Philosophy

Not everyone who has ever worked in academia chooses to continue their career there. Sometimes academic work turns out not to be the right fit; sometimes it is simply different from what you expected. Some people entered with high ideals that did not come to fruition. Have you worked in an academic setting for at least one year (roughly full-time), and would you like to reflect on your experiences with others who have since left? Join the Journal of Trial and Error event on May 7, from 20:00, at Utrecht University Library City Center. During the evening, we will engage in an open dialogue. Together, we will explore what lessons the university can learn for improving science and higher education, and how these insights might help make academia more sustainable and appealing for the next generation. Register for the event here: https://trialanderror.org/lustrum-ex-academia-2026.

You may purchase your ticket here: https://internationals-networking-event.utrecht-international-center.com/ Drinks, bites, and the best advice in town. Are you joining us? When: Thursday May 7th from 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Where: LE:EN in Utrecht Whether you’ve just arrived in the Netherlands or have been here for a while and are looking to meet new people, this event is for you! Join the Internationals Networking Event on May 7th in Utrecht for an evening of networking and information gathering. Join the event to: Meet new people during a fun networking game. Meet service providers in housing, finance, education, and much more! Enjoy live music, drinks and streetfood bites!

As a creative, you might recognise this: somehow you always end up with more craft and art supplies than you actually use. Maybe it was an idea you never got around to, maybe other materials just worked better, or maybe it was simply time for a good clear-out. Whatever the reason, those supplies deserve a second life! At this craft swap everyone brings the materials they no longer need. We put it all out on the table and from there it's up to you, browse around and take home whatever sparks your creativity. A fun and affordable way to find new supplies while helping each other free up some storage space. 🎨 It's also a great chance to chat with fellow crafters about what you like to make and get inspired by each other! * 🖊️ What can you bring? Think paper, pencils and markers, washi tape, beads, stickers, glue, wool, fabric, stamps, craft kits... basically anything craft-related that's been sitting unused * 📦 Anything unclaimed at the end of the evening you can take back home, donate yourself, or leave with the organiser who will pass it on to charity

Op 7 mei 2026 zal de [NLUUG Voorjaarsconferentie 2026](https://nluug.nl/evenementen/nluug/voorjaarsconferentie-2026/) (#VJ2026) plaatsvinden. De [Call for Proposals](https://cfp.nluug.nl/nluug-voorjaarsconferentie-2026/cfp) is geopend tot 06-03-2026. Heb je een interessant onderwerp waar je graag de Open Source wereld meer over wilt laten weten, schrijf je dan vooral in. De conferentie voor bedoeld voor NLUUG leden. Zij hebben de mogelijkheid om een introducee mee te nemen. De inschrijving voor de Voorjaarsconferentie zal in Q1 2026 geopend worden

Join us for the next Azure Thursdays meetup. On **May 7th** we are welcomed by **Sopra Steria** at their Headquarters in **Nieuwegein**. **Confirmed speakers:** * Wesley Camargo (Tata Consultancy Services) * Jacco Rademaker (4Dotnet) **Program:** 17:30 \~ 18:00 Walk-in 18:00 \~ 18:45 Dinner 18:45 \~ 19:30 First session by Wesley - Your Azure Is Wrong And I Can Prove It 19:45 \~ 20:30 Second session by Jacco - The long running battle between Azure DevOps and GitHub: finally peace? 20:30 \~ 21:00 Drinks & wrap-up **Session 1:** *Speaker:* Wesley Camargo *Title:* Your Azure Is Wrong And I Can Prove It Many Azure environments are functioning, but that doesn’t mean they are designed to scale, stay secure, or meet enterprise requirements. Short-term decisions like using Resource Groups as environments, relying on a single subscription, manual scaling, and adding governance only when problems appear often lead to fragile platforms that break under growth. In this session, we uncover the most common Azure architectural anti-patterns and explain how the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) provides a practical path from “it works” to Enterprise Ready. The focus is on the Ready, Govern, and Manage phases, where platform foundations are defined and long-term success is determined. You’ll get a clear overview of key CAF design areas, based on real production environments, not theory: • Identity and access • Networking • Governance and security • Monitoring • Automation • Cost management **Session 2:** *Speaker:* Jacco Rademaker *Title:* The long running battle between Azure DevOps and GitHub: finally peace? Are you currently working with Azure DevOps, but also have an eye on GitHub for its AI features? Do you need the functionalities Azure Boards offers and would you also like to use with AI agents? Or has your organization heavily invested in Azure Pipelines, which you do not want to rebuild using GitHub Actions? And when you would move your repositories, will you still have your pull request history? You do not have to go all-in with GitHub and leave Azure DevOps behind. Why choose, when you can combine them! You'll learn how to connect Azure DevOps to GitHub, what features this will open up for you and what your workflow can look like. This session will help you decide on how to move forward with your team or your whole organization! **About Azure Thursday and this event:** ===> Read more about the sessions and speakers on: www.azurethursday.com \# ==========CODE=OF=CONDUCT========== If you join this event, you agree with our Code of Conduct. Please read the full COC at [https://www.azurethursday.com/code-of-conduct/](https://www.azurethursday.com/code-of-conduct/)

