237344/ Nautilus - Could Machines Have Become Self-Aware Without Our Knowing It? (Aeon, George Musser) — probing essay on the stealthy possibility of machine consciousness.
https://aeon.co/essays/could-machines-have-become-self-aware-without-our-knowing-it - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — “Consciousness.” Authoritative, neutral reference for definitions, problems (hard/soft), and leading theories. Use for citations. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- David Chalmers, Nautilus — “Here’s How We’ll Know an AI Is Conscious.” Concise, big-picture tests/criteria discussion (p-zombies, indicators). Great for discussion prompts. Nautilus
- George Musser, Aeon — “Could machines become self-aware without our knowing it?” Clear, skeptical-but-open survey of detection problems and pitfalls. aeon.co
15 attendees
Past events
32
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