Skip to content

Rationality and Reasoning

Meet other local people interested in Rationality and Reasoning: share experiences, inspire and encourage each other! Join a Rationality and Reasoning group.
pin icon
1,015
members
people1 icon
1
groups

Largest Rationality and Reasoning groups

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Check out rationality and reasoning events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.

Discover all the rationality and reasoning events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.

Absolutely! Find rationality and reasoning events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.

Rationality and Reasoning Events Today

Join in-person Rationality and Reasoning events happening right now

Jordan Peterson and Friends Chat - Three Weekly Meeting
Jordan Peterson and Friends Chat - Three Weekly Meeting
We meet for informal chat about anything you like. Conversation is free flowing and friendly. We always leave knowing something new! So as to find us easily there will be a GREEN BALL on our table.
Evening critiquing session
Evening critiquing session
AI Exchange - WeBuild-AI, Nova Intelligence, AWS
AI Exchange - WeBuild-AI, Nova Intelligence, AWS
Join us on Wednesday 6th May for our next AI Exchange event, hosted by AWS at their Holborn HQ. Here's what's on the agenda: **[WeBuild-AI](https://www.webuild-ai.com/)** are making the case that bigger isn't always better. Their talk breaks down how small language models, through distillation, fine tuning and low rank adaptation, can deliver the same results as larger models, at a fraction of the cost. **[Nova Intelligence](https://www.novaintelligence.com/)** are tackling a problem that doesn't get talked about enough, most AI agents simply weren't built to work with enterprise software like SAP. Their talk discusses how they have solved that, and what it looks like when AI works as well in the enterprise world as it does everywhere else. **[AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/)** are tackling the question underneath all the others, not how to use AI, but what it's doing to the human mind. Their talk explores how cognition is shifting, which human traits become more valuable as AI takes on complexity, and what genuine human AI partnership actually looks like. As always, doors open at 6:30pm and talks start at 7pm sharp. We have a tight capacity for this event, so please RSVP as soon as you can to secure your space. **Agenda:** **[Adel Rahimi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adelr/) @ [WeBuild-AI](https://www.webuild-ai.com/)** "**Small Language Models: Practical AI for the Real World"** Large language models have dominated the AI conversation, but a quieter revolution is underway. In this talk, we'll explore the rise of small language models and why they matter now more than ever, from reduced infrastructure costs to data sovereignty and the ability to run AI on-premise or at the edge. We'll dive into the techniques that make small models punch above their weight, including distillation, quantisation, fine-tuning and low-rank adaptation. Whether you're navigating regulatory constraints, working with limited compute, or simply looking for a more practical path to production AI, this session will give you the tools to think smaller and smarter. Bio: Adel is a Principal Engineer at Webuild-AI. He has a decade of experience in building and scaling AI and ML solutions at different industries and different company sizes, ranging from series A to unicorns and more recently he was a Sr. AI Engineering Manager at Procter & Gamble. He has also published several research papers in the areas of AI Explainability and NLP and is an advocate of safe and explainable AI. **[Marcello Urbani](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcello-urbani-4730b75/?skipRedirect=true) @ [Nova Intelligence](https://www.novaintelligence.com/)** "**Bringing Agentic AI to the SAP Ecosystem"** Most enterprise software wasn't built with AI agents in mind — and mainstream agents weren't built for enterprise software. SAP is the sharpest example: code lives in the system, not a filesystem, and git-based workflows simply don't apply. Nova closes that gap — an agentic assistant that speaks SAP natively. This talk covers the mismatch problem, how we designed Nova around SAP's environment, and what it looks like when an AI agent finally works as well on SAP as it does on mainstream systems. Bio: Marcello is a software engineer with over two decades in the SAP ecosystem, most of them building DevOps tooling at Basis Technologies. Last year he joined Nova Intelligence to focus on AI applied to SAP systems. An active open source contributor, he is best known for abapfs, a VS Code plugin that enables ABAP development directly in the editor. **[Elliott Almeida](https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliott-almeida/) @ [AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/)** **"The Cognitive Partnership: How AI is Reshaping Human Intelligence"** This session explores the profound psychological transformation at the intersection of human cognition and artificial intelligence. Moving beyond tactical implementation, we examine how AI is fundamentally altering our cognitive identity and which human psychological profiles naturally thrive in AI collaboration. Drawing on the "Missing Middle" philosophy and the tension between cognitive offloading and scaffolding, we investigate the paradox of augmentation: as AI handles increasingly complex cognitive tasks, what uniquely human capacities become more valuable? We hope to see you there for another great AI filled evening! **Sponsors...** The AI Exchange is brought to you in partnership with[ LinuxRecruit](https://www.linuxrecruit.co.uk/) and[ AWS.](https://aws.amazon.com/) LinuxRecruit is building the next wave of Tech Unicorns in Europe. Whether you're hiring or exploring your next opportunity, [get in touch](https://www.linuxrecruit.co.uk/jobs). The types of roles we have currently are across Founding Engineers, Engineers across Product, Software, AI/ML, Data and Platform Infrastructure/DevOps.
