Do we really make choices or our behaviour is predetermined? The debate from antiquity to our days. From the ancient Greeks to the present-day, philosophers have debated whether we have the capacity to freely choose between possible alternatives paths or whether our apparent choices have already been determined long ago by our nature and upbringing. We’ll trace the long history of the debate and outline its present state today.

What is spirituality and how does it differ from religion and philosophy? An exploration of spirituality and the evolution of spiritual practices against the backdrop of the major philosophical and religious traditions in the West.

Daoism - Eastern Philosophy Series. Daoism is one of the great philosophical and religious traditions of China. Emphasizing balance, spontaneity, and action without intention, it is often contrasted with the rigid rituals and social order proposed by Confucianism. We'll explore the philosophical concept of the Dao and how it interacted with South Asian Buddhist ideas to give rise to a new and distinctive Buddhism in China.

Free Will and Determinism

Is the mindfulness movement misusing ancient wisdom and modern science in order to create a product of mass consumption? Is this approach leading us towards enlightenment or just promoting selfishness and complacency? This lecture will look at mindfulness from the perspectives of ancient Buddhism and the modern disciplines of evolutionary psychology and neuroscience. We will analyze the consequences of secularizing ancient spiritual practices disregarding all ethical teachings that emphasize the importance of compassion, generosity, kindness, and community building. We will also consider the commodification of this practice in the context of consumerism and whether corporate programs make us more likely to accept unreasonable workplace stress. The presentation ends around 9.00. The exchange of ideas usually continues until 10, or even later, while we share complimentary snacks and beverages. The venue is called “Centre Place” and is located at 320 Richmond St. E - Suite 101, Toronto, ON, M5A 1P9. We're on a commercial unit of "The Modern" condominium, at the NE corner of Sherbourne and Richmond. Our unit has its own entrance on Richmond, right next to McFarrens Ln. Above the main entrance there's a blue sign that says "Centre Place". (For directions lookup "Centre Place Toronto" on your phone). The venue is 100% accessible.

A romantic tragedy between two Medieval philosophers: his castration and her becoming a nun. FREE OPEN LECTURE Abelard and Heloise are among the great scholastic philosophers of the 12th century. Their affair led to their secret marriage, and ultimately his castration by her relatives. Nevertheless their letters have kept the romance alive for centuries, and his philosophical ideas helped change Western history. The presentation ends around 9.00. The exchange of ideas usually continues until 10, or even later, while we share complimentary snacks and beverages. The venue is called “Centre Place” and is located at 320 Richmond St. E - Suite 101, Toronto, ON, M5A 1P9. We're on a commercial unit of "The Modern" condominium, at the NE corner of Sherbourne and Richmond. Our unit has its own entrance on Richmond, right next to McFarrens Ln. Above the main entrance there's a blue sign that says "Centre Place". (For directions lookup "Centre Place Toronto" on your phone). The venue is 100% accessible.

The Invention of Nationalism - From the rise of identities based on language, religion, ethnicity, and race to the 20th century wars and genocides. This lecture and group discussion will explore the origins of Nationalism in the modern era; how this ideology artificially constructed group identity based on language, religion, ethnicity, and race and led to the devastating wars and genocides of the 20th centuries; how Nationalism contrasts with ancient kin group and homeland traditional identities; and why 18th century national identities clash in the 21st century global society. The presentation ends around 9.00. The exchange of ideas usually continues until 10, or even later, while we share complimentary snacks and beverages. The venue is called “Centre Place” and is located at 320 Richmond St. E - Suite 101, Toronto, ON, M5A 1P9. We're on a commercial unit of "The Modern" condominium, at the NE corner of Sherbourne and Richmond. Our unit has its own entrance on Richmond, right next to McFarrens Ln. Above the main entrance there's a blue sign that says "Centre Place". (For directions lookup "Centre Place Toronto" on your phone). The venue is 100% accessible.

What is history and how should we approach ancient stories written before its invention? Many stories in the Bible and other ancient works may look like history to us, but they were composed before history existed as an idea. What are the circumstances that led Herodotus and Thucydides to develop discipline of History in the Western tradition? What made their accounts of events different from all other ancient stories like those found in the Iliad or the Odyssey? How should modern readers approach the Bible and what value, if any, can we find in its non-historical narratives? The presentation ends around 9.00. The exchange of ideas usually continues until 10, or even later, while we share complimentary snacks and beverages. The venue is called “Centre Place” and is located at 320 Richmond St. E - Suite 101, Toronto, ON, M5A 1P9. We're on a commercial unit of "The Modern" condominium, at the NE corner of Sherbourne and Richmond. Our unit has its own entrance on Richmond, right next to McFarrens Ln. Above the main entrance there's a blue sign that says "Centre Place". (For directions lookup "Centre Place Toronto" on your phone). The venue is 100% accessible.

How maps both accidentally and deliberately shape our worldviews and opinions. From world maps where Greenland appears larger than Africa to historical maps that show European claims to the world but leave off its actual indigenous occupants, to Google Earth which shows different political boundaries to different users depending on what country they're in, maps distort our picture of the world around us. We'll look at how maps convey different worldviews both accidentally and deliberately.

Greco-Roman Stoicism

Plato's Cave

Philosophy Before Socrates