Few names ring as synonymously with wisdom on the internet as Derek Sivers'. A generation of readers have learned based on his notes and advice how to think more simply and deeply about life, how to live more creatively, and how to reach one's full potential. Originally a musician and media technologist, these days Derek's main focus is on sharing his life experience with others, and on parenting. Join us for this online gathering with Derek to celebrate and discuss his new book <a href="https://sive.rs/u" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Useful Not True</a>. See you there!<h3>Want to attend for free? <a href="http://interintellect.com/join" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Become a member!&nbsp;</a></h3>

Few names ring as synonymously with wisdom on the internet as Derek Sivers'. A generation of readers have learned based on his notes and advice how to think more simply and deeply about life, how to live more creatively, and how to reach one's full potential.

Originally a musician and media technologist, these days Derek's main focus is on sharing his life experience with others, and on parenting.

Join us for this online gathering with Derek to celebrate and discuss his new book <a href="https://sive.rs/u">Useful Not True</a>.

See you there!
<h3>Want to attend for free? <a href="http://interintellect.com/join">Become a member! </a></h3>

Wisdom. With Derek Sivers - Hosted by Anna Gát

Anna Gát

Bryan Kam

Gabor Kiss

Colby

Greg Muller

Lev Quartley

Peter Reiner

Arielle Shnaidman

Karl Kaufman

Alaka Halder

Adam

Dylan Blanchard

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Public and members only salons online and offline. Earn, learn, and connect over the most important topics in a smart and playful space.

Fearless conversations with friendly people.

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Developmental psychologist

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Are technological, economic, cultural, and socio-political changes too overwhelming (or not overwhelming enough)? Tired of trying to find the most vertical of NYC’s 1,942 parks? Then this IRL Meetup is for you! Let’s gather at the bottom of Ewen Park in The Bronx (the entrance facing Riverdale Ave); a meandering heap of bluestone stairs, diagonal trees, and trivial obstacles — all meant to jumpstart a sense of perspicacious calm (or alternatively, newfound inconvenience) into your daily life. Meet and defy (or celebrate) the rapid clip of the 2020’s and make connections as a NYC community.&nbsp;&nbsp;I have some discussion questions prepared around one of my favorite bugbears… the accelerationist outlook that has taken over much of our global business and political leadership. But we can also just prattle or tackle whatever you bring with you.&nbsp;At the top of the hill is a quaint village-y downtown, featuring a classically caustic short-order diner, a very neon sushi spot, and a “NJ-style” Italian place. At the bottom of the hill is a library straight out of a SF suburb, great Tex-Mex, and 2 feuding bakeries. Nearby are ambitious urban staircase locales, the Riverdale Park lookout (hope you like commuter trains!), and the Brontë villas. We can decide what we’re up for!&nbsp;Transit access from 231 Street Station (1 Train), The Bx1, 2, 7, 10 or 20 Bus (W 231 St &amp; Tibbett Av), and the Spuyten Duyvil or Marble Hill Metro-North Stations.&nbsp;Related Reading / Viewing on Why You Should Know This Hard to Spell Word:<ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/11/accelerationism-how-a-fringe-philosophy-predicted-the-future-we-live-in" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(220, 161, 13);">Accelerationism: how a fringe philosophy predicted the future we live in</a>&nbsp;(literal long read, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2021/sep/08/from-the-archives-accelerationism-how-a-fringe-philosophy-predicted-the-future-we-live-in-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(220, 161, 13);">you can also have a British person read it to you)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/yayalexisgay/p/CMNOVQzhDgl/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Every Single San Francisco Park Hang</a>&nbsp;</li></ul> These are Other Good (Short) Overviews of Accelerationism:<ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerationism" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(220, 161, 13);">Wikipedia</a></li><li><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/accelerationism" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(220, 161, 13);">Britannica</a></li><li><a href="https://www.chaosmotics.com/it/in-evidenza/che-cose-laccelerazionismo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chasmotics (In Italian, but open any browser and Google will translate)</a></li><li><a href="https://deontologistics.co/2018/02/18/ofta-so-accelerationism-whats-all-that-about/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deontologistics (More of a scree, but insightful)</a>&nbsp;</li></ul> Pro-Accelerationism (maybe, this is fun regardless):<ul><li><a href="https://uncloudedsensorium.substack.com/p/accelerationism-how-to-utilize-nuke?utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(220, 161, 13);">Accelerationism: How to Utilize Nuke Wielding Toddlers and the Idiot’s Hammer for the Greater Good</a>&nbsp;</li></ul> Anti-Accelerationism:<ul><li><a href="https://www.philonomist.com/en/article/these-accelerationists-leading-us-wall?embed=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(220, 161, 13);">These “accelerationists” leading us into the wall</a></li></ul>

Henry Pratt

Trudge Up A Hill in Riverdale & Ponder The Pace of Life — NYC Casual IRL Meetup w/ Henry