Ballroom and Latin dance group lessons, all welcome, no partner required
Ballroom and Latin dance group lessons, all welcome, no partner required
Every Wednesday at 620 High Street, North Finchley, N12 0NU (Christ Church Hall) from 8pm to 10pm. Doors open at 7:45pm. Lessons are formatted in two sessions. In each session there will be 30 minutes teaching followed by 20 minutes practice. Pay at the door for £15 per lesson. You can also contact us at info@dreamofdance.co.uk to book for a block of 4 lessons at total of £52 Dances are arranged in 4 weeks rotations, with one Ballroom and one Latin dance in each week. Routines learnt will be revised with new challenging figures put in according to progression of skills in different dances. Come join us! Bus: Route 263 stops immediately in front of the church. Bus routes 82, 125, 134, 221 and 460 all stop at North Finchley calling at bus stops on either side of the Tally Ho triangle and at the new North Finchley Bus Station underneath the arts centre. Underground: The nearest Underground station is West Finchley on the Northern Line, which is about 10 minutes walk away. Alternatively travel to East Finchley Northern Line station and take the 263 bus.
The Breakdown
The Breakdown
Join us this Wednesday from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM for **"The Breakdown: Why is Christianity True? Hard Evidences for Faith."** Skeptics are completely welcome! We will be diving into tough topics such as why Christianity stands out among thousands of religions, science in the bible, bible predictions, archeology, the paradox of free will, divine hiddenness and the problem of evil and suffering. For Christians: Can you handle these questions? * How do i know the Bible hasn't been changed? * How do I know Jesus Christ was real? And then how do I know what's written in that book is real versus just some guys thousands of years ago made a book? * Are these people saying that they saw him walk out? Are they saying that they just saw it empty? What is the claims being made about his resurrection from these witnesses? * Who decided that there should be 39 books in the Old Testament? * Should there be more books in the Bible? **Agenda** * **7:00 PM:** The Evidence (Examining the evidences) * **7:35 PM:** Open Q&A **What to Bring** Bring your hardest questions! Any thing we can't answer initially will become a fun research topic! There are no limits for the open Q&A session.
CLH Pub Night - great conversation, drinks & food with like-minded people 🍔🍺😀
CLH Pub Night - great conversation, drinks & food with like-minded people 🍔🍺😀
Our monthly pub evenings are always a great opportunity to meet interesting people, chat, do a little networking, and enjoy a fun evening out. Whether you’re new to Humanism or already a member, this is a fantastic space for anyone who is non-religious, questioning their beliefs, or open-minded and looking to mingle. **Time: From 6pm** Feel free to join us whenever you’re able to – we’re often there until closing time. **Venue: Somers Town Coffee House** A lovely pub, close to Euston & Kings Cross stations. You’ll find us towards the back of the pub, on the left of the bar – look out for the Humanist signs on the tables. **What we talk about:** The conversations are different every time – from current events to humanism and secularism, with plenty of good laughs in between! If there’s something specific you’d like to talk about, we’d love to hear about it. We kindly request a contribution of £3 for our events to help cover various admin costs - but first-timers are welcome to give us a free trial. If you prefer you can also pay online by [clicking here](https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML71XMH66FX5E/checkout/ALWCDLQ3S7AVPLFZ62PZGXLU). We encourage dialogue, debate, and sharing of information at our events but ask people to keep their interactions cordial. Any views expressed are those of the individual sharing them and may not reflect those of CLH. More about the venue: All indoor facilities are wheelchair-friendly/accessible. Free Wi-fi is available. It’s easy to reach – close to Euston and Kings Cross stations, and on 18 different bus routes! View a map [here](https://g.page/Somerstowncoffeehouse?share) More about Humanism: https://www.centrallondonhumanists.org.uk/about-humanism/ We look forward to seeing you!
Dilemma Club
Dilemma Club
Dilemmas for this session can be anonymously shared and found [HERE](https://drumcorn.com/c8b8b8a1-6679-4ecd-8a8a-d61415c7ed7d). We will discuss the shared dilemmas together as a group. The venue also does a Wine Wednesday so we get 20% off bottles and large glasses!