Hallo liebe Java User Group Mitglieder! Diesmal haben wir Peter Kranz mit seinem interaktiven Talk zu den unterschiedlichen Java-Versionen zu Gast. Wir freuen uns euch zu sehen (virtuell oder vor Ort). * 18:00 Uhr: Einlass * 18:30 Uhr: Talk * ab 19:30: Ausklang des Abends Dank an [adesso](https://www.adesso.de/de/unternehmen/standorte/nuernberg.jsp) für Location, Bier und Pizza! \-\-\- Java entwickelt sich seit Version 9 im Halbjahresrhythmus weiter – mit Records, Pattern Matching, Virtual Threads und vielen weiteren Features. Doch wer hat schon die Zeit, 17 Releases im Detail zu verfolgen? Die Fülle an Neuerungen ist enorm, und je nach Projekt und Interesse sind ganz unterschiedliche Features relevant. Ein klassischer Vortrag kann hier nur einen starren Pfad durch die Feature-Landschaft bieten. Dieser Talk geht einen anderen Weg: als interaktiver Dungeon Crawler. Das Publikum entscheidet gemeinsam, welchen Themenkomplex es als Nächstes erkunden will – Moderne Sprach-Features, Concurrency, APIs, JVM-Tooling oder experimentelle Preview-Features. Jede Entscheidung führt tiefer in den Dungeon und schaltet neue Level frei. So entsteht bei jedem Vortrag ein einzigartiger Pfad durch die Java-Versionen 9 bis 26. Wie in einem echten Dungeon Crawler sammelt das Publikum dabei XP und wird am Ende einer Klasse zugeordnet – vom Warrior mit Fokus auf Performance bis zum Wizard der Sprach-Features. Ob Einsteiger:in oder erfahrene:r Entwickler:in: Jede Session liefert praxisnahe Einblicke in genau die Java-Features, die das Publikum am meisten interessieren. Kein Vortrag gleicht dem anderen – und der einzige Weg, alles zu sehen, ist wiederzukommen. \-\-\- Dein Vortrag bei der Java Usergroup Nürnberg! Hast du dich in letzter Zeit in deinem Projekt oder privat mit einem interessanten Thema beschäftigt? Vermutlich ist das nicht nur für dich selbst interessant! Hast du Lust, selber einmal einen Vortrag bei der Java-Usergroup Nürnberg zu halten? Wir sind nicht nur auf Java-Themen fokussiert, sondern beschäftigen uns gern mit und um alles über Software Entwicklung und IT. Wir wollen bei der JUG nicht nur bekannten Speaker\*innen eine Plattform geben und die neuesten State-of-the-Art Technologien vorstellen. Wir freuen uns auch besonders, wenn wir Themen aus unserem technologischen (Arbeits-)alltag Raum geben zu können. Melde dich gerne bei uns, wenn du dazu Lust hast, wir geben wenn gewünscht gerne auch Hilfestellung bei der Vorbereitung!

Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at Factor-ij Amsterdam on Thursday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 11: 15 AM - Quick introductions 11: 30 AM - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 12: 30 PM - The End: chat, take off, or keep writing OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 12:30 pm after the writing is wrapped. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you at Factor-ij! What Should I Bring? Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block the cafe’s overhead music or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Please come with your devices pre-charged, since we probably won't be always sitting somewhere with charging possibilities. Other Important Details: Travel by public transportation: 1. Take Tram 26 from the central station Amsterdam, and step out by the last stop. 2. Take bus 66 from the Amsterdam Bijlmer station, step out by Pieter Oosterhuisstraat, and further walk in the direction of the bus till the corner. FREE Wifi. Compulsory consumption is not required, but please do order a drink to honor our generous host.