In this social gathering, we’ll hang out and explore how AI will change the type and amount of influence an individual — especially people who are intellectually engaged and motivated — can have in society. We think that the emergent technology we're building will transform people’s intellectual, cultural, financial, professional, and creative powers, and that can be a good or bad thing. We’ll draw on some recent pieces we liked, for example Dwarkesh Patel’s “AI Firm” to see how AI could reshape businesses, Sam Altman’s “Three Observations” about how new tech affects everyday life, and The Zvi’s “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment” to explore how constant changes might reduce personal autonomy. We’ll keep the discussion casual and interactive. Bring your questions, ideas, and experiences—everyone is welcome to join the conversation. Required Readings <ul><li><a href="https://www.strangeloopcanon.com/p/what-would-a-world-with-agi-look" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rohit Krishnan: What would a world with AGI look like?</a></li><li><a href="https://x.com/hamandcheese/status/1889444711334879610" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Hammond: Discursive practices are in some sense inherently left-wing? </a></li><li><a href="https://casssunstein.substack.com/p/what-are-we-in-the-midst-of" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cass Sunstein: “What Are We in the Midst Of?”</a></li><li><a href="https://default.blog/p/internet-history-must-always-be-an" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Internet History Must Always Be an...” by Default</a></li><li><a href="https://www.dwarkeshpatel.com/p/ai-firm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dwarkesh Patel: “AI Firm”</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.samaltman.com/three-observations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Altman: “Three Observations”</a></li><li><a href="https://thezvi.substack.com/p/the-risk-of-gradual-disempowerment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Zvi: “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment”</a></li></ul>

In this casual social gathering, we’ll hang out and explore how AI will change the type and amount of influence an individual — especially people who are intellectually engaged and motivated — can have in society. We think that the emergent technology we're building will transform people’s intellectual, cultural, financial, professional, and creative powers, and that can be a good or bad thing. We’ll draw on some recent pieces we liked, for example Dwarkesh Patel’s “AI Firm” to see how AI could reshape businesses, Sam Altman’s “Three Observations” about how new tech affects everyday life, and The Zvi’s “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment” to explore how constant changes might reduce personal autonomy. We’ll keep the discussion casual and interactive. Bring your questions, ideas, and experiences—everyone is welcome to join the conversation. Required Readings <ul><li><a href="https://www.strangeloopcanon.com/p/what-would-a-world-with-agi-look" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rohit Krishnan: What would a world with AGI look like?</a></li><li><a href="https://casssunstein.substack.com/p/what-are-we-in-the-midst-of" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cass Sunstein: “What Are We in the Midst Of?”</a></li><li><a href="https://default.blog/p/internet-history-must-always-be-an" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Internet History Must Always Be an...” by Default</a></li><li><a href="https://www.dwarkeshpatel.com/p/ai-firm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dwarkesh Patel: “AI Firm”</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.samaltman.com/three-observations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Altman: “Three Observations”</a></li><li><a href="https://thezvi.substack.com/p/the-risk-of-gradual-disempowerment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Zvi: “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment”</a></li></ul>

Will AI Make You More Left Wing? - Discourse, Democracy, Decisionism - SF Social with Saguna Goel, Rohit Krishnan, and Anna Gát

In this casual social gathering, we’ll hang out and explore how AI will change the type and amount of influence an individual — especially people who are intellectually engaged and motivated — can have in society. We think that the emergent technology we're building will transform people’s intellectual, cultural, financial, professional, and creative powers, and that can be a good or bad thing. We’ll draw on some recent pieces we liked, for example Dwarkesh Patel’s “AI Firm” to see how AI could reshape businesses, Sam Altman’s “Three Observations” about how new tech affects everyday life, and The Zvi’s “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment” to explore how constant changes might reduce personal autonomy. We’ll keep the discussion casual and interactive. Bring your questions, ideas, and experiences—everyone is welcome to join the conversation. Required Readings <ul><li><a href="https://www.strangeloopcanon.com/p/what-would-a-world-with-agi-look" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rohit Krishnan: What would a world with AGI look like?</a></li><li><a href="https://casssunstein.substack.com/p/what-are-we-in-the-midst-of" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cass Sunstein: “What Are We in the Midst Of?”</a></li><li><a href="https://default.blog/p/internet-history-must-always-be-an" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Internet History Must Always Be an...” by Default</a></li><li><a href="https://www.dwarkeshpatel.com/p/ai-firm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dwarkesh Patel: “AI Firm”</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.samaltman.com/three-observations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Altman: “Three Observations”</a></li><li><a href="https://thezvi.substack.com/p/the-risk-of-gradual-disempowerment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Zvi: “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment”</a></li></ul>

In this casual social gathering, we’ll hang out and explore how AI will change the type and amount of influence an individual — especially people who are intellectually engaged and motivated — can have in society. We think that the emergent technology we're building will transform people’s intellectual, cultural, financial, professional, and creative powers, and that can be a good or bad thing. We’ll draw on some recent pieces we liked, for example Dwarkesh Patel’s “AI Firm” to see how AI could reshape businesses, Sam Altman’s “Three Observations” about how new tech affects everyday life, and The Zvi’s “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment” to explore how constant changes might reduce personal autonomy. We’ll keep the discussion casual and interactive. Bring your questions, ideas, and experiences—everyone is welcome to join the conversation. Required Readings <ul><li><a href="https://www.strangeloopcanon.com/p/what-would-a-world-with-agi-look" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rohit Krishnan: What would a world with AGI look like?</a></li><li><a href="https://x.com/hamandcheese/status/1889444711334879610" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Hammond: Discursive practices are in some sense inherently left-wing? </a></li><li><a href="https://casssunstein.substack.com/p/what-are-we-in-the-midst-of" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cass Sunstein: “What Are We in the Midst Of?”</a></li><li><a href="https://default.blog/p/internet-history-must-always-be-an" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Internet History Must Always Be an...” by Default</a></li><li><a href="https://www.dwarkeshpatel.com/p/ai-firm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dwarkesh Patel: “AI Firm”</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.samaltman.com/three-observations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Altman: “Three Observations”</a></li><li><a href="https://thezvi.substack.com/p/the-risk-of-gradual-disempowerment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Zvi: “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment”</a></li></ul>