Rationality and Reasoning Events This Week

Discover what is happening in the next few days

Should philosophers preach with poetry, or get straight to the point? Pt 2
Should philosophers preach with poetry, or get straight to the point? Pt 2
O, wouldst thou have philosophers preach in verse's sweet song, Or speak in plainest terms, with nary a poetic throng? Doth 't lie with he who wouldst learn to unravel the enigma spoke, Or with the wise one, who doth bid thee ponder and invoke? Or shall 't be both, in balance of words both high and low? What profit and loss doth come from times of mystery's dark veil, And times of revelations stark and plain, with room for none to fail? What say you, good scholars, in this tangle of persuasive might?
Activation Play: A Playground for the Creatively Curious
Activation Play: A Playground for the Creatively Curious
**Discover what play can create.** Activation Play is rooted in a simple idea: when we play, we open up. Through playful, theatre-inspired activities, we create a space where you can relax, have fun, and explore new ideas and ways of expressing yourself, no experience needed. Whether you are an artist, a creative, or someone who would not usually describe yourself that way, this experience is designed to meet you where you are. Play is not just for performance. It is a powerful tool for everyday life. It can lift your mood, reduce stress, build confidence, and help you think more freely, connect more openly, and respond more creatively to the world around you. As the session unfolds, play becomes the pathway. Ideas start to flow, confidence builds, and expression comes naturally, not forced. You will make, share, and connect with others in a way that feels real, not rehearsed. Come to play. Leave with more energy, a fresh perspective, and new ways to bring creativity and connection into your day-to-day life. To get 25% off of your ticket please click this [Link to our sign up sheet](https://forms.gle/R6MjSSTvTpLUhQpVA "https://forms.gle/R6MjSSTvTpLUhQpVA") before checking out. Discount code will be offered upon completion of the form.
Practical Philosophy Club Meetup - London 🇬🇧
Practical Philosophy Club Meetup - London 🇬🇧
**🏛️ WHAT'S PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY ABOUT?** Practical Philosophy is a weekly meet-up that brings critical thinkers together for an opportunity to dive deep on a topic, practice communicating, and building a community. All with no ‘official’ philosophy knowledge required! 😎 Practical Philosophy is based on the idea that philosophy should be accessible to all, and not something reserved only for academics. Each week we choose a topic, and the goal is to use the conversation to develop our critical thinking and communication as we explore that topic. The goal is to help develop our Critical Thinking, Communication, and Community 🙌 📓 **HOW DOES IT WORK?** Each week, we pick one topic and discuss it. The topic for the week is shared, generally in the [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS), along with jump-off points to get the conversation going. When groups get bigger than 7-8 people, it’s important that we break into smaller groups. This way we are able to maintain a conversational flow as opposed to having our meetups feel like a discourse or lecture. **General Meeting Agenda** Each Practical Philosophy meet-up follows this general timeline: * 13:45-14:00 - People arrive and chat, get to know each other before the ‘official' start. * 14:00-14:05 - Meeting introduction, explanation of Practical Philosophy and the topic for the week, read the guidelines and the overview so attendees know what to expect in terms of timelines. * 14:05-14:45 - Break into small groups - introduce yourselves and general thoughts on the topic, open discussion afterwards. At this point the group can review the ‘jump-off’ questions as needed, but they are just there to help guide the conversation. It’s not obligatory to answer them. * 14:45 - We do a group conclusion of the things we discussed, and then we typically take a photo and go on our way :) If you don't want to be in the group photo, there's no pressure, it's just a way to close out the meeting. We occasionally have an unofficial social so the different groups can mingle afterwards too! **🧧PRICING?