Intellectual Curiosity

**!!! NEW YEAR NEW FORMAT !!!** ***We've changed things up a bit to promote a more focused discussion around the events topic, so its worth stopping by if you haven't been in a while*** 🙌 Join Pintonomics for our 5th meetup to discuss how economics impacts our daily lives – and to see what happens when you mix monetary policy with a good pint (or sprite!) This months topic is **inflation**, where we explore: * what are its main causes? * what is sellers' inflation, and what impact does it have on the economy? * what can governments do to control inflation, while still getting things done? Not required, but if you get the chance, check out this interview of **Stephanie Kelton** on a MMT and inflation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGlqnHTBP3I podcast link: https://pca.st/episode/0516cdde-260f-4f2d-8d2e-beab98808bb6 We'll be in the Sekforde from 6.30pm but there's no strict start time so drop by what ever time you can make it 🙌

In honour of the two-year anniversary of the Popper-Deutsch Reading Group this week we'll return to The Beginning of Infinity to revisit chapter 1 - The Reach of Explanations If this is your first time attending we meet in the cafe of the Barbican Cinema, look for people with copies of The Beginning of Infinity. The book can be purchased on [amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beginning-Infinity-Explanations-Transform-World/dp/0140278168), and many podcasts and summaries are available online. Here is Brett Hall's playlist exploring chapters of the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG1qwlfDFkI&list=PLsE51P_yPQCRzJItkoRzu9HOGjYeFkfSB

In the Mood for Love (traditional Chinese: 花樣年華; simplified Chinese: 花样年华; lit. 'Flower-like Years', 'the prime of one's youth') is a 2000 romantic drama film written, directed, and produced by Wong Kar-wai. A co-production between Hong Kong and France, the film follows a man (Tony Leung) and a woman (Maggie Cheung) in 1962 who discover that their spouses are having an affair. As they spend time together, they gradually develop feelings for one another. It is often listed as one of the greatest films of all time and one of the major works of Asian cinema. Please note we will not be showing the film at the meeting. Make sure you watch the film before you attend and then come and join in with the conversation. It’s just a discussion. It’s not a screening. 🙏 We will be meeting in The Ludski Bar in the Rio Cinema. [https://www.riocinema.org.uk/your-visit/](https://www.riocinema.org.uk/your-visit/) You are welcome to bring outside food in with you but please buy your drinks from inside the cinema. Thank you. ... To join the All Out of Bubblegum Film Club WhatsApp Group please click here: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/J2to1MBd4Ct7kQTFFVnyML](https://chat.whatsapp.com/J2to1MBd4Ct7kQTFFVnyML) (in order to stop spam bots this will take you to a Waiting Room. Once in please write your name and we will join you to the main chat). Meetup charges subscription fees. If you would like to make a donation please click here: [https://paypal.me/philosophycollective](https://paypal.me/philosophycollective) You can also find the All Out of Bubblegum Film Club here: [https://www.meetup.com/alloutofbubblegumfilmclub/](https://www.meetup.com/alloutofbubblegumfilmclub/) We hope to see you soon.

Please Note: This event is advertised on multiple platforms. Please RSVP and get a ticket on Mindstone (https://community.mindstone.com/events/mindstone-london-february-ai-meetup-2026) to view the agenda and guarantee a spot. Welcome to the most electrifying and ground-breaking AI Meetup in London! Join us once a month as we delve into the world of artificial intelligence, explore its cutting-edge practical applications, and marvel at the astonishing projects that are shaping our future. Why should you attend? • Get up close and personal with the AI projects that are redefining the boundaries of technology and human potential. • Learn from the brightest minds in the field and gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving AI landscape. • Unleash your curiosity, fuel your creativity, and expand your network as you connect with fellow AI aficionados and pioneers. What you can expect? Mindstone events consist of three talks covering different aspects: • What I Learned Building With LLMs: A technical demo breaking down the process for building a product using AI with real-life learnings and insights. • How To Be More Productive Using AI: A practical demo and step-by-step guide on how to use AI to speed up and improve tasks. • What Does The Future Look Like With AI?: A theoretical talk on the impact of AI on work, life and society. After the talks we'll have pizza, drinks, and networking. Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to witness the AI revolution in action. It's time to embark on a thrilling journey into the future and discover the endless possibilities that lie within the realm of artificial intelligence. Reserve your spot today for the ultimate AI experience! 💡✨ (https://community.mindstone.com/events/mindstone-london-february-ai-meetup-2026) Please Note: This event is advertised on multiple platforms. Please RSVP and get a ticket on Mindstone (https://community.mindstone.com/events/mindstone-london-february-ai-meetup-2026) to view the agenda and guarantee a spot.