In this social gathering, we’ll hang out and explore how AI will change the type and amount of influence an individual — especially people who are intellectually engaged and motivated — can have in society. We think that the emergent technology we're building will transform people’s intellectual, cultural, financial, professional, and creative powers, and that can be a good or bad thing. We’ll draw on some recent pieces we liked, for example Dwarkesh Patel’s “AI Firm” to see how AI could reshape businesses, Sam Altman’s “Three Observations” about how new tech affects everyday life, and The Zvi’s “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment” to explore how constant changes might reduce personal autonomy. We’ll keep the discussion casual and interactive. Bring your questions, ideas, and experiences—everyone is welcome to join the conversation. Required Readings <ul><li><a href="https://www.strangeloopcanon.com/p/what-would-a-world-with-agi-look" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rohit Krishnan: What would a world with AGI look like?</a></li><li><a href="https://x.com/hamandcheese/status/1889444711334879610" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Hammond: Discursive practices are in some sense inherently left-wing? </a></li><li><a href="https://casssunstein.substack.com/p/what-are-we-in-the-midst-of" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cass Sunstein: “What Are We in the Midst Of?”</a></li><li><a href="https://default.blog/p/internet-history-must-always-be-an" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Internet History Must Always Be an...” by Default</a></li><li><a href="https://www.dwarkeshpatel.com/p/ai-firm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dwarkesh Patel: “AI Firm”</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.samaltman.com/three-observations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Altman: “Three Observations”</a></li><li><a href="https://thezvi.substack.com/p/the-risk-of-gradual-disempowerment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Zvi: “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment”</a></li></ul>

In this social gathering, we’ll hang out and explore how AI will change the type and amount of influence an individual — especially people who are intellectually engaged and motivated — can have in society. We think that the emergent technology we're building will transform people’s intellectual, cultural, financial, professional, and creative powers, and that can be a good or bad thing. We’ll draw on some recent pieces we liked, for example Dwarkesh Patel’s “AI Firm” to see how AI could reshape businesses, Sam Altman’s “Three Observations” about how new tech affects everyday life, and The Zvi’s “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment” to explore how constant changes might reduce personal autonomy. We’ll keep the discussion casual and interactive. Bring your questions, ideas, and experiences—everyone is welcome to join the conversation. Required Readings <ul><li><a href="https://www.strangeloopcanon.com/p/what-would-a-world-with-agi-look" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rohit Krishnan: What would a world with AGI look like?</a></li><li><a href="https://x.com/hamandcheese/status/1889444711334879610" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Hammond: Discursive practices are in some sense inherently left-wing? </a></li><li><a href="https://casssunstein.substack.com/p/what-are-we-in-the-midst-of" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cass Sunstein: “What Are We in the Midst Of?”</a></li><li><a href="https://default.blog/p/internet-history-must-always-be-an" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Internet History Must Always Be an...” by Default</a></li><li><a href="https://www.dwarkeshpatel.com/p/ai-firm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dwarkesh Patel: “AI Firm”</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.samaltman.com/three-observations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Altman: “Three Observations”</a></li><li><a href="https://thezvi.substack.com/p/the-risk-of-gradual-disempowerment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Zvi: “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment”</a></li></ul>

In this social gathering, we’ll hang out and explore how AI will change the type and amount of influence an individual — especially people who are intellectually engaged and motivated — can have in society. We think that the emergent technology we're building will transform people’s intellectual, cultural, financial, professional, and creative powers, and that can be a good or bad thing. We’ll draw on some recent pieces we liked, for example Dwarkesh Patel’s “AI Firm” to see how AI could reshape businesses, Sam Altman’s “Three Observations” about how new tech affects everyday life, and The Zvi’s “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment” to explore how constant changes might reduce personal autonomy. We’ll keep the discussion casual and interactive. Bring your questions, ideas, and experiences—everyone is welcome to join the conversation. Required Readings <ul><li><a href="https://www.strangeloopcanon.com/p/what-would-a-world-with-agi-look" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rohit Krishnan: What would a world with AGI look like?</a></li><li><a href="https://x.com/hamandcheese/status/1889444711334879610" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Hammond: Discursive practices are in some sense inherently left-wing? </a></li><li><a href="https://casssunstein.substack.com/p/what-are-we-in-the-midst-of" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cass Sunstein: “What Are We in the Midst Of?”</a></li><li><a href="https://default.blog/p/internet-history-must-always-be-an" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Internet History Must Always Be an...” by Default</a></li><li><a href="https://www.dwarkeshpatel.com/p/ai-firm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dwarkesh Patel: “AI Firm”</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.samaltman.com/three-observations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Altman: “Three Observations”</a></li><li><a href="https://thezvi.substack.com/p/the-risk-of-gradual-disempowerment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Zvi: “The Risk of Gradual Disempowerment”</a></li></ul>

