Philosophy & Ethics

Fulfillment. Joy. – Do you know what it is? Do you feel it now? Many of us are living lives that have “just sort of happened”. We had a dream, a vision (maybe we still do) for what we wanted our lives to look like. Somewhere along the way, life took over and something else ended up happening. We made decisions, took a turn down a path, and now our life isn’t what we thought it would be. Or we’re living someone else’s life. Maybe it’s what our parent’s wanted for us. What we believe our partner or a potential partner might want. Or maybe it’s what we believe we need to do and have to be happy. I was one of these people. My life checked all the boxes for what I thought I needed in order to be happy. And still, I wasn’t. Join me for a coffee talk on what it means to live a Life By Design. Where your choices are deliberate and based on your authentic, true self. What you have to let go off to achieve this (hint: the notion that vulnerability is a weakness and feelings of fear and guilt) and who you will become in the process.

We are a group of people meeting on Tuesdays to socialize around cooking and eating together. Usually around 40-50 people. Many are international students, but also other people join. The foodclub exist independent of Meetup, we invite you because we have room for a few more people. The food is vegan and made from donated leftover veggies from a local greengrocery. The place has originally hosted leftwing activist groups, and many of the people joining are also involved in political groups. If you want to join for chopping and cooking, we will be doing that from 3 to 6 pm. It is possible to join part of the time. From 6 to 8pm we are serving food. Donation around 30 kroner. If you are helping out some hours, chopping, cooking or cleaning, you can eat for free. From 8 to 9 - 9:30 pm we are cleaning up the place. We hope to see you in our lovely foodclub <3

Join us for a casual, social puzzle solving event that takes place in a bar. You can find the location 4 days before the event by solving the simple puzzle in this link: https://puzzledpint.org/events/february-2026/#location-intro

**RUN THE CITY. MEET THE WORLD.** We launched something new - and what a success it was! With up to 40 people we run beautiful routes through Copenhagen on our social runs - and you're invited to be part of the next edition and kick off the New Year full of energy. **DEAR WORLD RUNS** is for those who want to move, connect, and feel the city in motion. Whether you're a regular runner or just curious to join, this is your moment. 🏃‍♂️ **The Run** • Friendly but fun pace - we go easy on the first one, but with ambition • Approx. 5–6 km, accessible for most • You don’t need to be “fast” - just bring energy ☕ **The Vibe** • Post-run coffee/tea included & hangout at Nomad Day Bar in the 25hours hotel on beautiful Paper Island • Come solo or bring a friend - we’ll make it social • Led by the Dear World crew you can leave your belongings that you don’t want to take along the run with the venue which will secure it while we are gone. 📍**Where & When** Nomad Day Bar / 25hours Hotel Paper Island 🗓️ Tuesday every 2 weeks 🕙 18:00H sharp (meet from 17:45) **We run the city - join us.** Let’s make this the start of something that moves us all. #DWRuns #DearWorldCPH

Mangler du nogen at tale (dansk) med? Vi mødes om tirsdagen på en hyggelig café og taler dansk sammen. Det er gratis at deltage, men køb venligst en drink eller snack for at støtte caféen der huser os. Alle er velkomne, også danskere! ;-) Do you want to practice your Danish? We meet on Tuesdays in a 'hyggelig' café and speak Danish together. The event is free but please buy a drink or a snack to support the café that hosts us. Everybody is welcome, also Danes! ;-)