**\*\*\*To register for this event and secure your place you must register at the following Mindstone Link: [https://community.mindstone.com/events](https://community.mindstone.com/events) \*\*\*** ## About this event Welcome to the most electrifying and ground-breaking AI meetup in London! Join us once a month as we delve into the world of artificial intelligence, explore its cutting-edge practical applications, and marvel at the astonishing projects that are shaping our future. # Agenda 6:00 pm Open Doors 6:30 pm Introduction 6:35 pm How To Build Better Products Using AI 6:55 pm How To Be More Productive Using AI (Non-engineers) 6:15 pm How The World Is Different With This Technology In It 7:35 pm 1 hour of food, drinks, and networking # Why you should attend? 1\. Get up close and personal with the AI projects that are redefining the boundaries of technology and human potential\. 2\. Learn from the brightest minds in the field and gain valuable insights into the ever\-evolving AI landscape\. 3\. Unleash your curiosity\, fuel your creativity\, and expand your network as you connect with fellow AI aficionados and pioneers\. Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to witness the AI revolution in action. It's time to embark on a thrilling journey into the future and discover the endless possibilities that lie within the realm of artificial intelligence. Reserve your spot today for the ultimate AI experience! 💡✨🌐 This event is organised by RecWorks and Mindstone on behalf of the London AI Community **\*\*\*To register for this event and secure your place you must register at the following Mindstone Link: [https://community.mindstone.com/events](https://community.mindstone.com/events) \*\*\***

Southwark Culture & Intellectual Discussion: Urban History Street name plates are more than just practical markers; they are fragments of London’s living history. Each plate captures a moment in time: the typography, the materials, and even the placement tell stories about the communities that named the streets and the councils that governed them. This evening, we turn our attention to Southwark, one of London’s oldest and most characterful boroughs. From the medieval lanes of Bankside to the grand 19th-century developments of Bermondsey and Camberwell, Southwark’s street signs reveal the borough’s layered past: its industries, its reformers, its changing boundaries, and its shifting sense of identity. Our guest speaker Simon Morris, publications secretary of the London Topographical Society, has cycled more than 3,000 miles around London documenting historic street name plates before they vanish through redevelopment or neglect. His meticulous photographic record captures everything from ornate Victorian cast ironwork to the distinctive red and black enamel plates of the London County Council era. In this talk, tailored specially for our Intellectual Discussion Night, Simon will share highlights from his research and photography in Southwark, exploring what these small but significant details reveal about the borough’s evolution. Expect fascinating insights into how street names were chosen, how signage reflected civic pride, and how local residents sometimes resisted the changes that reshaped their neighbourhoods. He will also share some of Southwark’s superlatives, including its longest, oldest, strangest, and most puzzling street name plates. After Simon’s talk, we will open the floor for group discussion about the value of urban heritage, local identity, and how we decide what is worth preserving in a city that is constantly rebuilding itself. About the guest speaker: Simon Morris is the publications secretary of the London Topographical Society, specialising in the historic growth, mapping, and organisation of 18th- and 19th-century London. His photographic archive documents thousands of name plates across the city, offering a unique window into London’s visual and civic history. VERY LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE SO PLEASE RSVP EARLY! \*\*\*Location: Address sent by PM It's a 1 minute walk from Borough tube station or an 8 minute walk from London Bridge station. \*\*\*Reminder: RSVP is mandatory to attend. Light refreshments included for this one but BYOB if you want something special. \*\*\*Please Note: The address will be sent directly via private message on Meetup to those approved to join discussion night. Please have your notifications turned on for private messages.

