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 (2)
See all- Swiped Out: Why Modern Dating Has FailedArrive Streeterville , Chicago , IL$19.00
### 💔 Swiping, Ghosting & the Illusion of Connection
Why Modern Dating is Failing the Smart, the Beautiful, and the Serious
An Evening of Wine, Wit, and Philosophical Reckoning***
You’ve built a life. A career. A curated identity of competence and independence. Perhaps even a passport full of stamps and a bookshelf full of insight.
And yet—one question still echoes in the silence between texts:
Why is it so hard to love, and be loved, in our modern world?
This isn’t therapy.
It’s not a dating detox.
It’s not even a how-to.
It’s a Socratic salon on the disorienting world of modern romance.***
### 📊 The Data Speaks:
- 62% of singles say dating is harder now than ever before.
- 70% report burnout from dating apps.
(Match.com’s Singles in America Study, 2021) - Tinder’s top 20% of men receive nearly 80% of all likes, creating a deeply skewed attention economy.
(Source: “Tinder Experiments,” Medium) - In 2023, 64,000+ romance scam reports were filed in the U.S., totaling over $1.1 billion in losses.
(FTC) - Women, though often flooded with messages, face disproportionate emotional strain, harassment, and a paradox of choice that leads to paralysis rather than connection.
(Pew Research, OkCupid Reports)
***
### 🧠 What We’ll Explore:
Modern dating has become a marketplace—full of frictionless access and endless disappointment. But beneath the code and chemistry lies something deeper: a philosophical crisis of love.
We’ll engage with:- Kierkegaard, who warned that the aesthetic pursuit of pleasure without commitment leads to despair.
- Simone de Beauvoir, who challenged the reduction of women to roles, yet feared the loneliness of detachment from meaningful otherness.
- Alain de Botton, who argues that marriage is not the culmination of love, but its training ground—and that our search for the “right person” is a modern delusion.
> “The real work of love begins when we realize we are all deeply flawed, and yet still choose to stay.” – de Botton
We’ll also ask:
- What does the rise of “situationships” say about our fear of commitment?
- Is the swipe-left economy teaching us to filter humans like products?
- Have we mistaken freedom for fulfillment?
- Can we rediscover love not as instant gratification, but as virtuous labor?
***
### 📚 Required Reading & Watching for the Brave:
📝 “Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person” – Alain de Botton, New York Times
A candid essay that explores the modern confusion between emotional excitement and real love.
Required reading: Why You will Marry the Wrong Person. https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/why-you-will-marry-the-wrong-person-20160707-gq0k55.html
Required Watching: How Romanticism Ruined Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jltM5qYn25w&pp=ygUYcm9tYW50aWNpc20gc2Nob29sb2ZsaWZlCome curious. Leave empowered.
