Skip to content

Philosophy of Science

Meet other local people interested in Philosophy of Science: share experiences, inspire and encourage each other! Join a Philosophy of Science group.
pin icon
2,087
members
people1 icon
1
groups

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Discover all the philosophy of science events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.

Absolutely! Find philosophy of science events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.

Philosophy of Science Events Today

Join in-person Philosophy of Science events happening right now

Wasm, Sovereign Infrastructure, and the Future of Portable Compute
Wasm, Sovereign Infrastructure, and the Future of Portable Compute
### Agenda **16:30** Doors open, find a seat, network, enjoy **17:00** Welcome by Cloud Native Copenhagen **17:05** Welcome by hosts Nine, Trifork, and CodeNode **17:15** Talk 1 — *Where are we at with the Wasm?* **18:00** Break with food and drinks **18:45** Talk 2 — *One binary to rule them all, a sovereign story* **19:30** Snacks and networking **20:00** Thank you for today Join us for an evening at **Cloud Native Copenhagen** hosted by **Nine**, **Trifork**, and **CodeNode**, where we explore two timely cloud native topics: the evolution of WebAssembly on the server, and the practical realities of building sovereign AI infrastructure. First, **Mikkel Mørk Hegnhøj** will take us through the current state of WebAssembly. Wasm has moved far beyond the browser, and with the continued maturation of WASI, new use cases are emerging across browsers, CDNs, and cloud environments. This talk will look at the history, the technology’s current capabilities, and where Wasm may fit into the future computing landscape. After the break, **Nicklas Frahm**, Director of Platform Engineering at Corti, will share Corti’s sovereign infrastructure journey. GPUs are expensive, hard to procure, and increasingly shaped by geopolitical constraints. In response, Corti’s platform team has been building **Kommodity**, an open source Kubernetes engine based on Talos Linux and Cluster API, alongside a KServe-based inference stack using vLLM and NVIDIA Triton. Nicklas will explain how Corti is using this stack to move infrastructure from Azure to Scaleway. Expect technical talks, food and drinks, and plenty of time to connect with the Copenhagen cloud native community.
French x Swedish språkcafé @Taproom
French x Swedish språkcafé @Taproom
Fun Social Valdemar's "evening" Run
Fun Social Valdemar's "evening" Run
Come join us for a social trail run, jog, walk! We are celebrating Valdemar's Day, the day Dannebrog fell from th sky. We are not a typical running club, so please read about the concept in “about us”. How it works: we don’t know in advance where the trail will go, but we know it will be fun! A member of the club, the 'hare', sets a trail, usually marked with flour. The rest of us, the 'pack', follows the hare's 'scent', i.e., the marks. There will be a 8-10 km trail for runners with shortcuts down to 5-6 km for walkers and those who need a slower pace. We have no set pace - run/walk as slow or as fast as you'd like. After the run we enjoy some refreshments and socialize. Come a few minutes before the start so that you can say hi and leave your bag in a designated bag car before we set off at 18:30. Don’t worry if there are few registrations on Meetup. We have existed for 44 years, and a lot of our members (anywhere from 20 to 50 people) just show up. Four-legged friends are welcome! We never cancel. See you there!
Casual soccer/football
Casual soccer/football
Meditation & Sound Bathing
Meditation & Sound Bathing
**Meditation & Sound Bathing** *A moment to relax and harmonize your body & mind* Find a peaceful moment in the midst of busy everyday life. This session combines simple awareness meditation with a sound bath using Himalayan singing bowls. The sounds and vibrations help calm the nervous system, release tension, and guide the body into deep relaxation. You can simply lie down and relax. No meditation experience is needed -everyone is welcome. Whether you are looking to reduce stress, recharge after work or just enjoy a quiet moment, you are warmly welcome! Price: 250 kr 5-session pass: 1150 kr 10-session pass: 2100 kr \*Sessions are approved for friskvård.

