
What we’re about
We're a community fostering friendship and insights by engaging in thoughtful discussions on significant concepts discovered from reading books and intellectual consumption.
Read our FAQ
Sponsors
See allUpcoming events (4+)
See all- Against Method by Paul Feyerabend Week 1Pier 57, New York, NY
For this four week event we will continue our critical analysis of the history and philosophy of science by diving into Against Method by Paul Feyerabend. Famously critical of Kuhn's work The Structure of Scientific Revolutions for being to conservative in its critique of science, Feyerabend aims to examine the assumptions at the base of scientific practice in order to knock science off of it pedestal. Join us as we challenge our deeply held assumptions in order to form a deeper understanding of science in our postmodern world. I will be reading from this version and a free copy can be found here. For the first week we will read chapters 1-7 (p. 1-73). Participants should read the entire reading before attending this in person meeting. For questions please send me a message or post to meetup.
Best,
Brian
- The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu (Book Discussion) - week 4Pier 57, New York, NY
Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Te Ching is one of the true classics of the world of spiritual literature. Whether or not Lao Tzu was a historical figure is uncertain, but the wisdom gathered under his name in the fourth century BC is central to the understanding and practice of Taoism. One of the three great religions of China, Taoism is based upon a concept of the Tao, or Way, as the universal power through which all life flows. The Tao Te Ching offers a practical model by which both the individual and society can embody this belief, encouraging modesty and self-restraint as the true path to a harmonious and balanced existence.
Join us to discuss this classic book over the course of 4-weeks!
Week 4 Sat 8/30 12:30-2:30pm Seahorse Room @ Pier 57Note About the Reading
Since the Tao is very short, but deeply poetic we will also be reading Alan Watts' short book, "Tao:The Watercourse Way" alongside it. This will give us some context, background, and commentary to help frame our discussions.Reading for Week 4
Verses 60-81 in "The Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu (22pgs)
and
Chapter 5 (Te—Virtuality) in "Tao: The Watercourse Way" by Alan Watts (17pgs)Feel free to read any translation of the Tao you like
I will be reading the Ursula La Guin Translation
paperback available here
free pdf download here *click on the first slow download option
(other formats available too —epub & mobi for kindle—just search in search bar)
I will also be referencing the website tasuki.org which has all of the major translations side by side for each versehere is the paperback version I will be reading of Alan Watt's book
Free pdf download here *click on the first slow download option
(other formats available too —epub & mobi for kindle—just search in search bar)- Rules for Our Group
1. Be Courteous
Criticizing ideas is totally acceptable. Attacking people’s character is not.
2. Be Concise
Keep comments on topic and relatively brief.
Moderators will do their best to make sure everyone gets a chance to speak who wants to.
3. Do the Reading
If you have not done the reading for the week you are welcome to attend and listen to the discussion, but out of respect for those who have read, you will not be permitted to participate in the discussion.For more info and FAQ on the group click here.
Can't wait to discuss these ideas with all of you!
-Zach - Marx's Capital (week 4)Fort Greene Park Prison Ship Martyrs’s Monument , Brooklyn , NY
Join us at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn to discuss the first volume of Karl Marx's critique of political economy, Das Kapital.
Reading for this meeting:
Chapter 4 "The Transformation of Money into Capital"You'll probably want to read the book up to this point too if you want it to make sense.
I'm reading the new translation by Paul Reitter, but feel free to read any translation or edition. The full PDF of the Penguin edition can be found here.
We will plan on meeting in the shady area just southwest of the giant column in the middle of the park. Check this page for location updates and message me or comment if you can't find us!
- Plutarch Parallel Lives: BrutusLink visible for attendees
It is unfortunate when a person becomes famous for an assassination.
However there is much more to Brutus and we will find out about him from Plutarch.
Marcus Junius Brutus (c. 85 BCE – 42 BCE) was a staunch supporter of the Roman Republic, he vehemently opposed the concentration of power in the hands of a single ruler. Despite his close personal and political relationship with Caesar, he joined the conspiracy to kill him, believing it was necessary to preserve Rome’s republican institutions. Brutus was admired for his intellect and integrity by many of his contemporaries, and his actions sparked a civil war that ultimately led to the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.We will be referencing this reading
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Brutus*.html
comparison with Dion:
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Dion+Brutus*.htmlHis biography is also written in "Age of Caesar" published by Penguin
This is a reading group in which we read from Plutarch's Parallel Lives about the virtues and faults of great leaders from ancient Greece and Rome. At the end of each life, we rate them for their leadership quality, virtues, entertaining reading, and legacy.
For our leader scoreboard, check out this Google doc:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K66HPHPO_elctuHjCLAWnv5w_3HCY8YbxEK4SgCa_Gg/edit#gid=0For questions please send me a message or post to meetup.
Zita