A forum for philosophers, lovers of knowledge, critical thinkers, rhetoricians, truth seekers and otherwise who love to discuss, debate and engage in dialogue and discourse. Others don't know what you know - so be patient. You don't know what others know - so be humble.

Freethinkers are those that have the courage to question commonly held beliefs. Whether you call yourself a believer, non-believer, atheist, agnostic, philosopher, scientist, artist, seeker, or scholar you are welcome to join us. We hold monthly talks on a variety of topics including philosophy, belief, religion, history, science, psychology, literature, culture, the arts, and personal relationships. In addition, we participate in activities together such as hikes, movie nights, lectures, scienc …

Meet other local fans of author Ayn Rand and her philosophy of Objectivism -- a philosophy of Reason, Purpose and Self-Esteem that holds human life on this Earth as the standard of all values and *your* life as an end in itself.

NOTICE: October 2012: This group has relocated from New York to San Francisco. Prior meetings were held in NY but future meetings are being held now in SF. **** The purpose of this group is to read a philosophical text and then have some great, engaging, thought-provoking discussion about it in an appropriate public or private venue. Please also check out our sister group: SF Film & Philosophy, where we watch and discuss films in light of a text: http://www.meetup.com/cinephile/ **** "To philoso …

Q:  If you had to declare a manifesto for this group, what would it be? A: That philosophy is for everybody.  That, while it uses abstraction, its value rests on its concrete utility in everyday life.  For example, you don't have to know how to program a computer to benefit from one (though of course you can do more with it if you know how it works). Q:  I'm very busy ‐ what preparation is involved? A:  We do not assign reading, because we are interested in your original thinking.  As the the …

This group is an experiment, and partly a selfish one. I just finished grad school, moved out to the city, and finally have had some time to really explore what it is that I want out of life. And, shit! This stuff can be *difficult* to grapple with. For example, how do we achieve true happiness? What does "success" mean? What are the implications of mortality on daily life? Can we care more about the rest of the world than we currently do? Where the *hell* is Waldo? If you're in your twenties …

Poetry, short stories, plays, novels, history, philosophy, science, not necessarily in that order, classics that are worthy of discussion, current and past, western and non-western, these are the works we discuss. The discussion is what is most important. We discuss these works to enlarge our understanding of the ideas that shape our culture and gain a deeper appreciation for what it means to be human.

Welcome to Morehouse (Operated More University 1977-1997) "Fun is the goal; love is the way."  —Victor Baranco Inspired by its founder, Dr. Victor Baranco, and now by his widow, Dr. Cynthia Baranco, Morehouse has been a successful group living experiment for over 40 years. The cornerstone of our philosophy and life-style is the concept of perfection. Our working premise is that people and situations are right the way they are and include the potential for change. Our research, started by Vic B …

Poetry, short stories, plays, novels, history, philosophy, science, not necessarily in that order, classics that are worthy of discussion, current and past, western and non-western, these are the works we discuss. The discussion is what is most important. We discuss these works to enlarge our understanding of the ideas that shape our culture and gain a deeper appreciation for what it means to be human.

This is a once a month non-fiction book club that covers all areas of science, natural history, and non-religious based philosophy and morality. This club is for those who have read or are interested in reading books by authors like Carl Sagan, John McPhee, Richard Dawkins, Bill Bryson, Sam Harris and more. The club will meet in downtown Los Gatos once a month (probably at a coffee shop), and meetings will be casual. If you have any interest in the natural sciences (astronomy, geology, biology), …

Poetry, short stories, plays, novels, history, philosophy, science, not necessarily in that order, classics that are worthy of discussion, current and past, western and non-western, these are the works we discuss. The discussion is what is most important. We discuss these works to enlarge our understanding of the ideas that shape our culture and gain a deeper appreciation for what it means to be human.

The Honorable Order of American Co-Masonry is a fraternity including men and women of every race, nationality and religion. Wishing to do away with all cause for division and strife, it continually seeks the means which to help all human beings to unite and work together for the perfection of Humanity. This discussion group meets monthly to discuss subjects important to humanity. From philosophy and religion to science, history and politics, this group ponders any subject which helps us to bett …

We are a group of students and professionals in the Bay Area, interested in exploring Gurbani and improving our lives for the better. {Typically every friday night 7:30 pm. Yes this is our idea of a night life ... btw some of the hang outs blend into movie nights. Though that is not the norm.} The best part about the weekly meetups is the awesome food the host prepares ( and yes one of the turns will be you too. Join at your own risk :) ) BTW in order to join all u need to bring is an attitude …

The Bay Area Open Sangha exists to allow people to practice and study the Buddhadharma, the teachings of the Buddha, without concern for sectarianism or the historical lines between traditions of Buddhism. This is not to say that these lines are ignored and traditions are mixed without reflection or regard to their conflicts. The Buddha taught many ways to practice the Dharma and his teachings have come down over two and half thousand years to this day. Many of the differences in doctrine and pr …