Philosophy of Science Events This Week

Discover what is happening in the next few days

Practical Philosophy Meetup - Copenhagen 🇩🇰
Practical Philosophy Meetup - Copenhagen 🇩🇰
**🏛️ 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/CRqdyO6p6lZDIN2qVRIlWX), 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: * 19:00-19:15 - People arrive and chat, get to know each other before the ‘official' start. * 19:15-19:25 - 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. * 19:25-20:45 - 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. * 20:45-21:00 - Bring everyone back together to discuss conclusions of the topic - each group gives a short 1-minute summary. Organizer concludes the meeting and everyone takes a group photo. * 21:00 - The official meeting is over but it’s a great opportunity to get to know people in a non-structured environment, so we often stick around, chat, and get to know each other. **🧧PRICING?** Practical Philosophy Club is FREE to attend! We just ask that if we are meeting in a café, buy a beverage! Some chapters rent a space for us to meet, and they may ask for donations to help contribute to the cost of rent. Donations will always be 100% voluntary though! **💛 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 Sunday in the Whatsapp group. 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/CRqdyO6p6lZDIN2qVRIlWX). * 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/CRqdyO6p6lZDIN2qVRIlWX) 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/CRqdyO6p6lZDIN2qVRIlWX) 👈 Follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/practicalphilosophyclub/?hl=en) 👈 Our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club/) 👈
Geopolitics, Summer 2026 Edition! A World in Flux! Global Order! Casual Debate..
Geopolitics, Summer 2026 Edition! A World in Flux! Global Order! Casual Debate..
**“Geopolitics (!) — Summer 2026 and a World in Flux”** Power, Conflict, Alliances, and the Shape of the Global Order The world feels less stable than it did just a few years ago. Wars linger or expand, alliances are tested, and long-standing assumptions about security, globalization, and leadership are breaking down. Summer 2026 doesn’t mark a pause—it marks a moment of tension, transition, and uncertainty. This isn’t a news recap or a prediction exercise. It’s a philosophical and strategic conversation about where the world stands—and what forces are quietly reshaping it. *** **Topics we’ll touch on:** * Are we moving toward a multipolar world—or a more chaotic one? * Ongoing wars, frozen conflicts, and the risk of escalation * The role of great powers vs regional players * Europe’s position between security, values, and dependence * Energy, resources, and the geopolitics of scarcity * Is international law weakening—or merely adapting? * And finally… are we entering a more dangerous era, or just a more honest one? Casual discussion. No background in international relations required—just curiosity and a willingness to look beyond daily headlines. Whether you feel worried, cynical, cautiously hopeful, or unsure—you’re not alone. Let’s take a step back from the noise—and think seriously about the world we’re living in.
Café Philo Copenhagen
Café Philo Copenhagen
We meet on Saturdays late mornings to have a casual, meaningful conversation on topics of interest to everyone chosen on the spot by majority voting. So please feel free to propose your own topic! Everyone is welcome to talk, but if you prefer to just join and listen, that is perfect too. As the contacted cafés usually only give reservations to eating guests, it is very welcome if you order something to eat during our stay. This is however not mandatory. This event is in English. The exact place can still change.
Poker Night at BarrDrew
Poker Night at BarrDrew
♠️ **Poker Night — No Real Money, Just Good Games & Nice People** 🍸 Want to enjoy poker without any financial stakes? Come play, think, and connect with people who also love strategic challenges. **This event is for you if you...** * Enjoy poker and love talking strategy * Are curious about math, game theory * Find the psychology of reading people fascinating * want to meet like-minded people **What to expect** We play Texas Hold'em with play money — so the only thing on the line is your pride. 😄 The atmosphere is chill: cards, good drinks, and discussions about poker strategies. **New to poker?** No worries — we kick off with a beginner's introduction and basic strategy walkthrough. Join us from **18:15**. **Already know your way around the felt?** Jump straight in from **18:30**. Feel free to come and go as you please — no commitment required. The venue is open from **18:00**. **Track your progress on our leaderboard** and see who comes out on top across sessions. See you at the table! 🎰