* We **start at 11:15** at Raadhuisplein 1, 3951 XT Maarn https://maps.app.goo.gl/WogeofsFNuDyBgrN9 * Length: \~16.6 km (4 - 5 hr hiking) * What to bring: lunch, water, snack. * For whom: As always, sporty folks that like to combine social event with being active in nature. **Getting there by Train:** * To train station: Maarn https://maps.app.goo.gl/UkHaTRXZZW9zG3dn9 **Getting there by Car:** * Parking in the streets close to: Raadhuisplein 1, 3951 XT Maarn https://maps.app.goo.gl/WogeofsFNuDyBgrN9 **Note:** * Please **pay a small fee (3 euro)** to help us cover the (increased) yearly Meetup contribution of 240 euro. We'll ask you to pay before the start of the hike (can be on the day itself). No refunds, but in the unlikely event that hike would be cancelled and you already paid, you don't need to pay for your next hike. Thank you so much! Use the **safe link** here: https://betaalverzoek.rabobank.nl/betaalverzoek/?id=cqlYWv_MTpSjp2VkROXWhA * Keep in mind that the hike can be canceled when the weather is very bad (**always check the event before you go**). * If you RSVP 'yes' we expect you to show-up. Please do not cancel less than 24 hours before the hike. **No-shows** will lead to your removal from the group. Thanks for the understanding. * By signing up for this event, you agree to release the organizers from any responsibility and liability in all claims. As the participation is strictly voluntary and you freely choose to join, it is the responsibility of individuals participating to ensure that they are fit enough and have adequate coverage to protect themselves.

In this format, we discuss a quote of a well-known philosopher. A summary is provided below. Please take the time to read. The Moderator will introduce the topic, we will have an open discussion, and a final round when everyone gives their conclusions. Quote of this Session: Arthur Schopenhauer "The knowledge of death is the beginning of philosophy, for only through death does man become aware that his existence is not self-sufficient or ultimate, but dependent and passing. Without death, life would never become a problem for reflection.” “Death is not an accident that befalls life from outside, nor is it something added to life at the end; rather, it belongs to life itself, and life is so deeply interwoven with death that both are inseparable conditions of each other. What we call death is only the dissolution of an individual phenomenon, while the inner nature of life itself remains untouched by it.” About the author Arthur Schopenhauer was a 19th-century German philosopher known for developing a deeply influential system of metaphysical pessimism centered on the idea that reality is driven by a blind, irrational force he called the “Will,” which manifests in constant human desire and suffering. In his major work The World as Will and Representation, he argued that the world we experience is only a mental representation shaped by our perception, while the underlying reality is an endless, non-rational drive that can never be fully satisfied. He is important because he radically shifted philosophy toward questions of desire, suffering, and the limits of reason, strongly influencing Nietzsche, Freud, existentialists, and indirectly shaping modern understanding of motivation, dissatisfaction and striving. RULES Please be on time! Make sure you take time for finding the location. If something happens, please cancel as soon as possible. There are people on the waiting list. If you repeatedly sign up and don’t show up, expect to be moved to the waitlist next time. You may disagree with others, but please do so respectfully without personal attacks. Please keep your attendance to one event per week to ensure everyone has an opportunity to attend. This is a Philosophy event and this event's PRIMARY function is NOT focused on Self Help, Psychology or Theology. Though those topics can be a point of discussion from time to time. Please take that into consideration when signing up!

For our next hike we'll be following a beautiful 9.5km route starting at Soest-Zuid train station and ending at Amersfoort Central Station. On the way we'll pass by the Soesterduinen dunes and the Birkhoven forest. Will you join? Utrecht Hiking Community aims to organise one hike per month in the Utrecht Region. Anyone is welcome to join, no matter whether you're a beginner or an experienced hiker, a local or an expat, a professional or a student, as long as you bring a good mood. We are not about fast hiking, but about social hiking: being active, exploring places, meeting like-minded people and just generally having a fun walk. We'll be starting from Soest-Zuid train station at 10.30AM. This time we won't be following a circular route, which means we won't end at our starting point, but we'll end at Amersfoort Central Station instead. Those who want to return to Soest-Zuid station afterwards to get back to their car, can take bus 70 from Amersfoort, which is going every 15 minutes. Please try to arrive to Soest-Zuid on time. We'll start our hike at 10.30AM and won't let the whole group wait for you in case you're arriving later. Only in case the train scheduled to arrive at 10.24AM has some delay, we'll wait for that train to arrive. If you're arriving after we have departed, you can send a message on WhatsApp to +31621177691, so we can share our location with you and you can try to catch up with us. Soest-Zuid station has a toilet, but please don't count on it to work. When checking the route, it was closed. On the way there are no public toilets, so please use a restroom before you arrive. The route is going over both paved and unpaved roads and we'll even be walking through the sand of the Soesterduinen dunes for a bit (not for long, as it's harder to walk through the sand than on the paths). Please wear good shoes, bring something to drink for on the way and use SPF if it'll be a sunny day Dogs are allowed on the route, but need to be kept on a leash on parts of the route. After the walk, those who want can join for lunch/drinks in the center of Amersfoort. This is not directly next to Amersfoort Central Station, but at a distance of another 15-20 minutes of walking. Since we do make some costs while organising our hikes (MeetUp subscription, travel expenses), a small donation would be very much appreciated. You can do so by following this link: https://www.ing.nl/payreq/m/?trxid=s9tT34cUyD97YuSHhIYbTIqN4LfxLAn9 If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. See you on Saturday 9th of May at Soest-Zuid train station!