Hello

**[🎟️ Sign up here to grab your ticket 🎟️](https://luma.com/ftstcopenhagen1)** 🎫 **RSVP ≠ ticket.** A paid ticket is required to attend. 🔗 On your phone and **can’t click**? Click the link in the **comments** :) ㅤ F\*ck the Small Talk has traveled the world from Berlin, London, Lisbon, to Buenos Aires, and has landed now in **Copenhagen for the first time ever!** 😎 ㅤ **📦 WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?** FTST is an out-of-the-box **social experience** where strangers come together for an afternoon of meaningful, fun, and deep conversation. It’s also a different & cool way of meeting new people by getting a bit out of your comfort zone and skipping the small talk! Join us for **games**, **talks**, and **connections** with **friends you haven’t met yet**. Join if you get annoyed after being asked what you do, where you are from, and how long you've been in **Copenhagen** every single time you meet someone. If you feel that there are better questions in life, this is the place for you. 🙌 **📓 HOW DOES IT WORK?** We start with a short & sweet intro talk followed by a few light-hearted group games to warm up. After that, we split you up into small groups and start with the conversation rounds (with 3-4 people). We'll have awesome question cards that will guide the flow of the conversation. You'll be guided by an experienced host (Valerie, you'll love her!) who'll make sure everything goes smoothly. 🍭 **🕹 HOW TO JOIN?** **[Take 1 minute to sign up 👈](https://luma.com/ftstcopenhagen1)** 🔗 On your phone and can’t click? Click the link in the **comments** :) Our events are **limited to 30 handpicked guests** to ensure a cozy atmosphere. **Confirm your spot on the link above** to make it happen! We prioritize a balance of gender and age. If you're invited you'll receive a confirmation within 48 hours via Luma (our ticketing platform) **NOTE**: We won't validate your payment unless you've been accepted! (which you most likely will ❤️) **🧧 HOW MUCH IS IT?** The cost to attend is DKK 150-180, and includes the following: ⏰ 3 hours of facilitated and curated activities 🙌🏽 Access to the Llamas in Copenhagen WhatsApp community 👥 A space to meet new people in the least boring way possible 💛 Supporting our mission to spread human connection events around the world *(🎫 also includes those annoying ticket fees!)* **🌳 WHERE IS IT?** We host our events in awesome cafes/bars and parks across the city. We only **reveal the exact location** upon confirmation.📍 This event will take place in a cool venue near Forum Station. (close to Hans Tavsens Park) **💛 WHAT THEY SAY** 🗣 “This is the kind of activity **humanity needs every weekend**. Thank you for all.” - *Sonya* 🗣 “F\*ck the Small Talk changes the narrative from "Where are you from?" to "When was the last time you laughed uncontrollably?" and I think that's beautiful.” - Monika 🗣 "It’s a **wonderful** **experience**, it’s like being a kid again, when you were at the park, playing with other kids, and just decided you were going to be best friends for the next hours. Maybe you’ll never see those kids again. But that hour was amazing because you both opened up and trusted each other." - Sara **[Read our 200+ Google reviews here 👈](https://goo.gl/maps/TpZy77bfPFkGoikn7)** *(we ain't your typical meetup ;)* **🤓 FAQ** **• Can I come alone?** Of course, everyone does! **• Can I be late?** Please don't! Late arrivals will disrupt the floooooooow. **• I signed up but never got an invite. Why?** We usually get a high volume of sign-ups, yet we like keeping it cozy & only invite around 30 people. Please try again next time if you do not receive an invite - no hard feelings 💛 **• Is this a networking or dating event?** Nope! Think of us as the *anti-networking* and *anti-speed dating* event. There’s no pressure, no pitches, and no cringy icebreakers. Instead, we create spaces where strangers can connect through fun & meaningful conversations. It’s all about authentic connection, no business cards or romantic expectations required. (doesn’t mean it *can’t* happen, it’s just not the intention!) 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨, 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙. ✨ \* Location is only revealed to ticket holders! \* Age guide, 22-39 years old (only a reference of what you expect, not a limit 💃) 🙅‍♀️📱This event is a no-phone experience. 🙅‍♀️📱 We started in Berlin back in 2019 out of the frustration of being asked 'where are you from?' a million times at every single meetup! Now there are chapters in nearly 30 cities, including London, Lisbon, Buenos Aires, Zurich, and Vancouver! 🗺️ We're part of the Epic Llama Universe. **🌍🦙** We design out-of-the-box experiences that spark curiosity, creativity, and human connection. We're on a mission to make boring brilliant! \*\*\* Follow us on[ Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/epic.llama/)👈 Our [website](https://epicllama.com/fuckthesmalltalk)[ ](https://epicllama.com/)👈

**🏛️ 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/) 👈

SIGN-UP here: https://forms.gle/D3NE3wcLoK76RkMRA FOOD: https://buy.stripe.com/eVqcN4eSz0YA5zicM71oI0a Welcome to the first EADK Meetup Day in 2026! Our pilot event in Nov was a massive success, so we're excited to do more of these in the year 🎉🌟 Expect a day of some talks, workshops, and time for talking/getting to know each other (& finish with dinner together)(you're welcome to come & leave anytime during the day) If you are new to the community, this is a great way to meet us! This one will be in Copenhagen again, but we are planning to also run these in Aarhus and Odense. Excited to have you :) Warm welcome to the Swedes/EA Sweden people too!

