Exopolitics

It is not unusual to hear scholars say that modern political philosophy is but a footnote to Plato’s Republic. In this foundational work, (Plato’s) Socrates and his interlocutors embark on a daring thought experiment: to define "**Justice**" by building an ideal city, Kallipolis, from the ground up. But a just city requires **just people**, and just people are such “by design”. Plato asks two questions. What does culture pour into us from the outside — and who are we becoming because of it? And what must the soul look like on the inside — so that those who lead us protect the city rather than devour it? Using selected passages from Books II, III, and IV, we will move from ancient Athens to the present day to discuss two specific challenges: **The Problem of the Poets and the Role of Culture**: In ancient Greece poets set the standards for culture. Their stories didn't just teach values, they gave citizens heroes to become. Who are our modern poets? Are they news outlets, algorithms, influencers, and screenwriters, who decide, at scale, which lives look admirable, heroic, and which virtues are worth the effort? What kind of citizens and leaders are they actually forming — and would we accept Plato's conclusion that the city cannot afford to leave this to chance? **The Paradox of the "Noble Dog"**: The Guardian (Plato’s chosen rulers class) must be "high-spirited" ([thymos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumos)) to defend the city, yet "gentle" to protect its people. This is not a question of technical competence, but of character. How does a society train leaders who are powerful enough to act, but disciplined enough not to devour the state? Plato wrote the Republic two and a half thousand years ago. The questions it raises have not been answered since, and may matter more now than ever. Join us in the attempt to think through Plato’s theory! Come and think them through with us. Prior reading is useful but not required. **Preparation:** Reading The Republic is a huge enterprise, but you can prepare for this event with these links: Easy Path (articles) * 0–5 minutes: [The Britannica entry](https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Republic) for a quick synopsis. * 5–20 minutes: Chapter‑by‑chapter [walkthrough](https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-republic/summary) of the dialogue’s main episodes and themes Deeper Dive (videos, 45-50 minutes each) * [Books I-II](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVQKbQVc2_w&list=PL8D95DEA9B7DFE825&index=4) * [Books III-IV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oxMP8_pWLw&list=PL8D95DEA9B7DFE825&index=5) * [Book V](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXthvnZ8ghw&list=PL8D95DEA9B7DFE825&index=6) You can find a free PDF version of the English text [here](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1497). **For Philosophical Minds Zurich theme events in general:** At our theme events, we begin with a brief topic introduction, followed by engaging discussions in small groups. It’s all about conversation, not just listening. Also, please note, we keep the atmosphere relaxed and informal—**there’s** **no pressure to speak in front of anyone**. **Important:** When you register for the event, please commit to it and don't be a NO SHOW. Presumably, when the ancient philosophers decided to go to an event, they kept to it.
 We look forward to seeing you. **Payment:** You can pay at the venue (Twint/Revolut/Cash). Thus, if you want to register at Meetup just click attend - no more needed ;). We look forward to seeing you.

Two very different, complementary topics for our June evening. One on the small, everyday habits that make teams actually collaborate. The other on how a platform and a cultural movement transformed IT in the public sector. Here's what's planned for the evening: 17:30 - 18:00 - Arrival and first drinks 18:00 - 18:45 - Micro Habits for better Teamwork by Dr. Denniz Dönmez 18:45 - 19:30 - From DevOps to Digital Sovereignty: How a Movement Became a Platform by Syrian Hadad 19:30 - 20:30 - Networking, Open Space & More drinks\* **Micro Habits for better Teamwork** Great teamwork is like solving a puzzle, and not like playing poker, it's not about playing against each other, but rather achieving real collaboration. Micro Habits are psychological hacks that create big results in teams. Micro Habits for Better Teamwork span seven behavioral domains, such as taking responsibility, creating psychological safety, and testing our assumptions. Each provides concrete, small, actionable behaviors that lead to major improvements in collaboration. This talk presents practical, everyday tools based on real-world experience that can be applied immediately to make teamwork easier and more effective, without lengthy coaching programs or complex team-development processes. With Micro Habits, teams unlock their full potential step by step. **Dr. Denniz Dönmez** Scientific agilist and co-creator of Micro Habits for better Teamwork. 15 years experience leading teams and consulting market leaders with a background and PhD in agile methods. **From DevOps to Digital Sovereignty: How a Movement Became a Platform** IT in the public sector is anything but simple: long-established landscapes, strict regulatory requirements, complex processes, and often more than 500 business applications that must be operated reliably. For a long time, this meant ordering individual servers, databases, DNS entries, firewall rules, and storage, then assembling everything manually. Every application was unique. Pets instead of cattle. This talk tells the story of how the DevOps idea took hold in exactly this environment — first as a cultural movement, and later as a concrete operating and architectural model. Step by step, individual infrastructure evolved into a platform, manual work into automation, and isolated solutions into standardization. The result: the Aargau Cloud Platform and a dedicated platform engineering team. In an environment shaped by legacy systems, federal structures, and long lifecycle expectations, platform thinking becomes the foundation for digital sovereignty: maintaining control, reducing dependencies, and still staying innovative — without simply handing everything over to others. **Syrian Hadad** Syrian Hadad is a CTO and long-standing technology and platform leader in the public sector. Among other achievements, he built the Aargau Cloud Platform and helped establish DevOps, cloud, and architecture topics strategically within the organization. Together with the IT organization of the Canton of Aargau, he won the 2023 Digital Economy Award (Digital Excellence) for the consistent transformation toward platforms, cloud-native technologies, and modern governance. Many thanks to our **sponsors**: * Catering Sponsor: **DevOpsDays Zürich** https://www.devopsdays.ch/ * Location Sponsor: **Digicomp** https://www.digicomp.ch/ \* contact us min. 3 days prior to the event if you prefer a vegan option.