The Next Conversation
The Next Conversation
Welcome to the Personal Growth BookClub Copenhagen! On the 20th June we will discuss the topic of **"The next conversation: Argue less, talk more"** Main book **"The Next conversation" by** Jefferson Fisher More info later What can you expect from the **meetup**? * A safe space to discuss about the topic * A short summary of the book by one of the members (Agnes will do it this time) * A not-so-strict moderated discussion based on the book * Sometimes, short participative activities to activate the discussion or reach common grounds and conclusions. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Changes from October 2025: 1. Meetups are still based on topics but there will be a main book to lead the discussion. An optional book (often a more popular one) will also be suggested. 2. One member will make a short summary of the book to introduce the topic (and the book) 3. The moderator(s) will be chosen randomly from a pool of volunteers. 4. The book club accepts donations to afford the Meetup Fee. MobilePay: 8145PW. Donations are not mandatory and the quantity is free.
Quantum AI in Practice: Infrastructure, Research & Real-World Projects
Quantum AI in Practice: Infrastructure, Research & Real-World Projects
**\*\*\* Please note: To attend, you MUST register here: [Registration form](https://forms.gle/3yxfkQdg3881mTyYA) \*\*\*** We have a date June 18, a venue [Copenhagen Fintech](https://www.copenhagenfintech.dk/), and our first sponsor [IQM Quantum Computers](https://iqm.tech/) — for the second Nordic Quantum AI Community (NQAIC) meetup, this time in beautiful Copenhagen 🇩🇰🧜‍♀️ **⚠️ Important:** **RSVP on Meetup alone does NOT grant access to the event.** **Venue**: Copenhagen Fintech, Applebys Plads 7, 1411, Copenhagen K, Denmark You’ll learn about quantum computing and AI from **[IQM Quantum Computers](https://iqm.tech/)** — one of the world’s leading quantum hardware companies — and hear from experts at **[NVIDIA](https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/)**, the world’s leading AI company. You’ll also explore cutting-edge quantum AI algorithms and software from top researchers, engineers, and startup founders building across the Nordics. **The full programme and confirmed speakers are available on the [NQAIC](https://nqaic.com/index.html) website.** We’ll continue updating the lineup as more speakers and sponsors join. Follow on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/qai-community/ Hope to see you in Copenhagen on June 18!
DEAR WORLD - the international week-breaker + pool
DEAR WORLD - the international week-breaker + pool
**𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 – the international week-breaker** Your favorite after-work/after-uni bar night to connect, relax, and meet amazing people at ease. **\- average age range is from 20\-30 \(everyone is welcome\)** **\- we are always many more people than sign up here on meetup as most traffic and updates happen on IG** **Happy New Year!** Let's start another amazing year of Dear World the way we know it - together! At Pool, we enjoy the super cozy vibes indoor and outdoor while always having some pool tables to mingle for some competition. 📸 IG @dearworldcph (for impressions from past events!) As the days are colder and shorter, we’re bringing the energy to our nights – with over 100+ at our bar nights and 200+ at our parties, 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 keeps growing! For almost 2 years now, we’ve been uniting Copenhagen’s international crowd (and locals) – countless nationalities, shining in different languages 🌍 Think easy-going conversation starters like flags, rotating chat charms & playful questions – all designed to spark great chats and eliminate any awkwardness. 📍 POOL, Gothersgade 8C, 1123 København 🕖 When: starting at 19:00 (hosts & stickers until 22:00, the night continues however long you like) Let’s raise a glass, meet familiar and new faces, and break the week – together 🥂 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 The space for internationals and open-minded locals to connect in Copenhagen. Whether you’re looking to socialize, network, make friends, or simply vibe – just show up. Come solo or bring your crew – we’ve got you. Got questions? DM us on Instagram @dearworldcph or reach out to the host here. Let’s make Wednesdays the new favorite day of the week 🌇