Welcome to the Personal Growth BookClub Copenhagen! On the 14th February we will discuss the topic of **"Beyond Resiliency II: things that gain from disorder"** Main book **"Anti-fragile"** by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (available in English in Bog & Ide, etc.) You can find it in the public library [Bibliotek.dk](https://bibliotek.dk/materiale/antifragility_nassim-nicholas-taleb/work-of%3A870970-basis%3A29984158?type=bog&tid=PiTBU17651880405181686845417), [also here](http://bibliotek.dk/materiale/antifragile_nassim-nicholas-taleb/work-of%3A800010-katalog%3A99122538569405763?type=bog&tid=PiTBU17651880405191686845427) Summary: [Productivity game](https://youtu.be/oAJy45NWjmY?si=N9ciWRbQOsntk3CX) For the audiobook enthusiast: it is not in the catalogue of audible.co.uk but it is in the [audible.com](https://www.audible.com/es_US/pd/Antifragile-Audiolibro/B009PRJ6BS?srsltid=AfmBOoqW8nKqxuQ8HuYJUBPqHtFMBQZtyTCUOW3grYH_eer5TjlO20E6) (perhaps it is worth taking a 1month trial just to listen to it). Alternative book **"The Obstacle Is the Way:** **The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph"** By Ryan Holiday Audiobook available in Audible. Yes, this is the book for January. 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.

ISKCON Malmö is welcoming everyone to a very spiritual inspiring Bhakti-yoga feast on Sunday. Adress: Mindfulness Home, Nobelvägen 11, Malmö Program: 15:00-15:30 Bhajans 15:30-16:15 Bhagavad-gita Lecture 16:15-17:30 Gaura-arati, Hare Krishna Kirtan and Prasadam Let us know by marking Attending if you will come so we can arrange for prasadam vegetarian feast accordingly Contact: 070-355 41 91(Emma) We also welcome you to Tempel and reading room. Open for meditation Monday-Friday kl 11:00-15:00

Tickets here: [www.thesilvers.dk](http://www.thesilvers.dk) Here in Copenhagen we have started a movement of weekly dinners (on a Wednesday) hosted by the senior generation in their own homes. Seniors with 60+ years of life experience who are community leaders, intellectuals, artists, storytellers, and want to share their experience over dinners for a small group each time. Every Wednesday there is dinner hosted by a different Silver (senior host) who will open their front door, welcome a group of 5-8 people into their home, and share their stories, knowledge, and connections across the table over a themed evening. Each host chooses their own theme and it is the aim to pass on their hard-earned knowledge. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Join Elisabeth for an evening of vegetarian food in her home. Here you will experience what it is like to live in Christiania. She will first show you around her house and garden (when the weather allows!) and invite you to connect with topics that are close to her heart: how it is to live a sustainable life, spiritually and physically. Elisabeth enjoys hearing from her guests, what you are occupied with right now, and why you have chosen to come. Come with an open mind and all the questions you can think of, to get some new life perspectives from a woman full of wisdom and humour.

Copenhagen Gaming "Week" is returning to Bella Center. There will a variety of gaming activities, including board games, retro arcade games, sports, talks, eSports, etc. You can read about it here. https://www.copenhagengamingweek.dk/ Tickets are available at this [link](https://www.ticketmaster.dk/artist/1265534?language=da-dk&camefrom=WEBSITE_BELLA&_gl=1*kwepjr*_ga*NzA3NDY1MTc2LjE3NjY0MDY2NjY.*_ga_9ZYXPH02PT*czE3NjY0MDY2NjUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NjY0MDc1NDYkajI3JGwwJGgw). We'll meet at 1pm in front of Bella Center and we can get drinks/food after if anyone is interested.