**If you cannot see your strategy, how do you know it is clear?** Even in creative teams, strategy is discussed, refined, and documented, yet often stays abstract. Ideas live in conversations, slides, and documents, but teams walk away with different understandings. What sounds aligned in theory often falls apart in practice. We process images much faster than text, yet most organizations still rely on bullet points to communicate strategy. The challenge is no longer developing better strategies. It is making them visible so people can actually align around them. In this interactive keynote, **Michelle Geerlings**, Country Director of Switzerland at Flatland, introduces visual thinking as a practical way to cut through complexity and build shared understanding. With a background in Strategic Design from TU Delft and experience across Sweden, Japan, and Kenya, she works at the intersection of design, facilitation, and strategy. Through co-creation and visual facilitation, she helps teams turn abstract ideas into clear, shared visuals. Join us on **June 3** as she shares practical examples of how sketches and simple frameworks help teams align faster and turn ideas into action. **💡 What will you learn?** * Why visual thinking is a skill anyone can learn, and how it changes the way you think * How co-creation builds ownership and engagement across teams * What really matters in visual thinking: structure, hierarchy, metaphor, and systems thinking over aesthetics * Why working visually leads to faster alignment than traditional documents *More about Flatland* [www.flatland.nl](http://www.flatland.nl) *Connect with Michelle* [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellegeerlings/) —— **📍 Where?** [Kulturhaus Helferei](https://maps.app.goo.gl/AJuPTcLTmihXxHyn9), near the Grossmünster in Niederdorf. \> Kirchgasse 13\, 8001 Zürich (Tram-Station Helmhaus) **📅 When?** Wednesday, June 3, 7:00 PM / 19:00 Uhr **⏰ What’s the schedule?** 6:45 PM → Doors open 7:00 PM → Keynote + Q&A 7:45 PM → Networking 🔗 **Discord** Get event reminders and connect with other members on Discord: ➡️ [discord.gg/PAyRBDhKkk](https://discord.gg/PAyRBDhKkk) —— **Who’s Visual Fields?** Visual Fields is a network of designers and creatives built for people to connect, support, and share with fellow experts. We have upcoming events in Zürich, Basel, and Luzern. [Check out upcoming events](https://www.visualfields.ch/) —— **Event policies** We have zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment. Be mindful not to make assumptions about gender, sexual orientation, or identity. Always ask for consent - for physical contact and work critique - and treat everyone and the space with respect. [All policies](https://www.joyed.com/experiences/ep) **Fine print (the friendly kind)** By joining, you agree that photos or videos taken at the event may be used by Visual Fields for promotional and communication purposes. See you there! 😇

As it is sometimes difficult in Switzerland to practice high german, in 2010 we decided to organize a conversation group that is free to everyone who wants to practice german and socialize. WhatsApp group for easier contact: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KmMkpiQxs291vTPv2RBNm4

**PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE: PREPARATION & INTEGRATION CIRCLE** **Trust · Surrender · Integrate** **The medicine begins long before the ceremony.** **Change of location** **Kasheme (Find András with the red hat)** And it continues long after. What truth are you afraid to meet inside yourself? What rises in you when you stop running from yourself? [Please get a mandatory free or supporter ticket on Eventfrog](https://eventfrog.ch/en/p/health-spirituality/spirituality/psychedelic-medicine-preparation-integration-circle-7458960183978368254.html). Inspired by the living wisdom of the AI'Kofan, Wixarika, Yawanawá, and the Andean cosmovision – with deep respect for the wisdom of these traditions and cosmovisions. A weekly circle for those preparing for psychedelic medicine and for seekers wanting deeper understanding through mysticism, somatic work, shadow exploration, science-based grounding, and the wisdom of indigenous tribes. Includes: • group sharing • somatic grounding • intention support • honest conversations • Q&A • gentle integration / elaboration support This is a fully sober space — no substances are used here. The work is preparation, integration, and inner clarity. About András András brings over 25 years of experience in human transformation, emotional intelligence, somatic awareness, coaching, and ecstatic mysticism. His work is rooted in presence, intuition, grounded compassion, and an embodied understanding of inner pathways shaped by grief, renewal, indigenous teachings, and the raw honesty of the human heart. He is also a student of the Ecstatic Mysticism program by AWE, which blends psychology, transpersonal insight, embodied practice, indigenous wisdom, and ritual work across pathways such as psychedelic medicine, sexuality, death and grief, and liminality — grounding expanded consciousness into real, lived transformation. Lovingly, András / Psysoul

⚠️ [>>Ticket needed (click here)<< ](https://link.social-circle.ch/y5z5) or **[tickets.social-circle.ch](https://tickets.social-circle.ch/)** 🎉 **Pub Quiz Night** 🎉 Join us for a night full of **mind-bending questions**, **unexpected twists**, and **more laughs than right answers** (probably). Whether you're a trivia wizard or just really good at pretending you know stuff, this night’s for you! Join our whatsapp group for updates on this event: [https://link.social-circle.ch/p2q8](https://link.social-circle.ch/p2q8) 📍 **Location:** BOHO 💰 **Price:** 15.- (includes tasty snacks + a prize for the winning team 🍾) 👥 **How Teams Work:** 🔹 Got a crew? Awesome, bring your squad and show us what you've got! 🔹 Looking to mingle with singles? We’ve got you! → Think 2 girls + 2 guys = the perfect cocktail of brainpower and awkward icebreakers 🔹 Not single? No problem! We’ll still team you up with some brilliant minds and maybe a few terrible guessers for balance 🏆 **What’s in it for you?** Glory, bragging rights, and the sweet, sweet taste of Prosecco-fueled victory. 💬 **Come for the trivia, stay for the chaos.** Spots are limited, so grab your seat before your smarter friend does! 🎟️ ​P.S. Pictures might be taken during the event, if you do not want it please let the organizer know. Tickets are non-refundable. **Want more events like this? Join our WhatsApp community:** [https://link.social-circle.ch/DxeS](https://link.social-circle.ch/DxeS)

Let's get together for the next TechTalkThursday to learn new things and share experiences! 17:45 Door opening 18:00 **Intro** – Thomas Hug, CEO & Founder of Nine 18:05 **The Shift From "Hack In" to "Log In": How Overprivileged Non-Human Identities Became the Modern Attack Path** – Jan Brons (Co-Founder & Cyber Security Expert at Kleeo GmbH) 18:30 **How To Navigate Complex Systems Using a Non-Software Toolkit** – Florian Sommerfeldt (Quality Expert at House of Test Switzerland) 19:00 **Zero to SELECT: Providing Databases in 10 Seconds** – Daniel Wilhelm (Senior Engineer Managed Services at Nine) 19:30 Snacks & Drinks Have we aroused your interest? Then please register! We look forward to meeting you! You can also watch this event's livestream on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgsaBKivvXk

Welcome to the June meeting of the book club! For our second book, we’ll be reading *The Door*, a powerful novel by Hungarian author Magda Szabó. First published in 1987, it tells the story of the complicated relationship between a writer and her enigmatic housekeeper, gradually opening into larger questions of power, intimacy, pride, class, loyalty, and self-deception. We’ll meet in English for a friendly, open discussion. No academic background is needed — just read the book, bring your thoughts, and join the conversation. These first books have been chosen by the organizer to help get the club started. Once the group is actively underway, future reads will be selected through member nominations and voting. Looking forward to seeing new and returning readers in June!