** Practical Philosophy Club is FREE to attend, and we operate on donations. If you'd like to donate to support our running costs, that helps keep our group self-sustaining. Donations are 100% voluntary, but your contribution is appreciated! QR codes to donate will be present. Tea’s and coffees and are paid by the individual should they wish to have them. **💛 WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY** 🗣 “I feel like Philosophy Club helps someone build their own belief system through a series of perspectives while not promoting what’s right and wrong” - Ekam 🗣 “I got hooked from day 1 (the topic was authority) and felt it was the right place for me. I feel it is a place where people can go to learn and discuss new perspectives and increase critical thinking and community by interacting with people who might challenge your point of views but at the same time encourage you to have openness and mind flexibility.” - Daniel **🤓 FAQ** * What will we talk about? What's the topic? The topic for the week is shared every week in the Whatsapp group before the session. We try to add the topic to the comment section on this event page as well but if you don’t see it, the topic and the jump-off points will be in our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS). * Do I need to study or read anything to attend? No preparation is necessary. This isn’t a study of other thinkers. We want to know what YOU think about the topic, not what an old philosopher thought. If you have a perspective from a religion or a school of thought to share, throw it on the table and we’ll discuss it, but it's not required. * Is there a specific philosophy that Practical Philosophy is focused on? The goal of our meet-ups is to not have dogmatic discussions, and flex our critical thinking muscles. Because of this, we want to hear from every realm of thought, and don't study a particular school. * Is it mostly men that attend? Surprisingly, no! Although philosophy is seen as a Candelabra affair in a dark room with a bunch of guys, our Practical Philosophy meetups are generally 50/50 between genders, and we don’t meet in any dark rooms. * Can I come alone? Of course you can, we encourage it :) * Can I be late? Please don't be! We do have a 15 minute grace period where we allow people to funnel in while we hang out, but after that if you arrive too late, it disrupts the flow of the conversation. * Where do you meet? The location is posted in Meetup and our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS) group for this location. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you join the Whatsapp group! If you want to know what other cities have a Practical Philosophy Club, you can see our chapters on our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club/practical-philosophy-locations/). 🤝**POLICY** To respect our members privacy, we ask that no one privately message a member without first getting explicit consent. (This looks like speaking in person and being asked to message privately.) Contacting or texting other participants without prior consent is not permitted and may result in removal from the group. Practical Philosophy reserves the right to enforce this policy at its discretion to maintain a safe and respectful environment. **PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY - Making Philosophy Available To All.** ✨ Practical Philosophy hosts weekly, in-person meetups in 25+ countries, including Canada, Spain, Japan, Mexico and many more! 🗺️ \*\*\* Join our [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS) 👈 Follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/practicalphilosophyclub/?hl=en) 👈 Our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club) 👈
Drinks, boardgames, creative social!
Drinks, boardgames, creative social!
Join at the Well & Bucket in Shoreditch, London for a fun chilled meet-up! Boardgames will be available and you’re welcome to bring games to play too! This event is for Sat 9th May, from 3pm - Whether you’re looking for creative chats or just some time for drinks and laughs, meet new people and have a good time at the vibrant Well & Bucket pub for this creative social meetup. This is a free creative social following a steampunk photography workshop, those who aren’t attending the photography workshop are welcome to join for the social part! Drinks and food can be purchased from the bar on the day. Thanks, @multifacetedcreatives Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1987918848790 Photography workshop Meetup event info: https://meetu.ps/e/PRGhn/HjdNH/i
 LATIN KRAZY SALSA AND BACHATA LESSONS @ SWAY + PARTY NIGHT
LATIN KRAZY SALSA AND BACHATA LESSONS @ SWAY + PARTY NIGHT
Hi everyone WELCOME TO LATIN KRAZY THURSDAYS MEETUP EVENT Now DOWNSTAIRS @ SWAY BAR , HOLBORN OUR MEETUP MEMBERS HAVE A BOOTH TABLE RESERVED EACH THURSDAY FROM 7PM WHERE YOU CAN MEETUP BEFORE AND AFTER CLASSES TO CHAT AND MAKE FRIENDS ! ( please bring photo ID for club entry ) FREE ENTRY TIL 9PM WE HAVE SALSA AND BACHATA CLASSES FOR JUST £7.00 1 CLASS OR £10.00 X 2 CLASSES A DISCOUNTED PRICE FOR MEMBERS THURSDAY NIGHT DANCE CLASSES TIMETABLE 6.00pm -7.30pm Private Salsa Dance Classes Available, Call 07801305059 to book ! 7.30pm – 8.30pm SALSA ROOM x 3 levels = Beginners / Improver and Intermediate BACHATA ROOM = x 2 levels = Beginners or Intermediate 8.30pm – 9.30pm SALSA ROOM = x 3 levels = Beginners 2 / Improver 2 and Intermediate Cali Style BACHATA ROOM x 2 levels = Beginners or intermediate Teachers SALSA = Sami , Karin ,Nadeem Bachata = Brandy and Aleks Come and buy your ticket on the night, no need for a partner, no need to have danced before. £10.00 1 hour /£12.00 2 hours ) £8.00 /10.00 students and NHS workers. ( must show I.D) INCLUDES CLUB NIGHT ! PLUS Club night to follow, hosted by Miss Latin K and TOP UK DJ Kevin Gato with Dj Mauro Cangri playing all the best in Salsa , Bachata, Merengue, Reggaeton and More Plus Bachata from Dominican Republic in our very own Bachata Room with Dj De La Cruz It's a party night every week.. Latin Krazy the hottest night in the UK. Dress Code Smart casual , no baseball caps, LOOK OUT FOR THE SHOWS, COMPETITIONS AND MORE UK'S NO 1 SALSA / LATIN NIGHT. Salsa dancing in London UK.