Will AI Change How We Think? – Discourse, Democracy, and Decisionism - SF Social with Saguna Goel, Rohit Krishnan & Anna Gát

Join Interintellect founder Anna Gát for a lively conversation with special guest Mark Lilla, celebrating the launch of his new book, Ignorance and Bliss. This intimate salon-style event will explore Lilla’s ideas on how—and why—we sometimes choose to remain in the dark, and the surprising benefits (and pitfalls) of ignorance in both our personal and public lives. Mark Lilla, a renowned professor of humanities and commentator on political thought, unpacks in his latest work the delicate balance between seeking truth and seeking comfort. Drawing on examples from history, philosophy, and contemporary culture, he invites us to consider what happens when we step away from hard realities, even if only briefly. Together, we’ll discuss the social, psychological, and intellectual dimensions of living with illusions, and how these themes resonate in our own day-to-day experiences. Come ready to dive into a thoughtful exploration of knowledge, ignorance, and everything in between! <h3>About <a href="https://history.columbia.edu/person/lilla-mark-o/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark Lilla</a>:</h3>Mark Lilla is a professor of humanities at Columbia University and a leading voice in political and cultural commentary. His thought-provoking essays and books invite us to reflect on how ideas evolve—and how they can challenge our assumptions about society, identity, and our shared future. <h3>About <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374174354/ignoranceandbliss/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ignorance and Bliss</a>:</h3>In Ignorance and Bliss, Mark Lilla offers a thoughtful exploration of how illusions and self-deception shape our intellectual and cultural lives. Drawing on history, literature, and philosophy, he unpacks the subtle ways we navigate between knowing and not knowing, urging us to consider our own blind spots. Lilla’s work prompts us to reflect on the delicate balance between seeking hard truths and preserving comforting illusions, revealing how our personal and collective decisions about knowledge affect our shared future.

To Know or Not to Know? - Mark Lill & Anna Gát on 'Ignorance and Bliss'

To Know or Not to Know?  -  Mark Lilla & Anna Gát on 'Ignorance and Bliss'

Mark Webster

Mark Lilla

Rebecca Lowe

Across history, intellectuals have not only theorized about perfect societies but actively worked to bring their visions to life – with results ranging from the inspirational to the catastrophic. From Thomas More's foundational "Utopia" to Charles Fourier's elaborate phalanstères, thinkers have long been drawn to the challenge of designing ideal communities. The Renaissance humanists imagined classical republics reborn, while French philosophes like Condorcet envisioned societies guided by reason and science. These visions later influenced real experiments, from Robert Owen's New Harmony to B.F. Skinner's Walden Two behavioral utopia. Yet the 20th century also brought powerful dystopian warnings from Aldous Huxley and George Orwell, who saw how utopian dreams could enable totalitarian control. In this salon, we’ll explore how intellectuals have shaped utopian thinking and how contemporary sci-fi short stories continue that tradition. Together, let’s ask: how do these bold plans illuminate our own values, and what happens when real people try to live inside a dream? Suggested Readings: <ul><li><a href="https://theopenutopia.org/full-text/book-i-of-utopia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thomas More, Utopia</a> (Book 1)</li><li><a href="https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/charles-fourier-the-phalanstery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Charles Fourier, The Social Destiny of Man </a>(excerpt on “The Phalanstery”)</li><li><a href="https://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked_-_I_Row-Boat.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cory Doctorow, “I, Row-Boat”</a> (short story)</li><li><a href="https://files.libcom.org/files/Le%20Guin%20-%20The%20Dispossessed.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Dispossessed"</a> (first chapter)</li></ul>

Across history, intellectuals have not only theorized about perfect societies but actively worked to bring their visions to life – with results ranging from the inspirational to the catastrophic. From Thomas More's foundational "Utopia" to Charles Fourier's elaborate phalanstères, thinkers have long been drawn to the challenge of designing ideal communities. The Renaissance humanists imagined classical republics reborn, while French philosophes like Condorcet envisioned societies guided by reason and science. These visions later influenced real experiments, from Robert Owen's New Harmony to B.F. Skinner's Walden Two behavioral utopia. Yet the 20th century also brought powerful dystopian warnings from Aldous Huxley and George Orwell, who saw how utopian dreams could enable totalitarian control. In this salon, we’ll explore how intellectuals have shaped utopian thinking and how contemporary sci-fi short stories continue that tradition. Together, let’s ask: how do these bold plans illuminate our own values, and what happens when real people try to live inside a dream? Suggested Readings: <ul><li><a href="https://theopenutopia.org/full-text/book-i-of-utopia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thomas More, Utopia</a> (Book 1)</li><li><a href="https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/charles-fourier-the-phalanstery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Charles Fourier, The Social Destiny of Man </a>(excerpt on “The Phalanstery”)</li><li><a href="https://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked_-_I_Row-Boat.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cory Doctorow, “I, Row-Boat”</a> (short story)</li><li><a href="https://files.libcom.org/files/Le%20Guin%20-%20The%20Dispossessed.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Dispossessed"</a> (first chapter)</li></ul>