Wie können wir Materialien und Produkte im Kreislauf halten? Mit welchen Ansätzen können wir Ressourcen schonen, Dinge länger nutzen, Neues aus Altem schaffen – und unser heutiges Handeln verändern? Welche Chancen bieten Repair-Cafés, Upcycling-Initiativen und ganz praktisches Handeln im Alltag für eine nachhaltige Zukunft? An diesem Nachmittag wollen wir gemeinsam Lösungen erkunden, praktische Ansätze vorstellen und diskutieren, wie eine lebenswerte, ressourcenschonende Zukunft wirklich gebaut werden kann. *Fakten & Inspiration* **Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart** Öko-Design, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg Gründer BRAUNGART EPEA - Internationale Umweltforschung GmbH, Hamburg **apl. Prof. Dr. Niko Paech** Plurale Ökonomik, Universität Siegen Mitgründer RessourcenZentrum Oldenburg, ReparaturRat Oldenburg **Simon Sigg** Projektleiter Reparaturförderung, Entsorgung & Recycling Stadt Zürich *Moderation* **Christel Maurer & Cornelia Huber** *Transfer* Diskussion in Gross- und Kleingruppen

Join Us for **Expat Friday**! Looking for a night packed with fun, laughter, and awesome vibes? Look no further! Expat Friday is THE place to be for socializing, making new friends, and just having an all-around good time. Whether you're an expat or a local Swiss resident, everyone's welcome to join the fun. We usually draw a lively crowd of 200-300 Socializers each time! **New and Wondering if You Can Join?** Absolutely! New members are always greeted with open arms at every Zurich Together event. If you're feeling a bit shy, our friendly Admins will be there to introduce you to the gang and get you mingling in no time. **Do I Need to Register?** Nope, no need to sign up! But if you can hit "going/attending," it'll help us give the bar staff a heads-up so they can prep for our awesome crew. **Where to Find Us?** Just look for the turquoise flag and the big, happy crowd - you can't miss us! If you are still worried about not being able to find us, send Kamillo a PM before the event, he is always happy to help. **Got Questions?** Drop a message in the comments below and we'll get back to you in a jiffy. **Fancy Some Dancing?** For those who want to keep the party going, there's party that's free for Zurich Together members who arrive before 11 PM! Come on out and join the fun – we can't wait to meet you To help us manage the event smoothly and ensure everyone has a great time, please make sure to press **"Going"** if you plan to attend. This helps us secure your spot, especially if the event becomes crowded. Your RSVP really helps with planning – thank you so much! Looking forward to seeing you there! For all our channels please go to our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/zurichtogether

Dear friends, food lovers, and EatPositive Switzerland family, We are back with the next potluck on June 7th in the same location as last time :) Also this month’s gathering will be as always all about **food, connection, and community**. Plenty of time to share stories, inspire one another, and enjoy a cosy afternoon/early evening together. **Program Overview:** 16:30 \| Arrival & Set\-up of dishes 17:00 \| Buffet Feast where we enjoy everyone’s homemade creations 19:30 \| Cleanup together **What to Bring?** 🍽 Your own plate, cutlery & serving utensils 🌱 A vegan dish (for at least 4 people) or as much as you would eat 💚 Every event is unique and unrepeatable. The mix of people, food, and energy creates something wonderful. Very much looking forward, Iri & the EatPositive Team 💚

**Important: Please attend in meetup before you purchase the ticket.** **Brazil Night:** We invite you to experience Brazilian food, group activity from the country How to samba, etc... **2025 BoardGameGeek Golden Geek Award Winners:** We are going to have the board game winners and nominees from 2025, you can take them to the table, learn and play. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj31QmJ3zdE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj31QmJ3zdE) **Tickets** can be purchased online through Eventfrog. -Games & Drinks Tickets -Games & Feast Tickets until 03.06.2026 23:59! [https://eventfrog.ch/en/p/miscellaneous/games-night-7464691011907799101.html](https://eventfrog.ch/en/p/miscellaneous/games-night-7464691011907799101.html) This helps us plan the right amount of food, seats and avoid food waste. Are you an international living in Switzerland and/or just enjoy getting to know people from different places while playing a board game? Feel free to join our diverse community in Zurich every first Friday evening of the month to meet new people and play a few of our 300+ board games. It's gonna be fun. See you at our next meetup! 19:00 to 20:00 Food 😋 20:00 to 20:20 Group Activity 20:20 to 23:55 you'll be able to try out as many games as you like at a table with international people. Are you by yourself and not sure whether to join? Don't worry, nobody's left out and you'll make some new friends quickly 😊 Most people catch the vibe and become regulars. See you soon! 😎✌🏽 PS: Join our meetup group to keep updated on our latest events: https://www.meetup.com/games-night-for-internationals/ If you have any questions, feel free to post them in our Discord group: https://discord.gg/jUeARCfeHY **Disclaimer:** We will be taking photos to help promote future Games Night