A **smaller, quieter, and less rushed** edition of THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS. At TEiP DEEP, we have the chance to spend a whole hour and a half on **one thought experiment**, exploring different perspectives, coming up with new questions, listening and learning from one another. **How it works:** \- We split into small groups for each chapter of the thought experiment \(3\-4\)\. \- We shuffle every 25 mins to meet new people and change things up\. \- And at the end we'll have a brief group reflection\, sharing ideas and insights \- this will be lightly facilitated to ensure that everyone has a chance to speak if they want to \(no pressure\)\. Some simple ground rules to keep our conversation the best it can be: * respect for one another’s perspectives, beliefs, time (etc.) * confidentiality of personal stories * own your perspective * you don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. Our aim is the same as our bigger Thought Experiments in Pubs meetups: **a chance to meet and talk at about meaningful, thought provoking things**. Although we’ll be going a bit ‘deeper’, we’ll keep the intention to have an enjoyable evening, with good humour and fun. Places are limited to 15-20 people and tickets are £5. Please update your RSVP if you can no longer attend so that someone else can have your place. **Who should come:** Everyone! We believe that the more perspectives, the richer the conversation. This group is not about being experts in Philosophy, it is about *doing* philosophy. That is, bringing our various life experiences and lenses on the world to group discussions about the human experience, the nature of reality...etc. etc.... **Where we'll meet:** The Fitzroy Tavern in Fitzrovia. The nearest Tube stations are Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road. Looking forward to meeting & talking with you :-) **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/D13LHw5BV3rEtUtO3ORklC)** \- stay in the loop **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs/)** \- see what we look like **[FACEBOOK](www.facebook.com/thoughtexperimentsinpub)** \- ditto **[WEBSITE](www.alltogether.one)** \- sign up to the newsletter\, support\, & feed back #philosophyinpubs #inclusivity #openmindedness #deepdive #TEiPdeep