Intellectuals in Utopia: D.C. Social with Anna Gát & Rebecca Lowe

Across history, intellectuals have not only theorized about perfect societies but actively worked to bring their visions to life – with results ranging from the inspirational to the catastrophic. From Thomas More's foundational "Utopia" to Charles Fourier's elaborate phalanstères, thinkers have long been drawn to the challenge of designing ideal communities. The Renaissance humanists imagined classical republics reborn, while French philosophes like Condorcet envisioned societies guided by reason and science. These visions later influenced real experiments, from Robert Owen's New Harmony to B.F. Skinner's Walden Two behavioral utopia. Yet the 20th century also brought powerful dystopian warnings from Aldous Huxley and George Orwell, who saw how utopian dreams could enable totalitarian control. In this salon, we’ll explore how intellectuals have shaped utopian thinking and how contemporary sci-fi short stories continue that tradition. Together, let’s ask: how do these bold plans illuminate our own values, and what happens when real people try to live inside a dream? Suggested Readings: <ul><li><a href="https://theopenutopia.org/full-text/book-i-of-utopia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thomas More, Utopia</a> (Book 1)</li><li><a href="https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/charles-fourier-the-phalanstery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Charles Fourier, The Social Destiny of Man </a>(excerpt on “The Phalanstery”)</li><li><a href="https://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked_-_I_Row-Boat.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cory Doctorow, “I, Row-Boat”</a> (short story)</li><li><a href="https://files.libcom.org/files/Le%20Guin%20-%20The%20Dispossessed.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Dispossessed"</a> (first chapter)</li></ul>

Across history, intellectuals have not only theorized about perfect societies but actively worked to bring their visions to life – with results ranging from the inspirational to the catastrophic. From Thomas More's foundational "Utopia" to Charles Fourier's elaborate phalanstères, thinkers have long been drawn to the challenge of designing ideal communities. The Renaissance humanists imagined classical republics reborn, while French philosophes like Condorcet envisioned societies guided by reason and science. These visions later influenced real experiments, from Robert Owen's New Harmony to B.F. Skinner's Walden Two behavioral utopia. Yet the 20th century also brought powerful dystopian warnings from Aldous Huxley and George Orwell, who saw how utopian dreams could enable totalitarian control. In this salon, we’ll explore how intellectuals have shaped utopian thinking and how contemporary sci-fi short stories continue that tradition. Together, let’s ask: how do these bold plans illuminate our own values, and what happens when real people try to live inside a dream? Suggested Readings: <ul><li><a href="https://theopenutopia.org/full-text/book-i-of-utopia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thomas More, Utopia</a> (Book 1)</li><li><a href="https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/charles-fourier-the-phalanstery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Charles Fourier, The Social Destiny of Man </a>(excerpt on “The Phalanstery”)</li><li><a href="https://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked_-_I_Row-Boat.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cory Doctorow, “I, Row-Boat”</a> (short story)</li><li><a href="https://files.libcom.org/files/Le%20Guin%20-%20The%20Dispossessed.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Dispossessed"</a> (first chapter)</li></ul>

Across history, intellectuals have not only theorized about perfect societies but actively worked to bring their visions to life – with results ranging from the inspirational to the catastrophic. From Thomas More's foundational "Utopia" to Charles Fourier's elaborate phalanstères, thinkers have long been drawn to the challenge of designing ideal communities. The Renaissance humanists imagined classical republics reborn, while French philosophes like Condorcet envisioned societies guided by reason and science. These visions later influenced real experiments, from Robert Owen's New Harmony to B.F. Skinner's Walden Two behavioral utopia. Yet the 20th century also brought powerful dystopian warnings from Aldous Huxley and George Orwell, who saw how utopian dreams could enable totalitarian control. In this salon, we’ll explore how intellectuals have shaped utopian thinking and how contemporary sci-fi short stories continue that tradition. Together, let’s ask: how do these bold plans illuminate our own values, and what happens when real people try to live inside a dream? Suggested Readings: <ul><li><a href="https://theopenutopia.org/full-text/book-i-of-utopia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thomas More, Utopia</a> (Book 1)</li><li><a href="https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/charles-fourier-the-phalanstery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Charles Fourier, The Social Destiny of Man </a>(excerpt on “The Phalanstery”)</li><li><a href="https://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked_-_I_Row-Boat.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cory Doctorow, “I, Row-Boat”</a> (short story)</li><li><a href="https://files.libcom.org/files/Le%20Guin%20-%20The%20Dispossessed.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Dispossessed"</a> (first chapter)</li></ul>