Philosophy of Science Events Near You

Connect with your local Philosophy of Science community

NoVES Philosophy Discussion Series: Right and Wrong
NoVES Philosophy Discussion Series: Right and Wrong
**NoVES Philosophy Discussion Series: Right and Wrong** To restart NoVES' Philosophy Discussion Series we thought we would choose a topic that is fundamental to philosophy, determining right from wrong. This discussion will look at the thinking that determines right and wrong actions and the values and assumptions underlying these decisions.
Profs & Pints Northern Virginia: Can Artificial Intelligence “See”?
Profs & Pints Northern Virginia: Can Artificial Intelligence “See”?
[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Can Artificial Intelligence ‘See’?”** A look at how humans and artificial intelligence systems interpret the visual world in fundamentally different ways, with Arryn Robbins, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Richmond and cognitive scientist who researches visual attention, perception, and category learning. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-can-AI-see](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-can-AI-see) .] Artificial intelligence can now identify faces, categorize objects, describe scenes, and outperform humans on certain visual tasks. But does AI actually “see” the world the way that people do? Or does it arrive at correct answers using representations that differ markedly from human perception? Join Arryn Robbins of the University of Richmond for a fascinating exploration of how humans and AI construct meaning from visual information and a look at comparisons between human perception and AI that reveal just how dynamic and context-dependent our own visual systems really are. Dr. Robbins, who previously has given excellent Profs and Pints talks on flaws and biases in human visual perception, will draw from research in cognitive science, visual perception, and AI vision systems. She’ll explain how human perception is not merely a simple recording of the world, but an active process shaped by expectations, context, goals, and recent experience. You’ll learn how humans form flexible mental representations that allow us to recognize objects across changing environments and conditions, and why those representations continuously adapt as we interact with the world. Many AI systems, by contrast, learn visual categories through statistical patterns in data. They can produce impressive results, but sometimes they also produce strange and unexpected failures, and sometimes they classify images in ways that seem strange to us. Dr. Robbins will discuss what these differences reveal about the nature of perception itself, and why the mismatch between human and AI representations matters for technologies like self-driving cars, medical imaging, facial recognition, and automated surveillance. Important for anyone trying to understand the rapidly growing role of AI in daily life, this talk will explore one of the biggest questions in cognitive science and artificial intelligence: What does it actually mean to “see” and understand the world? (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: “Eye Farm” by Nevit Dilmen (Wikimedia Commons).
🎤 Call for Speakers! 🧠 NYC Philosophy & Psychology Readers Conference 2026
🎤 Call for Speakers! 🧠 NYC Philosophy & Psychology Readers Conference 2026
🎤 Call for Speakers: NYC Philosophy & Psychology Readers Conference 2026 (#NYCPPRC2026) This event isn't a typical event, you cannot attend, no one will be hosting, it is instead a placeholder as a reminder of the deadline for submissions to apply to present at this year's conference. 📅 Submission Deadline: June 15, 2026 📍 Conference Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026 📍 Location: Pier 57, NYC (Community Classrooms) [Link to conference event](https://www.meetup.com/reading-philosophy/events/314020228/). \-\-\- 📣 Call for Speakers We are now accepting speaker submissions for the NYC Philosophy & Psychology Readers Conference 2026. If you have been reading, thinking, and developing ideas you would like to share, this is your opportunity to present to a community of engaged and thoughtful peers. \-\-\- 🧠 About the Conference The NYC Philosophy & Psychology Readers Conference brings together readers of philosophy and psychology for a multi-speaker event centered around ideas, discussion, and intellectual exchange. Following our first conference in 2025, we are expanding the event in 2026 with additional speakers, sessions, and opportunities to engage. \-\-\- 🎤 What We Are Looking For We are inviting talks that are: • Thoughtful and well-developed • Grounded in philosophy, psychology, or related disciplines • Accessible to an engaged general audience, not overly technical • Rooted in texts, ideas, or original analysis You might present on: • A philosophical text or thinker • A psychological theory or framework • Connections between philosophy and modern life • An original argument or interpretation • A synthesis of ideas from multiple sources \-\-\- ⏱️ Talk Format • Approximately 20 to 40 minutes per talk • Followed by brief Q&A or discussion \-\-\- 📅 Important Dates • Submission Deadline: June 15, 2026 • Speaker Confirmations: By late June 2026 • Conference Date: September 19, 2026 \-\-\- 📝 How to Apply To be considered, please submit: • Your name • Proposed talk title • A short description (3 to 5 sentences) • Any relevant background (optional) Submission link: [https://forms.gle/PQR4ze6MvdyM31SB6](https://forms.gle/PQR4ze6MvdyM31SB6) \-\-\- 💡 Notes • You do not need to be a professional academic to apply • Clear thinking and strong engagement with ideas matter most • Space is limited, we encourage thoughtful submissions \-\-\- 🤝 Questions If you have any questions about presenting or the event, feel free to reach out to the organizers. \-\-\- We are excited to hear your ideas and build another meaningful conference together.
Meaningful Conversation and Coffee.  At Caffe Amouri in Vienna
Meaningful Conversation and Coffee. At Caffe Amouri in Vienna
Join us for conversations that go beyond small talk, diving into topics like the shifting nature of spirituality, the challenges and joys of midlife transitions, the impact of culture and capitalism, and the search for meaning in art, travel, and daily life. Our gatherings are about genuine, thought-provoking dialogue, with no set leader or strict agenda—just an open space to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that matter to us. The direction of the discussion is shaped by everyone who shows up, making each event unique and enriching. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others who are also seeking deeper conversations. Let the conversation flow from topic to topic. Optional questions are listed below.

Optional Questions: Life Stages & Transitions

1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?

Optional Questions: Identity After the Roles

4. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
5. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
6. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?

Optional Questions: AI & Being Human

7. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
8. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
9. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?

Optional Questions: Belief & Meaning

10. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
11. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
12. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?

Optional Questions: The Modern Psyche

13. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
14. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
15. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?

Optional Questions: Work & Purpose

16. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
17. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
18. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?

Optional Questions: Relationships & Connection

19. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
20. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
21. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?

Optional Questions: Time & Mortality

22. What are you running out of time to say or do?
23. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
24. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?

Optional Questions: Society & Culture

25. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
26. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
27. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?

