What we’re about
Why are so many young people facing a mental health crisis? Why do democratic institutions feel increasingly hollow, and why do modern paths to meaning — career, relationships, self-improvement — leave so many feeling empty?
Are these separate issues, or symptoms of the same underlying systems?
This group explores how power, incentives, and psychology intertwine to shape modern life. Each session tackles one focused question through systems-level analysis — examining how things actually work beneath the surface, not how we wish they did. Inspired by thinkers like Nietzsche, Arendt, and Foucault, we look for patterns connecting institutions, incentives, and the human mind.
Our approach:
Rather than abstract philosophical debate, we dissect real-world dynamics: incentive structures, cultural narratives, and psychological forces — to understand why systems and people behave as they do.
Our method is descriptive, not prescriptive: we aim to see clearly before judging. That means being willing to analyze uncomfortable truths about power and human nature without moralizing.
For example, instead of debating whether social media is "good" or "bad," we ask: what psychological mechanisms do these platforms exploit, and what incentives shape their design?
Topics we might explore:
- What happens when everything becomes monetized — from art to attention to relationships?
- How does bureaucracy actually function — and why do institutions resist change even when everyone inside wants reform?
- Why are young people experiencing unprecedented levels of anxiety and disconnection — what shifted systemically?
- How do revolutions end up recreating the same power structures they tried to destroy?
- Why do certain ideas become unspeakable — what social functions do taboos and moral panics serve?
- How do algorithms and platforms reshape meaning, motivation, and identity?
Upcoming events
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