Across history, intellectuals have not only theorized about perfect societies but actively worked to bring their visions to life – with results ranging from the inspirational to the catastrophic. From Thomas More's foundational "Utopia" to Charles Fourier's elaborate phalanstères, thinkers have long been drawn to the challenge of designing ideal communities. The Renaissance humanists imagined classical republics reborn, while French philosophes like Condorcet envisioned societies guided by reason and science. These visions later influenced real experiments, from Robert Owen's New Harmony to B.F. Skinner's Walden Two behavioral utopia. Yet the 20th century also brought powerful dystopian warnings from Aldous Huxley and George Orwell, who saw how utopian dreams could enable totalitarian control. In this salon, we’ll explore how intellectuals have shaped utopian thinking and how contemporary sci-fi short stories continue that tradition. Together, let’s ask: how do these bold plans illuminate our own values, and what happens when real people try to live inside a dream? Suggested Readings: <ul><li><a href="https://theopenutopia.org/full-text/book-i-of-utopia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thomas More, Utopia</a> (Book 1)</li><li><a href="https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/charles-fourier-the-phalanstery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Charles Fourier, The Social Destiny of Man </a>(excerpt on “The Phalanstery”)</li><li><a href="https://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked_-_I_Row-Boat.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cory Doctorow, “I, Row-Boat”</a> (short story)</li><li><a href="https://files.libcom.org/files/Le%20Guin%20-%20The%20Dispossessed.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Dispossessed"</a> (first chapter)</li></ul>

Across history, intellectuals have not only theorized about perfect societies but actively worked to bring their visions to life – with results ranging from the inspirational to the catastrophic. From Thomas More's foundational "Utopia" to Charles Fourier's elaborate phalanstères, thinkers have long been drawn to the challenge of designing ideal communities. The Renaissance humanists imagined classical republics reborn, while French philosophes like Condorcet envisioned societies guided by reason and science. These visions later influenced real experiments, from Robert Owen's New Harmony to B.F. Skinner's Walden Two behavioral utopia. Yet the 20th century also brought powerful dystopian warnings from Aldous Huxley and George Orwell, who saw how utopian dreams could enable totalitarian control. In this salon, we’ll explore how intellectuals have shaped utopian thinking and how contemporary sci-fi short stories continue that tradition. Together, let’s ask: how do these bold plans illuminate our own values, and what happens when real people try to live inside a dream? Suggested Readings: <ul><li><a href="https://theopenutopia.org/full-text/book-i-of-utopia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thomas More, Utopia</a> (Book 1)</li><li><a href="https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/charles-fourier-the-phalanstery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Charles Fourier, The Social Destiny of Man </a>(excerpt on “The Phalanstery”)</li><li><a href="https://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked_-_I_Row-Boat.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cory Doctorow, “I, Row-Boat”</a> (short story)</li><li><a href="https://files.libcom.org/files/Le%20Guin%20-%20The%20Dispossessed.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Dispossessed"</a> (first chapter)</li></ul>

Intellectuals in Utopia: Washington D.C. Social with Anna Gát & Rebecca Lowe

Across history, intellectuals have not only theorized about perfect societies but actively worked to bring their visions to life – with results ranging from the inspirational to the catastrophic. From Thomas More's foundational "Utopia" to Charles Fourier's elaborate phalanstères, thinkers have long been drawn to the challenge of designing ideal communities. The Renaissance humanists imagined classical republics reborn, while French philosophes like Condorcet envisioned societies guided by reason and science. These visions later influenced real experiments, from Robert Owen's New Harmony to B.F. Skinner's Walden Two behavioral utopia. Yet the 20th century also brought powerful dystopian warnings from Aldous Huxley and George Orwell, who saw how utopian dreams could enable totalitarian control. In this salon, we’ll explore how intellectuals have shaped utopian thinking and how contemporary sci-fi short stories continue that tradition. Together, let’s ask: how do these bold plans illuminate our own values, and what happens when real people try to live inside a dream? Suggested Readings:<ul><li><a href="https://theopenutopia.org/full-text/book-i-of-utopia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thomas More, Utopia</a> (Book 1)</li><li><a href="https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/charles-fourier-the-phalanstery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Charles Fourier, The Social Destiny of Man </a>(excerpt on “The Phalanstery”)</li><li><a href="https://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked_-_I_Row-Boat.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cory Doctorow, “I, Row-Boat”</a> (short story)</li><li><a href="https://files.libcom.org/files/Le%20Guin%20-%20The%20Dispossessed.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Dispossessed"</a> (first chapter)</li></ul>

What makes an online gathering or offline salon enjoyable? What makes strangers want to hop on a call after work or travel to a faraway part of town to sit down with each other and discuss some of the most important issues, books, or thinkers of today? What makes you open up and listen? What makes a good host -- who can make all this happen? Join Interintellect founder Anna Gát to learn about some of the core principles - first developed by the salon hostesses of pre-Revolutionary France - and how to apply them to your own events.