[⚠️ ](https://link.social-circle.ch/LjXs)**[>>Ticket needed (click here)<<](https://link.social-circle.ch/LjXs)** or **[tickets.social-circle.ch](https://tickets.social-circle.ch/)** **🏔️ Swiss-Expat Mix: Sunday Hike! 🥾🇨🇭** Get ready for a unique twist on our forest walk! We’re bringing together a perfect **50/50 blend of Locals and Expats** to bridge the gap and build real community. Whether you’re a Swiss local or have just landed in Zurich, this is your chance to connect! 🔄 The Concept: Rotating "Speed-Friending" We aren’t just walking in a big group—we’re making sure you actually meet people. * **The Rotation:** We’ll be switching partners periodically throughout the walk so you can have meaningful, one-on-one conversations with a variety of people. * **Spot a Local:** Our Swiss participants will be wearing a **Swiss Flag sticker**, making it easy to identify who can give you those "insider" tips about life in Switzerland :D 👋 Coming alone? That’s the point! We’ll match you with partners who share your vibe using the **Social Circle app**. 📲 **Stay in the loop:** Join our WhatsApp group for the live meeting location and real-time updates: [Join WhatsApp Group](https://link.social-circle.ch/IauU) 🕒 Timeline * **13:30** – Meet under the **big clock at Zurich HB**. * **13:54** – Take tram line 11 (toward Auzelg) to Bucheggplatz. * **14:10** – **Icebreakers & Flag Distribution**: Grab your sticker and meet the group! * **14:20** – The Forest Walk begins! Enjoy guided one-on-one matchups and rotations. * **16:00** – Head back to the city for a perfect Sunday finish. 🎒 What to Bring * **Smartphone:** Essential for the partner-matching app! * **Comfy Shoes:** We’ll be on forest trails. * **Snacks & Water:** To keep the conversation energy high. **Disclaimer** Participation requires a valid ticket purchased in advance; no cash payments on-site. Tickets are non-refundable. Attendees participate at their own risk and are expected to follow organizer instructions and maintain respectful behavior. We reserve the right to exclude anyone not adhering to community standards. By joining, you agree that photos/videos may be used for Social Circle’s social media. We cannot wait for latecomers, but you can use the live location in WhatsApp to catch up! Want more events like this? Join our newsletter: [https://link.social-circle.ch/sVZD](https://link.social-circle.ch/sVZD)

We may pick a specific topic and post in advance or may discuss current events and various ad hoc topics . We would love to spend time hanging out and getting to know one another. Atheist, agnostics, other non-theists, and atheist-friendly people are welcome to join us. Note: COUNT operates a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions (http://www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions/) to promote discussions among members and visitors.

TOPIC (TBD): Meeting Schedule: 1. 6:00 - Introduction, Meet New Members 2. 6:10 - Old Business 3. 6:20 - New Business 4. 6:30 - Pre-Shoot Briefing/Education 5. 7:15 - Break 6. 7:30 - Image Critique 7. 8:00 - Adjourn Pre-Shoot Brief/Education: NIK Collection 8 Image Critique: Previous Photoshoot Images (iPhone images and Christmas Cards). If anyone has images they would like critiqued, please provide them at the beginning of the meeting. Providing Images for Critique: For now, I will collect images at the beginning of the meeting on a USB memory stick. My computer has USB-C ports, so a USB-C memory stick or one with dual (USB-C / USB-A) ports will be needed. Images should follow these format rules: JPG - 80% quality or higher 132 dpi resolution 2048 pixels across the long edge Embedded colorspace - sRGB

Let’s meet and share discussion of the James Baldwin short story collection, Going to Meet The Man.

Join us on Wednesday nights at 7pm for two 25 minute quiet meditations, with one short walking meditation in between. There will be a brief and informal conversation afterward. Stay for as long as you like and feel free to bring or share whatever is on your mind. All Zen Center events are also available via Zoom at bit.ly/IndyZen.

Jimmy V's Grill & Pub in Grandview Heights. You are responsible for your own meal/drinks. We usually don't have any agenda other than eat, drink and talk. :) If the weather is nice we will be on the back patio, otherwise we are in the cigar room. This group has been meeting every Tuesday evening for over a decade. Many attendees do not RSVP on meetup. Please don't let the small number here discourage you. Anyone/everyone is welcome to come. We'd love to have you join us. COTA bus #5 comes to W. 5th and Wyandotte Rd. And it's a minute walk to the restaurant.

Join us on Monday nights at 7pm for two 25 minute quiet meditations, with one short walking meditation in between. There will be a brief and informal conversation afterward. Stay for as long as you like and feel free to bring or share whatever is on your mind. All Zen Center events are also available via Zoom at bit.ly/IndyZen.

A time to make signs, pack swag bags, and have fun together in anticipation for the Pride festivities the week after.