\*\*\* We will be changing venue every other week (from Main Library on Thursdays to Nørrebro Library on Fridays), so please check event details.\*\*\* **Dear Expat,** New to Copenhagen or eager to deepen your understanding of Danish culture? Join us for **Part 2 of our “Welcome to DK” series**, where we’ll explore the heart of Danish traditions, customs, and social etiquette—from *hygge* to local habits that shape daily life. This interactive workshop is designed for expats of all backgrounds, whether you’re a beginner or already familiar with Denmark. You’ll gain practical insights, share experiences, and connect with fellow expats in a relaxed setting. **Networking is a key part of the evening**, so bring your curiosity and leave with new friends and cultural confidence! Looking forward to welcoming you, **Maria Depesova** *Your Host & Expat Community Builder*

It's February, which means it's time for our most popular topic--sex and relationships. Please listen to the podcast below (from 6:33 - 30:28)! We'll also read some relationship conflict scenarios from advice columns, and talk about our opinions/thoughts/guidance (no advance reading required). As usual, we'll socialize for about an hour before the discussion starts at 8:30pm. I encourage everyone to bring something yummy (or Valentine's themed) to share! *Note: If anyone acts creepy, I will not hesitate to ask them to leave*. **Discussion Ideas**: * Relationships and identity. Do relationship change who we are? * In relationships, to what extend to we extend our identity or embrace a new identity? How much do we open ourselves up to being a different person when we meet someone else? * Are the things that draw us to someone, also the things that repel us later? * Do we want change, but are also afraid of change? * What is more important for a successful relationship, a willingness to change or a sense of our own identity? * Do relationships have an arc? If so, what is yours * Cornerstone vs. captsone relationships. * How can relationships make room for both people to change, and the relationship dynamic to change? * Chioce paradox in relationship options. * How do our stories about our past, present and future affect our relationships? * How do our implicit memories influence our narratives, in relationship conflict? * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajneRM-ET1Q&t=393s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajneRM-ET1Q&t=393s) **(from 6:33 - 30:28)**

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

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.

**Life** Blaise Pascal was born in 1623 in the Auvergne region of France. His father was an expert mathematician and member of the *noblesse de robe* (a designation for high-level bureaucrats). His mother died when Pascal was only three. Under his father’s anti-scholastic and modern approach, Pascal read widely but idiosyncratically in law, the Bible, Church Fathers, science, and, eventually, mathematics—but relatively little in literature. By his teens, his father had introduced Pascal to the group of intellectuals associated with Père Marin Mersenne. He suffered medical issues from a young age and throughout his life and was for some time under the care of one of his sisters. He was, for example, too ill personally to conduct his famous experiment on Puy-de-Dôme that provided evidence that air pressure differs at different elevations. He had a deeply mystical or religious experience (“Night of Fire”) on the evening of November 23, 1654, after which he renounced his mathematical and scientific pursuits in favor of religious pursuits. He had notes from the Night of Fire sown into his jacket. He died at only 39 in 1662. **Themes** While Pascal did not invent the triangle named for him (it had been known not only to Chinese, Indian, and Islamic scholars but also European ones), he studied it and showed some of its properties. In physics, he did experiments with mercury demonstrating that air pressure varied with elevation and studied hydraulics, giving us what is now called Pascal’s law. He was one of the first to devise a working calculating machine, several of which still exist, creating three versions for different uses. As might be expected from someone of such evident skill in math and science, he did not care much for Aristotelian approaches, such as essences, form, and matter. Pascal as philosopher presents some problems. In the first place, his non-scientific writings had the avowed purpose of promoting Christianity and, at times, Jansenism. His most famous work, *Pensées*, was not published in his lifetime but rather arranged by family and associates after his death based on written notes supposedly but not definitively intended for a work of Christian apologetics. But the psychological insights of the Pensées, and its clear and sharp style, have perhaps against his own wishes established Pascal as some sort of philosopher, if not a proto-(Christian) Existentialist. His attacks on the power and utility of reason are ironically almost coeval with the start of the European Enlightenment. Among his more famous ideas is that the heart has its reasons that the mind knows not of and discussing belief in God in terms of a wager. Is Pascal’s Wager a joke, taking to humorous extremes techniques of probability he had had a hand in developing? Or is he serious, aiming to show that reason fails when it comes to life’s most consequential decisions? Or is the Wager meant to offer reasoned support for a prior, non-rational embrace of God? We’ll discuss these and other questions to try to understand Pascal’s contributions to philosophy and what insights he can offer today. **Reading** Our readings for this month are *Pensées* and selections from *Discussion with Monsieur de Sacy*, the *Art of Persuasion,* and *Writings on Grace*. These can all be found in an edition from [Oxford University Press](https://global.oup.com/academic/product/penses-and-other-writings-9780199540365?cc=us&lang=en&). **Optional** * [Blasie Pascal, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://iep.utm.edu/pascal-b/) * [Pascal's Wager, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pascal-wager/) * [Lettres Provinciales, Wikisource](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Lettres_Provinciales) * [Prayer, to Ask of God the Proper Use of Sickness, Wikisource](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Blaise_Pascal/Prayer,_to_Ask_of_God_the_Proper_Use_of_Sickness) **References for Pascal's Contributions to Math and Science** * [Pascal's Triangle: What It Is and How to Use It, Science Notes](https://sciencenotes.org/pascals-triangle/) * [Pascaline (Calculator), Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascaline) * [Pascal's Law, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_law) * [Pascal's Theorem (Geometry), Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_theorem)