Let's Discuss... Jung and the Shadow
Let's Discuss... Jung and the Shadow
A sick society calls darkness light, and light darkness. To survive, man must shroud his goodness, and live inside a self delusion. According to Carl Jung, The Shadow is that part of the unconscious mind comprised of all hidden and nefarious elements of the individual. A black cavern cast beneath the socially and self acceptable facade of one's outward facing personality, or Persona. In this darkness, the fears and follies of out childhood, our ancestors, and our society are alive and moving. Influencing us from behind the scenes, without us being aware. Even the positive traits we had to reject in adaptation to a sick society, are trapped within our Shadow. He argues that only facing it, engaging it, can transform these suppressed elements into useful parts of a more whole, energised personality. A more complete self, closer to the Divine. How can we escape self delusion, and come to know our Shadow? What are the dangers of working into the Shadow? In our society, what positive traits are people naturally repressing to be socially acceptable? Here is a video on this topic: [https://youtu.be/8S__1h2Z2xI](https://youtu.be/8S__1h2Z2xI) \*Please do your own research and share resources related to this topic in the comment section\* #======# Donation! Thank you for being a member. I have made a donation page for those who want to help with the costs. [https://examinedlife.uk/donation/](https://examinedlife.uk/donation/) #======# Group chat We have a telegram group chat and here is a link for the front door: [https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk](https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk) #======# The Examined Life, "Let's Discuss..." session is an open discussion. The format of this event will be: 13:15 - Free flow group discussion about the topic. 14:00 ish - We will be splitting into smaller groups for more engaging discussion about what interests each of you. 16:00 - End of the official meetup. Most often attendees stay and continue discussing up to around 18:00. #======# Please RSVP if you can commit to attending and change your RSVP if something comes up. Inaccurate RSVPs can keep potential attendees on the waiting list and makes it difficult to plan for room sizes and bookings. Art work: The Great Red dragon and the Woman Clothed in Sun 1805 William Blake
WOMEN'S Online Support Group [AUS based time zone]
WOMEN'S Online Support Group [AUS based time zone]
\*NOTE: This meeting is solely for individuals who identify as women, female, non-binary, trans women, AFAB, and gender-fluid. ***Please check the main RfR support group calendar for the link, which displays automatically in your computer's local time***. The calendar is displayed here: [https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/sg-calendar](https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/sg-calendar) The Recovering from Religion WOMEN'S VIRTUAL support group will meet the 2nd Sunday of each month @ 10am (Australian Eastern Time - Melbourne), unless the date falls on a holiday. A note for people in the US: this will usually fall on the second Saturday, but sometimes with calendar mechanics this may result in the meeting falling in the US on the first Saturday of the month. What Recovering from Religion is About: The primary focus of a Recovering From Religion support group is to provide ongoing and personal support to individuals as they let go of their religious beliefs. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. As such, the support meetings are safe and anonymous places to express these doubts, fears, and experiences without biased feedback or proselytizing. We are here to help each other through this journey. There is no cost to attend this support group but, if you feel so inclined, donations can be made at www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate If you find you need to talk with someone before the next support meeting, RfR has a hotline and online chat for that express purpose. Go to www.recoveringfromreligion.org and click on the green chat bubble in the lower left corner of the site to chat online. If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at www.seculartherapy.org. Like what RfR does? Why not volunteer! There are quite a few options. Head over to www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer for more info.

