Welcome to Philosofarian!
(we’re glad you found us)
Most people hear "philosophy" and assume they need the vocabulary, the reading list, the confidence. None of that applies here. The thinking you’re doing right now is already worth something.
What catches most first-timers off guard is there's no right answer…and that feels good. Everything we do together will leave you with more questions. More wonder
Philosofarian runs three kinds of events, and they're different enough that people often find one is their favorite “flavor.”
Wit & Wisdom is a monthly public talk. A philosopher builds a perspective on a real question, presents it at Fort George Brewery to whoever shows up, and then opens the floor for Q&A. There’s usually 15-20 minutes for the formal session questions and then we invite anyone who’s interested to continue chatting informally.
Scoundrels is a weekly small-group discussion guided by a philosopher. There’s a short kickoff unpacking a question that can be taken in a variety of directions. And then the conversation begins following the wondering of the group. The philosopher manages the flow of the conversation and brings up relevant philosophy nuggets and frames that help the conversation.
Classes: multi-session courses, usually two hours long. One hour of teaching and one hour talking through the content. There’s no reading or writing required, but they are rigorous. Classes are held in community spaces around Astoria, for people who want to go deeper into a subject over time.
Different formats, different paces, different venues. The same underlying premise: philosophy belongs to everyone in the room and everyone in the room belongs.
Philosofarian is a place to think with people. We like to think about big ideas, little ideas, and all of the nuances. And we like to think with each other. We use philosophy as a tool for thinking through ideas. We believe that when we think together and connect we can build a community that is resilient and ready to build together.
David
“I thought I was gonna solve it. I came with a notebook to get it done. I had no idea what philosophy was.”