Ready to think clearer, reason better, and express with clarity? Join us for a practical wholesome philosophy practice where we learn essential thinking skills through hands-on group practice. Leave academics and theory at the door— this is a skills-building adventure for everyday life! 🧠✨ 🟢 Early Bird @ £7.99 This event's focus: **Develop Thinking Habits** 🎯 a part of the Wholesome Philosophy series — **6 practice sessions** that help you build a complete thinking toolkit. **See below** 👇🏽 **Why should you sign up?** ✅ Practical toolkit you can use immediately ✅ Small group practice ✅ Private, quiet venue for focus ✅ Standalone session - Previous parts help, but not required **What is Wholesome Philosophy?** Practical philosophy for everyday life - helping you build useful skills for thinking clearer and communicating better in work, relationships, and daily conversations. You'll learn through pair work, and group practice. 💬 spread across **6 sessions:** 1. **Clear Thinking & Better Arguments** — How to reason 2. **Develop Thinking Habits** — Spotting biases and fallacies 3. **The Art of Dialogue** — Having productive disagreements 4. **Constructing Your Position** — Building solid viewpoints 5. **Decision-Making Frameworks** — Choosing wisely under uncertainty 6. **Self-Examination & Growth** — Questioning your own beliefs Each session works standalone — attend one, some, or all. ***Want to join all?*** Speak to the facilitator about discounted pricing for the full (6 parts) series ✅ **Who is it for?** * You want to think clearer and communicate better * You feel frustrated when your point doesn't land * You want to spot weak reasoning (including your own) * You enjoy learning through practice, not just theory * You crave thoughtful conversation with curious people * You want practical tools you can use tomorrow No philosophy background needed — just show up ready to practice. 🎉 **What's in it for you?** * Make your points stick (without fighting) 💡 * Think more clearly about any topic even complex ones 🧠 * Have disagreements that don't turn into arguments 🤝 * Understand the world better 🌍 * Connect with curious, thoughtful people ✨ * Gain confidence in your reasoning abilities 💪 **How does it work?** * Facilitated practice session (2 hours) with structured exercises ⏱ * Small group discussions (4-6 people) 💬 * Pair work for hands-on practice 🤝 * Individual reflection moments 🧘 * Whole group sharing (optional, not required) 🌟 Everything is timed and guided — you'll know exactly what to do at each stage 📝 **What to expect** Collaborative discovery, without competitive learning. Practicing together, without performing for each other. What happens in the room stays in the room. 🔒 * **Depth**: Beyond small talk, but it's not therapy — we're developing thinking skills 🧠 * **Safety**: Wholesome Agreement principles apply — respect, curiosity, no judgment 🤝 * **Practical**: You'll leave with tools, not just concepts — things you can actually use the next day 🛠️ * **Participation**: These are practice sessions — your active participation creates the learning environment 💬 **Ready to upgrade your thinking skills?** 🌊 Join us for a Wholesome Philosophy practice session and walk away with various thinking tools — it's for anyone who wants to navigate life with a sharper, kinder mind. 🌟 We really hope to see you there! 👋 **About Deeper Connections** We have a mission at Deeper Connections to improve the quality of people's lives through conversation. All our events are centred around the concept of connecting deeply, because we believe we all deserve to be seen, felt and understood for who we really are. To have the 'deeper conversation' approach when relating with others can change our lives and can change the world. **Our Values** * **Respect:** Treat everyone with kindness and consideration. ❤️ * **Open-mindedness:** Be open to different perspectives and ideas. 🧠💡 * **Active Participation:** Share your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions. 🗣️💬 **Staying in touch** Interested in finding out about all the events sooner than on Meetup or staying in touch beyond the events, you can join our WhatsApp channel and community using 👉🏽 [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6CBAdIN9ijrEYdv33z) 👉🏽 [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqGsmF3021RKTwBpGcuR80)

These fortnightly sessions are dedicated to the discussion and exploration of an idea that I, as the organiser, have planned. No prior reading or knowledge is required. For more information, please visit https://www.think-philosophy.group/about/

Do you have spare books lying around your home? Do you want to read new interesting books for free while socializing with interesting people? This is the event for you. We will enjoy nice drinks and snacks together at a beautiful lounge bar in London. You can bring your books and exchange them with whoever has the books you want to read. Since this is a Science and Philosophy book club, it would be great for you to bring non-fiction books that are insightful and thought-provoking. If you want to bring fiction books that are scientifically or philosophically insightful, feel free to bring those as well. Since it is a social event, I encourage everyone to make deep meaningful conversations and make new friends. You can come alone or bring your friends with you. If you come alone, there is no need to be shy or scared. I will welcome you and introduce you to cool interesting people to speak with. Also feel free to come even if you forget to bring any books.

