About us
Think for yourself. Not by yourself.
Premise brings people together for guided conversations about life's big questions. Each conversation is sparked by a short reading or film, then opens into an honest and deep conversation with a small group of thoughtful and curious people.
No expertise required, no right answers expected. Just space to think alongside other people about the questions that actually matter.
Sessions are facilitated and we aren't a space for lectures of debate. You'll leave with new ideas, maybe a few new friends, and probably more big questions than you came with.
We are an unpretentious and joy space for learning, reflecting, and connecting.
Sessions offered in person in Portland and online.
Upcoming events
1
You can see everything? A Premise Session
Gotham Building, 722 N Page St, Portland, OR, USThink for yourself. Not by yourself.
At Premise we offer a chance to explore life's big questions. Meet new people and learn from each other through guided conversations sparked by thought-provoking readings and films. No expertise required.
Register
Please register directly on the Premise site so we can send you the readings and details and stay organized. Premise participants come from many places, and this Meetup group is just one of them, so an RSVP here does not hold your spot.Register here: https://www.premiseinstitute.com/event-details/you-can-see-everything
Can You Really See Everything?
Can We Ever Really Know a Person?A free Premise session: one big life question, one documentary film, and one short story.
You've seen the film. Now let's talk about it!
We spend our lives trying to understand other people. We observe what they do, listen to what they say, and form judgments about who they are. But how much of what we think we know is real, and how much is a story we've invented?Inspired by the documentary You Can See Everything and Virginia Woolf's short story An Unwritten Novel, we'll explore how we make assumptions about others, how easily observation becomes interpretation, and whether we can ever truly know another person.
What can someone's actions tell us about who they are? Why are we so quick to fill in the blanks? And what happens when we mistake our judgments for the truth?
What We'll Watch and Read Before the Session:
- You Can See Everything (documentary film)
- An Unwritten Novel by Virginia Woolf (short story)
Watch the film before attending. The short story will be sent as soon as you register and takes approximately 20 minutes to read. No prior experience with the author/film maker is expected. Come curious.
Details
Thursday, November 5, 2026
6:30–8:00 PM
In person in Portland
Address and door code shared after registrationThis session is free. It's the easiest way to try Premise and see what a guided conversation feels like.
Come on your own or bring a friend.
Register here: https://www.premiseinstitute.com/event-details/you-can-see-everythingIf you'd rather join from home, there's an online session on Sunday, November 8, 9:30–11:00 AM PT.
Online registration: https://www.premiseinstitute.com/event-details/online-you-can-see-everythingThe number of RSVPs shown on Meetup doesn't reflect the actual group size. Premise participants register through our website and other channels, so the group will include people beyond those you see here.
1 attendee
Past events
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