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
Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@existentialistsociety8453
Facebook: Please feel free to comment on the lectures: - www.facebook.com/Existentialist-Society-866984573402226/
Upcoming events
5
•OnlineDeleuze and Luhmann: Paradox, System and Psychoanalysis.
OnlineEXISTENTIALIST SOCIETY - Melbourne, Australia.
An online presentation, followed by discussion. All viewpoints welcome.
Dr. Timothy Deane-Freeman (Deakin University)
will present the topic and lead the discussion."Deleuze and Luhmann: Paradox, System and Psychoanalysis."
Wikipedia on: Deleuze - - Luhmann
The ZOOM LINK will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 845 5121 1909 - - Passcode: 838440Existentialist Society's Website - - - Youtube - - - Facebook
29 attendees
•OnlineThe Linguistic Origins of Terrestrial Legends and Celestial Myths.
OnlineAGNOSTICS GROUP - Melbourne, Australia.
Some of us are participating in their online event.
John Noack (Carl Jung Society) will present the topic and lead the discussion:
"THE LINGUISTIC ORIGINS OF TERRESTRIAL LEGENDS AND CELESTIAL MYTHS."
Wikipedia on Myth and Mythology
~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: 812 2168 5611 - - Passcode: 500656Existentialist Society's Website - - YouTube - - Weekly Zoom Meetups
15 attendees
•OnlineMaccabees and Messiahs.
OnlineEXISTENTIALIST MEETUP - Melbourne, Australia.
History of Religion - Our monthly online series.
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?"MACCABEES AND MESSIAHS"
The Maccabean revolt in 167 BC, and its subsequent Hasmonean Dynasty, eventually wrested independence for Judea from the Seleucid Empire. The Maccabees had gained almost everything land-wise that the Judean Messiah was meant to achieve. Nevertheless, the Maccabees weren't treated as Messiahs, and they didn't claim to be.
However, this led to the Judean concept of the Messiah expanding from parochial to international.
The eventual revolts by the Judeans against their Hasmonean Kings, and the consequent civil-wars between the Sadducees and Pharisees, caused both sides to appeal for support from the nearby conqueror of the Armenian Empire, the Roman General Pompey.
The Judeans gained Empire-wide notoriety because, despite the Roman conquest of Jerusalem, the Romans had failed to quell the internecine killings amongst the Judeans.However, for the Empire's slaves and lower-orders there was only one god who had promised to destroy their hated Evil Empire: the Judean God. But getting into an alliance with that God entailed converting to Judaism; which they didn't want to do (because of circumcision, etc). Luckily, Saint Paul offered them Jesus the Christ as the Judean Messiah. They leapt at the chance in their thousands. Christianity became political dynamite!
David Miller will present the topic and lead the discussion.
Background information for those interested:
Wikipedia's entry on the Maccabean RevoltThe Zoom Link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 835 6105 6590 - - Passcode: 078652Existentialist Society's Website - - - Youtube - - - Facebook
16 attendees
•OnlineThe God Who Doesn't Exist.
OnlineSEA OF FAITH IN AUSTRALIA (SoFiA) - Melbourne.
Some of us are participating in SoFiA's online event.
Fergus McGinley will present the topic and lead the discussion.
"The God Who Doesn't Exist."
Abstract: The amazing story of two Gods: one who doesn’t exist whom we created ourselves, and one who does exist whom we didn’t create.
The first of these gods is the familiar God of human history, the God or gods we believed in just about forever, then very recently dumped. An unpredictable and judgemental God who seemed occasionally to do right by us, but more often went AWOL just when we needed them the most. We lived in constant fear of offending them and were terrified that if we didn’t play our cards right in this life, they’d consign us to hell in a handcart in the next.Good riddance to the God who doesn’t exist! The God who exists, however, is a very different god to the one who doesn’t. Their primary quality seems to be something vastly more urgent for the human race than providing daily bread, saving us from enemies and forgiving our sins; it is selfless love teaching. Yes, the acquisition of the capacity for intentional selfless cooperation is a fundamental evolutionary imperative, essential for our survival and flourishing generally, especially critical right now when we seem to be on the brink of self-destruction.
But will we survive the latest threats of global warming, nuclear holocaust, pandemic, rising authoritarianism, uncontrolled development of AI? Will the selfless love-teaching God who exists ride to our rescue just in the nick of time? If you dare, come and find out.
The ZOOM LINK will eventually appear on this page for those who RSVP.
~ SoFiA promotes the open exploration of religion, spirituality and the search for meaning. They welcome ALL viewpoints, including Atheism.~
Facebook: 'Sofiatalk' - Please join their ongoing Facebook discussions.
15 attendees
Past events
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