Sofia Panasiuk

Sofia Panasiuk's Guest

Ed Cooke

Gillian Haley

Salon Host Training with Interintellect Founder Anna Gát

Session 3 reading:Volume Two:<ul><li>Notice</li><li>Part One (Influence of Democracy on Intellectual Movement in the United States)</li><li class="ql-indent-1">From "On the Philosophic Method of the Americans" to "On Parliamentary Eloquence in the United States"</li></ul>In the Mansfield/Winthrop translation this is p399 to p476 See you there xx ***** About the series: Tocqueville Reading Group: Democracy In America A monthly online gathering for reading and discussing one of the most important books on American democracy.Starts January 11.9 am Los Angeles, 12 pm New York, 5 pm London, 6 pm Berlin, 10:30 pm Mumbai.6 x 90 minute sessions, always 2nd Saturday of the month.We will cover 100-200 pages per session.Sessions will be on Zoom (with video).You can use any edition of the book.This is a real name group, no anons. If the experiment works, in August we will start another book the same way. More about the book: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_in_America" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_in_America</a>Hosted by Anna Gát (<a href="https://interintellect.com/dashboard/x.com/theannagat" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">x.com/theannagat</a>) FREESpaces are very limited to ensure productive discussion. Priority booking will go to Interintellect members and Emergent Ventures winners.If you are an Emergent Ventures grantee, find the secret code in the WhatsApp group chat. For Interintellect memberships, visit our Community page.

Session 3 reading: Volume Two:<ul><li>Notice</li><li>Part One (Influence of Democracy on Intellectual Movement in the United States)</li><li class="ql-indent-1">From "On the Philosophic Method of the Americans" to "On Parliamentary Eloquence in the United States"</li><li class="ql-indent-1"> </li></ul>In the Mansfield/Winthrop translation this is p399 to p476 See you there xx ***** About the series: Tocqueville Reading Group: Democracy In America A monthly online gathering for reading and discussing one of the most important books on American democracy. Starts January 11. 9 am Los Angeles, 12 pm New York, 5 pm London, 6 pm Berlin, 10:30 pm Mumbai. 6 x 90 minute sessions, always 2nd Saturday of the month. We will cover 100-200 pages per session. Sessions will be on Zoom (with video). You can use any edition of the book. This is a real name group, no anons. If the experiment works, in August we will start another book the same way. More about the book: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_in_America" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_in_America</a> Hosted by Anna Gát (<a href="https://interintellect.com/dashboard/x.com/theannagat" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">x.com/theannagat</a>) FREE Spaces are very limited to ensure productive discussion. Priority booking will go to Interintellect members and Emergent Ventures winners.If you are an Emergent Ventures grantee, find the secret code in the WhatsApp group chat. For Interintellect memberships, visit our Community page.

Tocqueville Reading Group: Democracy In America PART THREE

What does a healthy democracy look like? You might imagine thousands of citizens marching together in the streets, demanding justice and accountability from elected officials. What this image misses is the important role of solitary reflection in civic life. In Civic Solitude: Why Democracy Needs Distance, democratic theorist Robert Talisse argues that part of what makes for a healthy democracy is citizens spending time alone, encountering and reflecting on ideas that do not fit within their existing partisan frameworks. Join this salon to discuss these ideas with Robert Talisse, hosted by political philosopher Adam Gjesdal. The salon should interest anyone curious about causes of and potential remedies to today's polarized politics.

Can solitary reflection help remedy political division? hosted by Adam Gjesdal

Robert Talisse

Civic Solitude: A Conversation with Robert Talisse

What does a healthy democracy look like? You might imagine thousands of citizens marching together in the streets, demanding justice and accountability from elected officials. What this image misses is the important role of solitary reflection in civic life. In Civic Solitude: Why Democracy Needs Distance, democratic theorist Robert Talisse argues that part of what makes for a healthy democracy is citizens spending time alone, encountering and reflecting on ideas that do not fit within their existing partisan frameworks. Join this salon to discuss these ideas with Robert Talisse, hosted by political philosopher Adam Gjesdal. The salon should interest anyone curious about causes of and potential remedies to today's polarized politics.

Adam Gjesdal

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with acclaimed poet, memoirist, and lawyer Reginald Dwayne Betts as we delve into forgiveness. Betts, whose personal journey from incarceration to literary success has inspired countless readers across the globe, has a unique perspective to share on error, accountability, punishment, and redemption.&nbsp;As the founder and CEO of Freedom Reads, a nonprofit that has shipped 240,000 books to readers in American prisons, he has committed himself to transforming the experience of incarceration.&nbsp;Challenging the damage prisons inflict on the human spirit, he asks new questions and imagines new frameworks for understanding the relationship between human error and human dignity.&nbsp;

Jennifer A. Banks

Forgiveness in America: A Conversation with Reginald Dwayne Betts

Join fellow Interintellect members for an evening of casual conversation and connection in our virtual living room. Whether you're a longtime ii member or just joined our community, this is your chance to meet fellow members in a relaxed setting. Share what's on your mind, discuss your latest intellectual pursuits, or simply enjoy the company of other members. For those new to the Interintellect, this gathering serves as an ideal introduction to our community - a chance to meet fellow members and get a feel for the kinds of conversations and connections that makes the ii unique. This members-only gathering is designed to strengthen our community bonds and create the kind of serendipitous connections that often spark the most interesting ideas and conversations. No preparation required - drop in and join the conversation.