Spiritual Protection Workshop for Empaths and Sensitive People. We are excited for the visit from our recognized elder in the Curanderismo Tradition Maestra Ixtoii Paloma Cervantes. She is traveling to the east coast and will be sharing this sacred tradition with us and will be teaching us how to protect our energy in multiple realities. Why is it so important to know about Spiritual Protection? As a group of practitioners who come together to share, practice, learn, teach, and enjoy spiritual practices, we sometimes find ourselves in the “too sensitive” setting. Or we may be learning how to “feel” energies and still don’t know when to be open and when to be closed, and we are getting too many headaches. Or it is absorbing so much energy that it is difficult to fall asleep at night. Or maybe the opposite, not knowing what we are doing and draining ourselves without control. All these issues are “fixable” with the proper technique. We are also going to learn how to know if an energetic portal is open and how to close it. INFORMATION: Type of event: Spiritual Workshop. Who can participate: This workshop is open to everyone. You don't need to know anything at all. You need only an open heart to learn something new. This is a two day intensive in person workshop. We will email a list of what to bring and how to prepare for this workshop as soon as you book. Workshop Details: Dates: Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, March 1 Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Same start and finish at same time on both days) Tuition: $627 via cash or Zelle. Payment Plan: Non-refundable deposit of $327. Then 2 additional payments of $150 each. The full payment is due by February 27 How to book: Contact Curandera Jenny Perez at 703.531.7046

This is the first of several meetings on *Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic*, by Matthew Stewart. For this meeting, please try to read the first three chapters (pages 1-129 in the paperback). **Where did the ideas come from that became the cornerstone of American democracy?** America’s founders intended to liberate us not just from one king but from the ghostly tyranny of supernatural religion. Drawing deeply on the study of European philosophy, Matthew Stewart brilliantly tracks the ancient, pagan, and continental ideas from which America’s revolutionaries drew their inspiration. In the writings of Spinoza, Lucretius, and other great philosophers, Stewart recovers the true meanings of “Nature’s God,” “the pursuit of happiness,” and the radical political theory with which the American experiment in self-government began. [LINK](https://a.co/d/bkTWJNb) I hope to see you there! Fred

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Hidden Cleopatra,”** an excavation through myth and slander to uncover the real Egyptian queen, with Jacquelyn Williamson, an Egyptologist and associate professor of archaeology and ancient art at George Mason University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/hidden-cleopatra](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/hidden-cleopatra) .] Depictions of Cleopatra are abundant in popular culture. A long list of painters have depicted her, Marilyn Monroe and Kim Kardashian have posed as her, and Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor famously portrayed her in Hollywood films. At the end of the day, however, what most of us think we know about Cleopatra is wrong, the product of the ancient Rome’s “fake news” and anti-Egypt propaganda. Learn about the real Cleopatra—and how our understanding of her came to be so distorted—with Professor Jacquelyn Williamson, scholar of women and power in ancient Egypt, teacher of courses on ancient Egyptian art and archaeology, and author of *Nefertiti’s Sun Temple: A New Cult Complex at Tell el-Amarna.* Dr. Williamson will walk us through how the first Roman emperor, Octavian, created the distorted image of Cleopatra as seductress that we know today as part of his political scheming to defeat his rival Antony and end the Roman Republic once and for all. Cleopatra has been the subject of debate and controversy ever since. William Shakespeare later relied on ancient Roman sources such as Horace and Plutarch in writing *Antony and Cleopatra*, and his play helped give rise to countless other works offering a distorted picture of her. Professor Williamson argues that “Cleopatra was a human being, like you and I,” and “deserves the dignity of being represented as accurately as possible.” Her efforts to set the record straight have met frustration, however—after being extensively interviewed for the recent Netflix historical docuseries Queen Cleopatra, she concluded that it, too, had missed the mark. You’ll gain a much deeper appreciation of the challenges of researching and accurately depicting the ancient past from Dr. Williamson, who also has taught at Harvard, Brandeis, and the University of California at Berkeley and is involved with an ongoing archaeological investigation of Queen Nefertiti’s sun temple. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Layla Taj portrays Cleopatra VII as part of an Egyptian Cultural Performing Arts Society production. (Photo by Amos Gvili / Wikimedia Commons.)

