Les Philosophes - Explore Ideas with Les Philosophes

Community Day

Seen afar is the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is a Conservative Jewish education organization in New York City, New York. It is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism and a center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies. The Jewish Theological Seminary Library is one of the most significant collections of Judaica in the world.

Join Les Philosophes to delve into thought-provoking discussions through our Philosophy Book Club. Connect with fellow thinkers and expand your worldview in an engaging, welcoming environment. Discover the power of philosophy to enrich your everyday life.Please note that this is just a temporary website to share basic information about our book club. We will continue to use WhatsApp group for any day-to-day communications. We plan to update this site in next few days based on feedback from club members.We welcome anyone with an interest in philosophy, preferably those who have completed the introductory course at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://philosophyworks.org/">the School of Practical Philosophy &amp; Meditation</a>.Our book club selects each book by vote, and members are encouraged to share any passages from the selected book that inspire or resonate with them, connecting them to:<ul><li>insights discovered within the passages,</li><li>meaningful lessons from the School of Practical Philosophy &amp; Meditation classes, and</li><li>personal experiences that bring the Stoic ideas to life.</li></ul>

Explore Ideas with Les Philosophes

We are currently reading All About Love: New Visions by bell hooksIf you want the full context, feel free to review the previous chapters, but if you don't have time to read, still come by — it'll be a fruitful conversation.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17607.All_About_Love">Good Reads Profile</a>

Here are books read by our book club. Click in the book image for corresponding goodreads book reviews.

Previously Read Books

<ol><li>Who can join the Philosophy Book Club? Is the club suitable for beginners in philosophy? The club welcomes anyone with an interest in philosophy including beginners, preferably those who have completed the introductory course at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://philosophyworks.org/">the School of Practical Philosophy &amp; Meditation</a>. We provide a supportive environment to learn and explore philosophy.</li><li>Are the discussions led by a moderator?Yes, each meeting is facilitated by one or two moderators to ensure engaging and respectful discussions.</li><li>Do I need to read the entire book before attending a meeting? We strongly encourage reading the book in its entirety. This allows us to ground our discussions in the actual ideas of the text, complemented by reflections on personal experience rather than informal opinion alone.</li><li>What do I need to bring to a book club meeting?&nbsp; Members should bring a copy of the selected book in their preferred format to refer to specific passages or arguments during the discussion.</li><li>How are the books selected for discussion? Can I suggest one? Books are chosen by member vote to ensure a diverse range of topics. We absolutely encourage you to submit titles for the community to consider!</li><li>Where and when do we meet?&nbsp; Weekly, typically on Wednesdays. Primary Location: 3rd-floor cafeteria, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2675">Barnes &amp; Noble, Union Square </a>Secondary Location: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pier57nyc.com/">Pier 57</a>&nbsp; All updates on times and location are shared via our WhatsApp group.</li><li>Can I attend a meeting without committing to full attendance? While no commitment is necessary, we request members to inform their attendance in advance so that we can plan for meeting logistics including any changes to meeting location.</li><li>Is there a membership fee? There is no membership fee for joining the club.</li></ol>

Enhance your understanding and expression of philosophy through guided reading and writing workshops.

Workshop session, writing on paper, ideation, and self-assessment.

Reading and Writing Workshops

Experience curated film screenings that explore philosophical ideas, followed by group discussions.

Philosophy Film Nights

Engage in deep discussions centered around a new philosophical theme or book each month, guided by expert facilitators.

Monthly Themed Discussions

Attend special sessions featuring guest philosophers who share insights and lead interactive Q&A sessions.

The statue of Gáspár Károli the 16th century Hungarian Bible translator.

Guest Philosopher Talks

Participate in live online seminars that explore various philosophical topics, accessible from anywhere.

Online Philosophy Seminars

Self-Reliance is an essay written by American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. Check out these links and share any feedback with Grace when you meet her next time.<ul><li>Read the full essay - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://emersoncentral.com/ebook/Self-Reliance.pdf">https://emersoncentral.com/ebook/Self-Reliance.pdf</a></li><li>Watch a short video on Ralph Waldo Emerson from The School of Life - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/EOkdFMw0pmk">https://youtu.be/EOkdFMw0pmk</a></li><li>Check out key point summary - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://emersoncentral.com/texts/essays-first-series/self-reliance/">https://emersoncentral.com/texts/essays-first-series/self-reliance/</a></li><li>Read or download all essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson for free <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16643">https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16643</a> </li></ul>

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Reference Materials

Let us explore ideas, ignite minds, transform lives with philosophy.

If you are interested, please contact us with your questions or comments.

Wisdom Gallery

This photo is of the book “101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think” by Brianna Wiest.

rezitiert aus: Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich (1999). Hauptwerke in sechs Bänden. Band 3: Wissenschaft der Logik, Sonderausgabe auf der Grundlage der historisch-kritischen Gesamtausgabe der GW. Hamburg: Meiner, S. 68.

many thanks Chelsea https://unsplash.com/@chelseadeeyo and Grant Durr https://unsplash.com/@blizzard88 for theirs beautiful  photos 

Street bookstall selling popular novels and bottled drinks in Indonesia

The Les Philosophes Community Day held on April 25, 2026, titled “What Lies Within Us All,” featured an intimate conversation with Grace Pagano and a group discussion centered on the philosophical foundations of justice and the soul. The event focused on three primary themes from Plato’s Republic.Here are materials from the discussion.<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-VtmfxNF205rPwOgfXyFYckgOVtrTBUk/view?usp=share_link">“What Lies Within Us All" Presentation Deck</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bB_XAYghDvYI3_9u7bdcGEQxjdY-ab0w/view?usp=share_link">One Pager on Conversation with Grace &amp; Group Discussion</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://users.manchester.edu/Facstaff/SSNaragon/Online/texts/316/Epictetus,%20Enchiridion.pdf">The Enchiridion or Handbook of Epictetus</a></li></ul>

4/25/2026 - What Lies Within Us All