Rationality and Reasoning Events Near You

Connect with your local Rationality and Reasoning community

Free In-person Meeting: Unwanted Emotions & Loneliness, How to Get Over Them
Free In-person Meeting: Unwanted Emotions & Loneliness, How to Get Over Them
This is an in-person meeting. Did you know that unwanted emotions like loneliness, sadness, hopelessness, anger, fear, anxiety, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not chemical imbalance in your brain due to some nebulous chemical reactions by chance. Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. For instance, let's say you are already carrying a huge load on your back, then you cannot take on much more, but, let's say something else happens to you, such as the difficulties from the Pandemic, then the resultant combined weight on you can take you over the edge, kind of like the straw that break the camel's back. When this happens, people's attention usually goes to the straw that was added, but actually the majority of the weight had come from the huge load that were already there, holding a person down and causing a person issues. So how do you remove the huge load that was already there? How do you lighten them up? Is it possible to get rid of them? That is what this meeting will be all about. Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.
In-Person Meeting: How to Improve Relationships with Others
In-Person Meeting: How to Improve Relationships with Others
Attend a free seminar on how to have successful and lasting relationships. At this seminar you will learn: How to spot and handle negative and toxic relationships. How to get through the "rough patches" in a relationship. How to choose the right people to work with. The three things that make or break any relationship. How to make a good relationship great. All are welcome. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. Hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.
Duty vs. Results: What Makes an Action Moral?
Duty vs. Results: What Makes an Action Moral?
When judging morality, should we prioritize **intentions/duty** or **outcomes/results**? It introduces two influential philosophers as representatives of these approaches. * **Immanuel Kant (deontology):** An action is moral when it is done from **duty** and follows rational, universal principles (the **categorical imperative**). Certain acts—like lying—are wrong regardless of the consequences; you can’t do a wrong thing for a right reason. * **John Stuart Mill (utilitarian consequentialism):** The morality of an action is determined by its **effects**, specifically how much **happiness/well-being** it produces. Mill argues that some pleasures are “higher” than others, and that good intentions don’t redeem harmful outcomes. ## Discussion Questions 1. **The lying dilemma:** A murderer comes to your door and asks if your friend is hiding inside. Kant would say you must not lie. 2. **Can good intentions rescue a bad outcome?** 3. **The organ harvest problem:** A surgeon has five patients dying of organ failure and one healthy patient in for a checkup. Killing the one to harvest organs would save five lives, and the math works out for the utilitarian. Why does this feel so deeply wrong? Is that feeling a point in Kant's favor, or just a bias we should overcome? 4. **Do rules need exceptions?** Kant insists moral rules must be universal, with no exceptions. But most of us can imagine extreme scenarios where any rule seems like it should bend. Does the need for exceptions fatally undermine deontology, or is the strength of the system precisely that it refuses to bend? 5. **Who gets to calculate the consequences?** Utilitarianism asks us to maximize good outcomes, but we're notoriously bad at predicting consequences. If we can't reliably know the results of our actions, is it practical to base our entire moral system on outcomes? Does this uncertainty push us back toward rules and principles? 6. **Everyday morality:** Think about a real moral decision you've made recently, even a small one. Did you reason more like a Kantian (what's the right thing to do in principle?) or more like a utilitarian (what will produce the best result?)? Do most people naturally lean one way? 7. **Justice vs. the greater good:** A town can prevent a deadly plague by sacrificing one innocent person. The greater good is clearly served. But is it just? Can an action be morally right and deeply unjust at the same time? 8. **The big synthesis question:** Are these two systems actually opposed, or do they often arrive at the same answers by different paths? Is it possible that we need both: rules to guide us in the moment and consequences to evaluate systems and policies over time?
Free In-Person Meeting: Get Over Losses & Betrayals, Build Lasting Relationships
Free In-Person Meeting: Get Over Losses & Betrayals, Build Lasting Relationships
This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.
Sunday Brunch
Sunday Brunch
Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!
COUNT Discussion Meeting: Topic: Current Events
COUNT Discussion Meeting: Topic: Current Events
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.
CBusData - Practical AI for Power BI Developers
CBusData - Practical AI for Power BI Developers
Practical AI for Power BI Developers A year ago, “agentic AI” was mostly hype for Power BI teams. Today, it deserves your undivided attention. For Power BI pros, there is now a real opportunity to reduce repetitive development work, accelerate delivery, and help developers do more, but only when strong DataOps practices are in place to make AI workflows effective. This session is a no-nonsense introduction to effective AI patterns for Power BI and Fabric development. Along the way, we will make sense of the growing pile of terminology, including skills, plugins, hooks, and MCP. You will see examples of how modern AI tooling can help with development tasks across Power BI and Fabric, along with the prerequisites, guardrails, and DataOps principles needed to use it responsibly. Whether you're burned out on AI hype or already using Copilot CLI daily, this session will show you the foundations that are finally making AI-assisted development genuinely useful.