NYC Philosophy and Psychology Readers Community Φ Ψ

The question of the meaning of life has boggled humanity for perhaps as long as we have had the ability to communicate. Of course, we can always take a blind leap of faith across the abyss into just choosing a meaning to our lives among the many dogmatic options which humanity presents to us. But what if we are unable to delude ourselves into believing that which we attempt to have faith in? If we cannot muster the clay to build the necessary cognitive dissidence then how do we deal with the problem of meaning? It is this paradox and the anxiety it produces which Camus wrestles with in his philosophy of Absurdism. The absurd is the realization that there is no ultimate meaning to life and yet we all take life so seriously everyday and seem to produce some type of meaning for ourselves nonetheless. After tackling two of Camus' novels, The Stranger and The Fall, we now tackle an essay which more directly discussed Camus' philosophy. Join us as we discuss this work together and grapple with the paradox of the human condition.

Participants should read the entire reading before attending this in person meeting. I will be reading from this version here and a free copy can be found here. We will read the entire book for this week (p. 3-123).

For questions please send me a message or post to meetup.

Best,

Brian

Robert Putnam’s groundbreaking work shows how social bonds are the most powerful predictor of life satisfaction, how the loss of social capital poses a serious threat to our civic and personal health, and how these consequences have a new resonance for our divided country today.
While the ways in which we connect have changed over the decades, his central argument remains as powerful and urgent as ever—mending our frayed social capital is key to preserving the very fabric of our society.

Bowling Alone was also the basis for the 2023 Netflix Documentary "Join, or Die."
Check out the documentary for more info or watch the trailer here

Join us to discuss this classic book over the course of 5-weeks!
Week 1 Sat 11/22 12:30pm-2:30pm The Oyster Room @ Pier 57
Week 2 Sat 11/29 12:30pm-2:30pm The Oyster Room @ Pier 57
Week 3 Sat 12/6 12:30pm-2:30pm The Oyster Room @ Pier 57
Week 4 Sat 12/13 12:30pm-2:30pm The Oyster Room @ Pier 57
Week 5 Sat 12/20 12:30pm-2:30pm The Oyster Room @ Pier 57

Reading for Week 4
Read all of Section 4
ie. Ch.16 thru Ch.22 (76 pgs)

I will be reading the paperback Revised & Updated Edition available here
free pdf download here*click on the first slow download option
(other formats available too —epub & mobi for kindle—just search in search bar)
*Note About the Reading*
I know the assigned reading is quite long, but fear not...

• A lot of the pages in this book are graphs and charts, so its not as much reading as it seems
• Also, the reading should be fairly easy compared to what we usually read with this group, since it is not a philosophical text.
• Rules for Our Group

1. Be Courteous
Respectful disagreement with others is totally acceptable. Condescending behavior is not.
2. Be Concise
Keep comments on topic and relatively brief.
Moderators will do their best to make sure everyone gets a chance to speak who wants to.
3. Do the Reading
If you have not done the reading for the week you are welcome to attend and listen to the discussion, but out of respect for those who have read, you will not be permitted to participate in the discussion.

For more info and FAQ on the group click here.

Can't wait to discuss these ideas with all of you!
-Zach

Alright folks.

This will be the second edition in our exploration of Oswald Spengler and his 1918 text The Decline of the West: Form & Actuality. On a gloomy December Sunday, we will ask questions such as What is History? What is Nature? What is Number, what is Law, what is Progress, Extension, Distance, Destiny? The Thing-Become opposed to the Thing-Becoming? I dunno x10. But we're sure as hell gonna figure it out together.

For this session, we will be reading and discussing Chapter IV: The Problem of World History (II) and Chapter V: Makrokosmos (I). If you're reading the Arktos edition (which I recommend everyone do), this will be around 88 pages. This will be a lighter reading, as I know things get busier and time becomes speedier around the holidays.

Here are two free PDF versions of the text: One aaaaaaand Two.
All are the same translation from Charles Francis Atkinson so ultimately, it does not matter. Work with whatever works with you.

As always, if you're unable to complete the reading prior to our meeting, no worries - it's dense and semi-lengthy so we're just happy to have you and welcome whatever insights, critiques, questions, etc. you may have based on what you were able to read.

We will be meeting in the Ace Hotel lobby on W 29th. There is coffee, breakfast, and booze. Message me the day of if you can't find us. We usually sit toward the back of the lobby next to the bar.

As always, this group is open to newcomers to Spengler, novices of philosophy, history, aesthetics, etc., ragamuffins, ne'er-do-wells, urchins of all sorts, etc. All insights are encouraged, just be somewhat sensible and all the way cool. Ain't no fun to be found in nodding your head along with a thinker for a hundred pages - strive to disagree, with decency.

Alright, looking forward to it - again, reach out to me with any questions or concerns in the meantime.

Looking forward,

Hamp

Join us for weekly discussions of Aristotle's incredibly influential musings on substance, causation, hylomorphism, and other fun abstractions.

Reading for this meeting: Books II (little alpha) and III (Beta)

I'll be reading the 1999 translation by Joe Sachs. Feel free to use any translation or edition—comparing differing translations can help with getting a feel for the meanings of terms in the original Greek. There are several versions for free online, including this one.

We'll be meeting at Farm.One, which a brewery and indoor farm in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

This event is free, but we're still sort of socially obligated to purchase something (need not be alcohol), and Farm.One is a cool place that we should support! The space is also a quiet cafe between 10am and 12pm, so get there early if you prefer coffee to beer (and maybe to finish up the reading)!