Optional Questions: Personal Philosophy

28. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
29. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
30. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?
Lady Anne Conway and Mary Astell
Lady Anne Conway and Mary Astell
Anne Conway (1631 – 1679) and Mary Astell (1666 – 1731) share a sex, intelligence, and the same unsettled century. After a long obscurity, their work has reemerged and invites the reader to consider how reason, belief, and the self might still be brought into harmony. **The Women** Anne Conway, born and raised in London, spent her youth wandering through the vast hallways of what is now known as Kensington Palace. Apart from being a woman, at least two other notable circumstances shaped Anne’s life – she lost a son in infancy and later suffered from severe pain. Pain as a concept found its way into Anne’s philosophy as a purgative, transformative experience. It was while seeking a relief from pain that she came into contact with the Flemish physician and philosopher Francis Mercury van Helmont, who later introduced her to Kabbalistic thought and to Quakerism. Anne converted to Quakerism shortly before she died. Mary Astell was a native of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. Unlike Anne Conway, Astell remained unmarried and eventually moved to London with little or no financial support. Her early philosophical writings are found in the correspondence with John Norris and were later published as *Letters Concerning the Love of God* (1695). After publishing the *Letters* and *A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Parts I and II. (1694, 1697),* Astell became somewhat of a celebrity in London. Her two other well-known published works were *Some Reflections upon Marriage* (1700) and *The Christian Religion* (1705). In her later years, in keeping with her investment in female education, Astell managed a charity school for poor girls in the Chelsea neighborhood. **The Philosophies** Anne’s only surviving work, *The Principles of the Most Ancient and Modern Philosophy*, was published posthumously and anonymously in 1690. It is said that Leibniz had a copy of *The Principles* in his library with Anne Conway’s name written on the front page. Anne’s vitalist conception of all being may have influenced Leibnitz’s own views, in particular his *Monadology*. *The Principles* is often viewed as a theodicy. The existence and nature of God occupy the central place in Anne Conway’s triadic philosophical system. The three “species” are God, Christ, and the “unity of multiplicities” where “the whole creation is just but one substance or entity.” God is the immutable and perfect maker of all things. God “wanted to create living beings with whom he could communicate.” Alas, God’s light was intolerable for his Creatures, and, after dimming the light a bit, God designated the Messiah’s soul as the Middle Nature and “a safe place” for all Creatures. Everything and everyone fall under the umbrella of Anne’s “Creatures.” Everything and everyone is a subject to eternal mutability. Creatures can metamorphose into other kinds of creature, growing more or less spiritual – more or less like God. Under the principle of similitude, Conway maintains, everything and everyone has some semblance to God and therefore must be in some sense spiritual and alive. Mary Astell sides with Descartes in his dualistic views and in the method of obtaining knowledge through clear and distinct perceptions. In her metaphysics, Astell distinguishes two kinds of beings—minds and bodies that come in various degrees of finitude and corruptibility. God is placed at the heart of her metaphysical system and is the “first intelligence.” Human minds and corporeal particles are finite and incorruptible, while human bodies and physical objects are finite, naturally corruptible entities. Within the created beings, Astell names four categories: minds, bodies, mind–body unions, and the particles that compose bodies. A mind-body union is mysterious. However, we “know and feel” it, and therefore it must be real. **Reading:** We will read and discuss Anne Conway’s *The Principles of the Most Ancient and Modern Philosophy* and the second part of Mary Astell’s *A Serious Proposal to the Ladies.* Anne Conway, *The Principles of the Most Ancient and Modern Philosophy,* 25 pages, [https://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/conway1692_1.pdf](https://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/conway1692_1.pdf) Mary Astell, *A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/54984/54984-h/54984-h.htm](https://www.gutenberg.org/files/54984/54984-h/54984-h.htm)* **Additional Reading:** Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Mary Astell, [https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/astell/](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/astell/) Anne Conway, [https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/conway/](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/conway/)
Aristotle's Café
Aristotle's Café
Come join us for in-depth discussions on topics relating to moral and political philosophy. This is a group for members who are comfortable discussing topics that are often anxiety producing and controversial. *"Aristotle was a realist who believed that reality and knowledge are found in the physical world, accessible through sensory experience and logic. This led to contrasting views on ethics, politics, and the nature of reality itself. Plato emphasized abstract, ideal concepts, while Aristotle prioritized empirical observation and the study of the natural world."* \- Google Gemini Following Aristotle's lead, this group will lean heavily on empirical data to make arguments. The Socratic method is still the preferred way to engage in conversation, and Platonic Idealism is still relevant to the conversation as points of reference.
Learn all things Data Science and Compete on Kaggle
Learn all things Data Science and Compete on Kaggle
We will be meeting at Starbucks to learn together. Come with an online class you're already going through or an interest and we will try to connect you with a course where you can learn it. Already have a skill you want to contribute to a Kaggle Datascience competition? We will work on these too! Laptop required :)