**Join the Discussion on International IP Protection** **Jonathan Link** is an Attorney Advisor in the Office of the General Counsel for the U.S. International Trade Commission, an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency that adjudicates trade disputes, maintains the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, and researches and analyzes trade issues. We will discuss: * Protect a U.S. trademark or patent abroad * Considerations when selling to overseas vendors * Approaches for securing and maintaining a foreign supplier relationship Jonathan will discuss this, and more, based on his assistance for the Commission when evaluating unfair trade determinations based on patent infringement and defending Commission decisions at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He began his career as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office while attending law school at night. He has extensive experience in all aspects of intellectual property, including preparing and obtaining patents, licensing, client counseling, and litigation involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. His clients have ranged from solo inventors and start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. In addition, he has written articles, participated in podcasts, and taught continuing legal education seminars on various aspects of patent law, including giving speeches in the U.S. and China. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from the George Mason Antonin Scalia Law School. **The Discussion.** This series of hybrid events is perfect for budding entrepreneurs, experienced executive mentors cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, early-stage investors, and students exploring innovative product design. At each session, business founders serve as guest speakers share about their career, their firm's business model, as well as the successes and challenges in the product development process. Participants learn from the speakers’ experiences, discuss valuable insights, and connect with other entrepreneurs, students, faculty, and investors. **Logistics.** A light lunch is served, as entrepreneurs connect with one another, learn from peers, and contribute to the conversation: * Friday, February 20, 2026 * 11:30am EST - Coffee & Connection * 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST - Presentation & Discussion No pre-registration is required. Join us: Robins School of Business 102 UR Drive, iLab Room 123 University of Richmond, VA 23173 **Parking.** Free parking is available in the U5 and U6 lots immediately adjacent to the Robins School. Please enter the main foyer, turn to the left and proceed to room 123 (EY Innovation Lab) on the ground floor. Please note that visitors have a two-hour parking window. Please sign in when you enter the room, providing your license plate number. **On Zoom Webinar:** https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89608419334?pwd=am0F9r85xPfh7aBaxtdUDILYsvNAwJ.1

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Satanic Panics,”** a look at waves of fear of demonic activity as an American tradition, with Luxx Mishou, cultural historian and former instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy and area community colleges. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics2](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics2) .] The 1980s found the United States gripped by fear of Satanic cults targeting children. They were believed to be corrupting young ones in daycare centers and tempting teens through subliminal messages on heavy metal albums or through the quiet inclusion of demonic rituals in role-playing games. Satanic serial killers supposedly stalked the suburbs. Doctors helped patients uncover what were claimed to be repressed memories of ritualistic satanic abuse. Parents, police, and politicians were urged to protect impressionable youths from both moral and physical danger. With Satanic cults deemed to be a real and material threat, it was a frightening time for everyone, including those who suddenly came under suspicion for doing evil deeds. Then, suddenly, it all faded from public consciousness, just as surely as did eighties fads such mullet haircuts, leg warmers, and Cabbage Patch Kids. Why did it all start? Why did it stop? And has this happened before or since? Hear such questions tackled by Luxx Mishou, a cultural historian and media specialist who has long researched the devious and villainous in cultural artifacts. She’ll discuss moral panics as a longstanding cultural tradition, with each new one stemming from fear of cultural shifts and shaped by the time and place where it occurred. Among the panics we’ll look into are the Red Scare of the 1950s and the public response to the gruesome 1969 murders committed by the Manson Family. Delving into the 1980s panic, Mishou will describe how it began with the 1980 publication of psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder’s memoir *Michelle Remembers*, detailing the suppressed memories of ritualistic abuse reportedly suffered by a patient. As that book quickly became a best seller, its ideas saturated American culture. A California daycare center became the focus of a three-year investigation, followed by three years of trials, based on allegations that its owner had engaged in secret ritualistic abuse of the children in its care. Mishou will lead you through the media that convinced the public that devil worshipers were among them, and she’ll talk about how reactions to imagined threats can have very real social costs. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

Let's kick things off with a meeting to introduce ourselves and discuss what we're going to read over the next several months. Bring suggestions and your sweet tooth, because I'm bringing chocolate chip cookies!