Events

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Melbourne
16
July
7:30PM

What are friends for?

What is the nature of friendship? What is its purpose and what does it require? And why do humans have friends in the first place?

Past Events

2025

London
12
June

Are our minds wild enough?

In a world on fire with environmental change it’s time to update our ideas about humans and nature
New York
29
May

The wisdom of history

By confronting our past and reflecting upon its lessons we can better navigate the dangerous waters ahead
London
30
April

Feminist futures

Bodies, minds and machines for the humans of tomorrow
Melbourne
19
March

The limits of civility

In a highly polarised world, when should we talk it over, and when should we fight?
New York
13
February

How to live well in a slippery world

For Aztec thinkers, the good life meant navigating a precarious path above a terrifying abyss

2024

London
27
November

Listening to the language of the brain

The chatter of individual neurons shapes all aspects of our mental universe. Can we understand what they’re telling us?
London
17
October

How to be long-minded

A flourishing future for humanity and nature rests on our ability to reimagine time
Melbourne
21
August

Free your attention

It’s hard to live a philosophical life when your mind is not your own. Can meditation help?
Melbourne
19
June

What’s wrong with death

Have we forgotten how to die well? Could we grieve better? Can philosophy help?
New York
29
May

Insight or illusion?

Psychedelic insights have a curious sense of authority, but the feeling of knowing doesn’t mean they’re true
London
11
April

Friends, foes and family

Can evolution solve the puzzle of being human?
Melbourne
28
February

The philosophy you already have

Liberalism is not just a rational political philosophy but the basis of a truly meaningful life

2023

London
03
December

The open Universe

Rethinking quantum cosmology, the nature of time and the origins of reality
Melbourne
01
November

Does play make us human?

Delve into ritual, play and the imagination with archaeologist Michelle Langley, professor of education Marilyn Fleer and musician Genevieve Lacey
London
19
September

Can we imagine power without violence?

On the political philosophy of Hannah Arendt in the 21st century, featuring Lyndsey Stonebridge and Syrian musician Lynn Adib
Melbourne
10
August

Sagas of the Icelanders

Delve into themes of love, honour, exile and magic with writer and scholar Kári Gíslason, actor Eloïse Mignon, and musicians Erkki Veltheim and Aviva Endean
New York
13
July

Africana philosophy

Encounter this liberatory emerging philosophical field with philosopher Lewis Gordon and musician Moor Mother
London
08
June

Survival at the edge

Find out what drives people to the depths and edges of the known world, and how they survive it, with psychologist Emma Barrett and drummer/composer Charles Hayward
Melbourne
10
May

The meaning of time

An evening of metaphysical exploration with philosopher Kristie Miller, musician James Rushford and dancer/choreographer Lilian Steiner
New York
20
April

Love, sex and existentialism

An evening exploring the romantic and carnal side of life through a trio of European existentialists, guided by the philosopher Skye Cleary and the musician Darian Donovan Thomas
Melbourne
23
February

Is philosophy a way of life?

Philosopher Margaret Cameron with jazz great Paul Grabowsky, explore ancient ideas and contemporary ethics
New York
25
January

Is the Universe made of math?

Science writer and artist Margaret Wertheim, along with jazz pianist Dan Tepfer, explore the nature of reality

2022

London
05
December

Goddess

A poetic evening invoking Athena, Artemis and Aphrodite, with classicist Edith Hall, actor Corinne Jaber and musician Leo Abrahams
Melbourne
10
November

Bring your self to mind

Come and explore the frontiers of consciousness with philosopher Jakob Hohwy, percussionist Maria Moles, and Tibetan composer/performer Tenzin Choegyal
New York
12
July

Speaking across the divide

Exploring communication across cultures with translator Esther Allen, maqam singer Hamid Al-Saadi and trumpeter Amir ElSaffar
Melbourne
16
June

Beauty and the good life

Philosopher Tom Cochrane and singer-songwriter Lior explore the value of beauty and other aesthetic experiences
New York
14
June

What work is

Anthropologist Manvir Singh and dancer-choreographers Molly Lieber and Eleanor Smith ask whether work is a universal human experience
Melbourne
19
May

From Deep Time to the Deep Future

Geographer and Wiradjuri man Michael-Shawn Fletcher, with sound artist Ros Bandt and Djirri Djirri on ecological knowledge and ethics
London
17
May

Taking cosmopolitanism seriously

Author and political theorist Lea Ypi, filmmaker Katie Barlow, and musician and composer Joseph Tawadros on urgent questions of justice in our interconnected world
New York
10
May

Where mysticism went

Composer John Zorn, the JACK Quartet and vocalist Helga Davis join philosopher Simon Critchley in search of contemporary transcendence
London
26
April

Listen to your body

Neuroscientist Sarah Garfinkel and musicians Sebastian Rochford and Kit Downes unveil the hidden sense of interoception
Melbourne
07
April

Waking mind, dreaming mind

Delve into states of consciousness with philosopher Jennifer Windt, and musicians Mindy Meng Wang and Samuel Pankhurst

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The Sophia Club is a new venture from Aeon Media, the publisher of Aeon and Psyche magazines.

Aeon is based in Melbourne, Australia and we respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our Melbourne events take place, the Wurundjeri people of the Woiworung language group of the Kulin Nation.

We value the knowledge traditions and rich practice of philosophy among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia, and all First Nations peoples around the world.

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