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Love and Monsters,”** on the inescapable bond between romance and horror, with Joshua Barton, scholar of horror and lecturer in English at Virginia Commonwealth University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-love-monsters](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-love-monsters) .] Romance and horror might seem like opposite genres, but they share a deep emotional core, and the combination of them has captivated audiences across time and culture. Put even your worst Valentine’s Day in perspective by hearing this strange relationship discussed by Joshua Barton, who has earned a big following among Profs and Pints fans with his past talks on cryptids, American horror, and Christmas ghosts. He’ll explore the undeniable and unsettling intersection of romance and horror and examine how and why love and fear intensify each other and combined to create tension, drive narratives, and explore human vulnerability. We’ll look at works that have blended passion and terror, including Gothic literature like the vampire novella *Carmilla* and modern films like *Spring* and *Crimson Peak*. We’ll study the fine line between obsession and adoration running through Stephen King’s “I Know What You Need,” Adrian Lyne’s *Fatal Attraction*, and the timeless *The Phantom of the Opera.* We’ll discuss the seeds of monstrous love that were planted with *Beauty and the Beast* and *Creature from the Black Lagoon* and bloom ferociously in works like *Twilight* and *The Shape of Water*. Through it all, we’ll find the threads of otherness and the taboo that intertwine horror, love, and reflections on identity. Join us for a journey through storytelling that combines the grotesque and the scintillating as we uncover why romance and horror are a match made in the dark. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From the original 1954 advertising poster for *Creature from the Black Lagoon* (Artist: Reynold Brown / Public Domain).

[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.)

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Ethics of Good Sex,”** a philosophical and practical guide to promoting pleasure while ensuring respect, with Quill R. Kukla, professor of philosophy and disability studies at Georgetown University and author of *Sex Beyond ‘Yes’: Pleasure and Agency for Everyone.* [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/dc-ethics-good-sex](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/dc-ethics-good-sex) .] Most discourse around sexual ethics—regardless of political orientation—focuses on how sex can go wrong and how we can avoid bad or harmful sex. Our sexual education emphasizes ensuring consent and taking “no” for an answer. But as a society we spend almost no time discussing how to have good sex that is pleasurable for everyone involved and respects everyone’s agency. We are told to make sure that our partner says “yes,” but we are given no tools or roadmaps for what to do to have good sex, rather than minimally ethical sex, after that yes is given. We get no lessons on how to figure out what sexual activities we would actually enjoy, or for how to communicate about sex beyond asking for and giving consent. Gain insights on how to take your discussions with sex partners to the next level with Quill Kukla, a philosopher and long-time participant in queer and kinky alternative sex communities who has written many scholarly and popular articles on sexual consent, communication, and ethics and who consults and gives workshops on safe, pleasurable, and ethical sex in the context of the Berlin club and rave scene. We’ll examine how we can communicate about and enjoy good, pleasurable sex that respects the agency of everyone involved. Among the topics Professor Kukla will discuss: How to figure out what gives us pleasure; how to safely try out new activities that we’re not sure we will like; how to communicate well about sex with our potential partners; and how to manage power differentials within sex. Looking ahead to future generations, Professor Kukla also will discuss how to raise children who will be capable of respecting their partners and of understanding and advocating for their own sexual desires and boundaries. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva