What we’re about
The Existentialist Society is for those who question whether life has a meaning and a purpose. And for those who despairingly ponder whether one can live without self-deception or without hedonistic escapism. Yet who, despite the anguish of life's futility and meaninglessness, still seek purpose and an authentic existence.
The Existentialist Society is for those who are fascinated by the ideas of Simone de Beauvoir, Nicholas Berdyaev, Martin Buber, Rudolph Bultmann, Albert Camus, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Viktor Frankl, Martin Heidegger, Karl Jaspers, Franz Kafka, Nikos Kazantzakis, Soren Kierkegaard, R.D. Laing, Gabriel Marcel, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, Max Stirner, Paul Tillich, Colin Wilson, etc.
'Existentialism' is an umbrella term covering diverse and often conflicting schools of thought. Consequently we are not agreed on who or what is an Existentialist; we simply agree to disagree.
Inspired by the Student Revolt of the late Sixties, the Existentialist Society commenced in 1971.
LECTURES take place at 2pm on the first Saturday of the month.
All are welcome. Participation is free.
NOTE: Due to the pandemic, our physical in-person Meetups and lectures were cancelled. All the lectures are now online via Zoom. This enables participation by those interstate and overseas.
Following our monthly lecture, during the extended question and discussion period, additional comments are encouraged from those of our participants who might have more knowledge than the speaker on particular aspects of the topic, as well as from those who have an alternative viewpoint.
Sometimes our lecture topics have no direct bearing upon Existentialism. The speakers on such topics may or may not be conversant with Existentialism.
The Existentialist Society has no formal membership, so there is no membership fee.
See the Existentialist Society website for future lectures, past transcripts and videos etc: www.existentialistmelbourne.org
Facebook: Please feel free to comment on the lectures: - www.facebook.com/Existentialist-Society-866984573402226/
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Love, Castration and Necessity: Philosophy and Letters of Heloise and AbelardLink visible for attendees
EXISTENTIALIST SOCIETY - Melbourne, Australia.
An online presentation, followed by discussion. All viewpoints welcome.
Jon Rubin will present the topic and lead the discussion.
In the year 1115 Abelard met Heloise, who was living with her uncle, Fulbert at the Îls de Cité. At this point, she was likely in her early twenties, and Abelard decided to seduce her, offering her uncle to tutor her.
At this point, she was known to be a brilliant scholar and well-versed in Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He, on the other hand, was 37 years old and in his prime as a teacher of philosophy and theology.
Abelard and Heloise loved each other. Their love affair, though, was so much more than just an act of carnal lust. It was also a relationship filled with charity and friendship.
By delving into their love story, we may learn of a faraway world.Wikipedia on Heloise and Abelard
The Zoom Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 848 6146 4837 - - Passcode: 562369 - A Critique of Richard Carrier's Metaphysical NaturalismLink visible for attendees
AGNOSTICS GROUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Some of us are participating in their online event.
Dr. Steve Parker will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Wikipedia's entry on Richard Carrier
~The Agnostics Group discusses the pros and cons of Agnosticism.
They welcome ALL viewpoints, including criticism of Agnosticism~Agnostics Group Facebook
The ZOOM Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 862 5604 2895 - - Passcode: 080989 - The Ancient Manichaean ReligionLink visible for attendees
EXISTENTIALIST MEETUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Our monthly online Meetup presentation on the History of Religion.
The presentations are followed by questions, comments and discussion.
All viewpoints welcome.Early Religion: An Alternative History.
What do the historians and archaeologists think of the veracity of religious legends? Legends are an amalgamation of history and mythology. But how much of each?"THE ANCIENT MANICHAEAN RELIGION."
In the Manichaean religion "Evil" had the overwhelming power. Nevertheless, Goodness was treasured by the Manichaeans as love, compassion, kindness and gentleness. Consequently, "power" itself was seen as evil.
Therefore the Manichaeans viewed the all-powerful gods (Almighty, Omnipotent) as the embodiment of Evil. No wonder the Empires hated them.We will be investigating Prof. Hans Jonas' attempt to construct a consistent ongoing narrative of the Manichaean religion's intricate mythological story out of the diverse versions of this "heresy" which were presented in the anti-heretical writings of the Church Fathers, as well as in other sources.
Hans Jonas' book: "The Gnostic Religion: The Message of the Alien God and the Beginnings of Christianity".
David Miller will present the topic and lead the discussion.
See his introduction to the topic in the 'Comments' section, below.Wikipedia's entry on Manichaeism
The Zoom link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 896 3835 4064 - - Passcode: 249548 - The Levels of Truth in Religion.Link visible for attendees
SEA OF FAITH IN AUSTRALIA (SoFiA) - Melbourne.
Some of us are participating in SoFiA's online event.
John Noack (Carl Jung Society) will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Three Ideological/Theological Perspectives:
Don Cupitt expressed his interest in the insights of the Psycho-therapist Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961). Citizens of our current rational, post-Enlightenment and Science-oriented 21stcentury appear to have formed themselves roughly into three intellectual camps, with differing philosophical and ideological perspectives and spiritual approaches to life:
(1).. The Freethinkers have continued the Enlightenment’s stress on rational, logical, empirical and evidence-based thinking. They treat as being inferior or of less importance, the more subjective and ethological features. These include and involve {1}the establishing of ethical principles and practices in the quest for distinguishing what is “good or bad” or “right” and “wrong” and {2} the forming of aesthetical assessments and judgements in the quest for what is “beautiful” or “ugly”.
(2) The Fulfilment-seekers accept the reality of both the outer objective physical and scientifically-empirical realm in the Universe and also the real experiences in the inner psychical and spiritually-practised realm of both the personal conscious and the collective and archetypal un-conscious levels within all human psyches. Their task involves the integration of these various levels of consciousness and to achieve a bio-psycho-socio-cosmic Wholeness or the “True Self”.
(3) The Fundamentalists have mostly been indoctrinated and exposed to the doctrines, world-views and theological perspectives of various pre-enlightenment Religions and their Sacred Scriptures. They therefore seek to maintain their acceptance of such doctrines as {1} the existence of an all-powerful, all-knowing, conscious, human-like, heavenly Supreme Being; {2} the infallibility and inerrancy of their Holy Book, as revealed to them by their God, through angels or human prophets; and {3} the supernatural events as revealed, including the miraculous Creation of the Universe, a Global Flood, a parting of the Red Sea; a Virgin Birth; and many others.Don Cupitt tended to promote the need for both “freedom of intellectual thought” and for “integrated psychical fulfilment”.
Wikipedia on Don Cupitt
The ZOOM LINK will appear on this page for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 842 6462 0479 - - Passcode: 348323SoFiA promotes the open exploration of religion, spirituality and the search for meaning. They welcome ALL viewpoints, including Atheism.
Facebook: 'Sofiatalk' - Please join their ongoing discussions.
