Cafe Philo w/ Andrew Taggart

Friendship

What is the nature of friendship, and why do we value it so much? Are friendships just a matter of convenience (a way of passing the time), are they merely useful connections we make in hopes of getting ahead (a way station through which we pass on the road to success), or are they intimate bonds that bring out our better natures (meaningful attachments without which we wouldn’t be who we are)? Friendships seem to say as much about us as they do about our world. What exactly they say will be the topic of the next Café Philo event to be held on March 3. Please join us. 

FAQs

1. What is Café Philo? 

Café Philo is a public forum where citizens discuss matters of ultimate importance.

2. Do I need to do anything beforehand? 

No, just come prepared to discuss philosophical ideas. Also, you don’t need to have a background in philosophy, and you shouldn’t be concerned that things will go over your head. As a moderator, I’ll make sure that the discourse remains informal and conversational.

3. How about suggesting a few things I could read about friendship before the March 3 event? 

Sure thing. I’ve included a few items below.

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Books 8 and 9

Todd May, “Friendship in an Age of Economics,” New York Times blog

Future Events
Justice Community Nihilism Education Others...

Andrew Taggart is an ethicist, educational consultant, and philosophical counselor living in Brooklyn. In 2009, he finished a Ph.D. in literature and philosophy. He recently completed an introduction to the works of Jane Austen and is now writing a book on philosophy as a way of life. You can read his blogs and peruse his essays at andrewjtaggart.com.