**Zondag 10 mei presenteert OPA een boekpresentatie voor Dingen doen denken, het nieuwe boek van auteur Jeroen van den Eijnde en ontwerper Jannie Guo.** Dingen doen denken bevat teksten die Van den Eijnde schreef tussen 1994 en 2025, van persoonlijke observaties tot bijdragen aan vak en publieksboeken over design en ontwerpend onderzoek. Kunstenaar en ontwerper Jannie Guo heeft het boek vormgegeven. Beiden verzorgen een presentatie met aandacht voor de teksten van Jeroen en het ontwerp van Jannie. Walter Jansen van Het Colofon gaat met hen in gesprek. Graag aanmelden via info@hetcolofon.nl met de vermelding van het aantal personen.

This is a public event. https://www.mamalouise.nl/stemmen/#meer Location: Amsterdam https://share.google/cwDD8kYtynE6gveog Please WhatsApp your meetup organisor Mari for your confirmation!

Join us for a relaxed and friendly matcha tasting meetup. I’ll bring matcha for everyone to try, and you’re welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks, including alcohol if you like. This is a casual event for meeting new people, enjoying Japanese tea culture, and spending a cozy afternoon together. Beginners are very welcome. Free to join.

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?

Main Library, Meeting Room 2B Join us for a welcoming evening of reflection, gentle music, and meaningful conversation. We’ll begin with a short grounding moment, followed by a brief reading from spiritual or philosophical traditions, and an open reflection circle where participants can share (or simply listen). Libera Animae is an interfaith community focused on inner growth, creativity, and authentic connection. All backgrounds are welcome.

Join me for a small, mindful photography walk in nature. (**NOTE Time is 9:00 AM EST(Meetup is having technical Issue))** This is a slow, intentional gathering — not focused on fitness or perfect photography — but on simply pausing, observing, and being present. We’ll walk at a gentle pace, with moments of quiet, and a few light prompts to help you notice details you might normally miss. 📷 You don’t need any photography experience — a phone camera is enough. This is also not a business networking event. It’s a calm space to connect with nature and, if it feels natural, with like-minded people. 🌿 What to expect: • A slow-paced, relaxed walk • Moments of silence and observation • Simple reflection prompts 📍 Location: [ Red Trabue Nature Preserve] ⏱ Duration: \~60 minutes This is a small, initial gathering as I begin creating this space through WellGratiVibes — a blend of mindfulness, nature, and quiet connection. If this resonates with you, you’re welcome to join.

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

Join us as we get together to see your choice of two VERY different movies – one sweet and wholesome – the other a terrifying folklore horror! Option 1 is the fun whodunnit-action-comedy-mystery led by Hugh Jackman, THE SHEEP DETECTIVES! Option 2 is the top-reviewed supernatural-horror-thriller starring Adam Scott, HOKUM! Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: THE SHEEP DETECTIVES: Every night a shepherd reads aloud a murder mystery, pretending his sheep can understand. When he is found dead, the sheep realize at once that it was a murder and think they know everything about how to go about solving it. The film is directed by Kyle Balda and take a look at this ensemble cast: Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau and Emma Thompson and the voices of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein and Rhys Darby. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyZI5oM6hWk HOKUM: In this film, a horror writer visits an Irish inn to scatter his parents' ashes, unaware the property is said to be haunted by a witch. It is written/directed by Damian McCarthy stars Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh and Austin Amelio. Hokum premiered to rave reviews at this year’s SXSW Festival and is being release by Neon. It is earning a stellar 97% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which calls it, “A classic haunted house story enriched with atmospheric folklore and perfectly-timed shocks!” TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVCIK_MPyhc PLAN: For those seeing HOKUM, please purchase your ticket for the 7:00pm showing and meet inside the theater lobby at 6:50pm! For those seeing THE SHEEP DETECTIVES, please purchase your ticket for the 7:15pm showing and meet inside the theater lobby at 7:00pm! For BOTH films, we’ll plan for a pre-show bite at nearby El Vaquero! For those joining for dinner, we’ll meet at El Vaquero at 5:45pm! Should be a couple of fun movies and a good time together, Dan