Do you want to feel good and improve the quality of your life, meeting likeminded people in the process? Do you enjoy reading books about Mind, Body and Spirit? Would you like to empower yourself with a proven, practical approach to life? Whether you're a beginner or have more experience with the Law of Attraction philosophy, the Law of Attraction Centre is perfect for you. The Law of Attraction Centre, first established in London, UK in 2003, is the largest and most talked about Law of Attracti …

This groups talks the importance of each and every culture in the world and unifies the differences that make us separate as people. We go into African, American, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Hmong, Taiwanese, Laotian, Siamese, Native American, Latino, Hispanic, Aztec, Mayan, Spanish, Indian, Hawaiian, European and Filipino cultures. We teach the importance of each and every culture and what they have done in society. We teach why it’s important to knows these cultures. A lot of cultures in th …

The purpose of this meet-up group is to take a step out of the modern world, our modern stresses and to get out in nature's finest. This could be backpacking, hiking, camping, and the occasional happy hours as well as other various random activities we can come up with. This is low pressure discussion based group, meaning the intent is chill and easy going, collaborative and will grow organically. Discussion topics could include anything of interest (from philosophy, literature, to the cosmos an …

What is a philosovert you ask ? It's a person who on one hand lives on the more introverted side but on the other still loves to discuss all kinds of topics with other folks. I have found that introverts more often than not have strong opinions about stuff but don't necessarily share them because they feel overwhelmed by "extrovies". I personally have a hard time discussing boring things like sports or cars since I simply cannot contribute anything. Yes, I'm that guy who brings up that one topic …

This is a group for those in the Sacramento area who like to discuss politics and philosophy. We have all had different experiences in life, but we always find that political issues are very relevant to our lives and we want to discuss these issues with others. These days, political discussions are sometimes constructive, but unfortunately they often become hostile when people with differing views are in the same room. It is important for us all to hear views other than our own from time to time …

Studying and sharing the philosophies of Buddhism and Recovery

Napa can be a wonderful place to live. It's weather is perfect to a fault (there are no seasons!), which means you can do just about anything you want that doesn't involve snow. Unfortunately, many activities in Napa do involve either fancy -and expensive- dining and/or alcohol. The purpose of this group is to allow those of us who are in the beginning stages of life --either new family, new career and/or new business-- to get out and socialize or be active without spending so much. This group i …

(1 minute video) This group is for people who value and enjoy deeper discussions with amazing people and who are also willing to rise to the occasion by joining us to help make these discussion opportunities an ongoing reality. The events held in this group are all about having fun nights of great people and 'deeper' discussions over dinner in a charming restaurant. This Meetup group was created by Glen Brauer as part of a non-profit global initiative using practical philosophy to bring togeth …

(1 minute video) This group is for people who value and enjoy deeper discussions with amazing people and who are also willing to rise to the occasion by joining us to help make these discussion opportunities an ongoing reality. The events held in this group are all about having fun nights of great people and 'deeper' discussions over dinner in a charming restaurant. This Meetup group was created by Glen Brauer as part of a non-profit global initiative using practical philosophy to bring togeth …

An informal conversational venue for those with an interest in Lacan that wish to be introduced to basic terms as well as those wishing to get a better grasp on Lacan through a variety of different disciplines. This meet up offers some structure in reviewing the actual writings of Lacan in order to ground these concepts in Lacan's project; a return to the Freudian nconscious. There is room to play with contemporary translations of Lacan to deal with our current political issues through Zizek and …

Desi Rationalists This is a group on rationality and how we incorporate it in our day to day lives as well as in our thinking. WHY DESI (Indian, (also includes-) of Indian origin)? Higher chances meeting people with similar experiences as yourself, Cultural relatability, Easy to organize discussions concerning India, and another parameter to restrict the size of this group if it ever grows big:)- This group will be suitable to you - - If you are either Indian or have Indian roots that have had a …

This group is to interest and introduce you to Breema's philosophy and practice. Breema® is a simple, natural form of touch and body movement supported by universal principles. The aim of Breema is to bring us to a tangible experience of presence that becomes our foundation for a new dimension of health, consciousness, and self-understanding. Breema provides a unique approach to experiencing body-mind connection. It offers a profound understanding of the underlying unity of all life that is expr …

The philosophical café movement began in Paris and has spread rapidly throughout Europe. Its purpose is to create an ongoing public solon in a friendly place where people can gather to carry on relaxed conversation and discuss important ideas. Topics for discussion will be chosen by the participants with a moderator present to direct traffic and insure that all present have an opportunity to take part in the dialogue. For the time being your moderators will be Sam Keen –a freelance philosopher—a …

Poetry, short stories, plays, novels, history, philosophy, science, not necessarily in that order, classics that are worthy of discussion, current and past, western and non-western, these are the works we discuss. The discussion is what is most important. We discuss these works to enlarge our understanding of the ideas that shape our culture and gain a deeper appreciation for what it means to be human.