The I.I. Living Room: A Virtual Third Place

The Interintellect Living Room: A Virtual Third Place

Brian Ahuja

Join<a href="https://twitter.com/chiangstar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://twitter.com/chiangstar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Siena Chiang</a> and organizer and professor <a href="https://ericblanc.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Eric Blanc</a>, to discuss his book, <a href="https://www.ucpress.edu/books/we-are-the-union/paper" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">We Are the Union: How Worker-To-Worker Organizing Is Revitalizing Labor and Winning Big</a>, which is coming out this month (the day before this event!).&nbsp;In this new book, Eric maps out labor's recent bottom-up resurgence, providing a roadmap for workers, unions, and social movements to win. He&nbsp; makes a case for how to overcome business as usual in both corporate America and organized labor, and argues that a new organizing model, worker-to-worker unionism, has been developed. This model builds scalable power by giving rank-and-filers an unprecedented degree of leadership, through digital tools and ambitious campaigns. We will discuss how this new grassroots approach can exponentially grow the power of working people to overcome economic exploitation, racial injustice, and authoritarianism at work and beyond.Eric Blanc is author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/607046/red-state-revolt-by-eric-blanc/9781788735742/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Red State Revolt: The Teachers’ Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics</a> (Verso 2019) and <a href="https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/1907-revolutionary-social-democracy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Revolutionary Social Democracy: Working-Class Politics Across the Russian Empire, 1882-1917 </a>(Brill 2021), and an assistant professor of labor studies at Rutgers University, researching new workplace organizing, strikes, digital labor activism, and working-class politics. His writings have appeared in journals such as Politics &amp; Society, New Labor Forum, and Labor Studies Journal as well as publications such as The Nation, The Guardian, and Jacobin. A longtime labor activist, Blanc is an organizer trainer in the <a href="https://workerorganizing.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee</a>, which he helped co-found in March 2020. He directs <a href="https://smlr.rutgers.edu/faculty-research-engagement/workplace-justice-labru/build-base-grow-movement/w2w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">The Worker to Worker Collaborative</a>, a center to help unions and rank-and-file groups scale up their efforts by expanding their members’ involvement and leadership.Praise for We Are The Union"We Are the Union is an urgently needed blueprint for how we beat the billionaire class. Every worker should read this book."—Shawn Fain, President of the United Auto Workers"To overcome MAGA extremism and corporate rule, Eric Blanc shows how unions can fully harness the power of rank-and-file leadership. This book should transform the labor movement—and the fight for democracy at home and abroad."—Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants–CWA&nbsp;"Though Blanc's emphasis is on how to organize on the scale necessary to qualitatively build worker power, this book is really about taking a cold look at the challenges workers face in the twenty-first century in organizing. Blanc does not avoid the hard questions and issues, but takes them straight on. Reading this book immediately catalyzed ideas and scenarios for me in thinking about new organizing. Bravo!"—Bill Fletcher Jr., trade unionist and coauthor of Solidarity Divided<h4>Recommended Reading</h4><ul><li>Eric’s newsletter: <a href="http://laborpolitics.substack.com/?fbclid=IwAR35aUZImH7BqUK0U5GSIKVcVzH4GGRAPw78nWAWqPgnpli8HvPqJ5hvqD4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">laborpolitics.com</a></li></ul>Part of our ongoing <a href="https://interintellect.com/series/author-talks-or-learning-about-labor-and-organizing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">series</a>. This event is recorded but not publicly posted.

Siena Chiang

Beth Huang

Liba Rubenstein

Lor Ber

Lori Berenberg

alethia jones

Roy Bahat

Julianne Fables

Brian Myers

Andy Levin

Amber Raley

Angeles Solis

Alex Leenson

Bill Dempsey

Seanna V

Shelly Steward

Mindy A.

Dan Raile

Elliot Colbert

Gabriel Dean

Simran Suri

Emily Kohring

Win-Sie Tow

Hannah Zucherman

Nathan Rickard

Jamil Poonja

Jerrod MacFarlane

Jim Dixon

jess schwalb

Danielle K. Newsome

Harry Marino

Kyle Weinberg

Mandy Brown

Joseph Jung

Roz Hunter

Jane Chung

Marisol` Thomer

Mars Verrone

Savannah Hawley-Bates

Nora Lucas

Paula Martinez

Kate Harloe

Owen Davis

Brian Kettenring

alejandra quintero

Rayan Semery-Palumbo

John Logan

Ashley

Lul Tesfai

Natalie Foster

CJ Teraslinna

Swathy Prithivi

Tyler

Kaela S-H

Amanda Hwu

Chelsea Moore

Sydney Ji

Nadav David

Jim Barton

Michael Podhorzer

scott heiferman

Dino Nguyen

Merrit Stüven

Jessica Depies

Brittany Story

Meg Fosque

Emily Valdes

Emily Newberry

Frankie Aguilar

Lisa Xu

Marissa Wilk

Trey

Mahan Saidi-Grant

Chris Sanders 

Sophie Kay

Sarah Hughes

Michelle Peng

Jasson

Carson Brown

Julie Su

Levon Siler

Steve McCoy

Araya Hope Barnes

Colin Green

Rory Womack

Nick Madrid

Kimaya Abreu

Leena Gundapaneni 

Helen

Lylia Li

Elizabeth Smith

We Are The Union - Author Talk with Eric Blanc

Fearless conversations with friendly people.

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Just listed

Trudge Up A Hill in Riverdale & Ponder The Pace of Life — NYC Casual IRL Meetup w/ Henry

Will AI Change How We Think? – Discourse, Democracy, and Decisionism - SF Social with Saguna Goel, Rohit Krishnan & Anna Gát

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