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.
]]>w/ Andrew Taggart, Ph.D.
"The Art of Consolation"
When you hear the word "philosophy," what comes to mind? Doubting everything? Useless exchanges that seem to go nowhere? Theoretical investigations of topics divorced from the business of everyday life? These ideas have been around for ages, but the one that Romans and Greeks found most appealing is also the one that’s long been out of circulation. It’s that philosophy is an art of consolation. In the 6th C. AD, Boethius sat down to write his Consolation of Philosophy after he’d been charged with treason and put in prison. He was hoping that writing the book would bring him peace of mind. On February 2, we’ll be discussing how philosophy can make us feel better. You can learn more about Andrew at andrewjtaggart.com.
Wed., February 2, 6 to 8 pm.
CAFÉ REGULAR du NORD
158 Berkeley Pl. 718-783-0673
Please reply to contact@caferegular.com
Seating is limited
]]>with Donna Minkowitz
(Ferocious Romance, NYT Book Review)
Tuesdays, Jan. 18 - Mar. 15, 7-9 PM
@Cafe Regular
318A 11th Street
Extensive Feedback, Small Class Size, Supportive Atmosphere, Focus on Craft
$300 for 8 Weeks
Registration/More Info: minkowitz@earthlink.net 917-586-5298
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