Philosophy Classes in NYC, New York

The Worst of All Possible Worlds: an Introduction to Schopenhauer Arthur Schopenhauer is a true oddity in the history of philosophy. Although a great metaphysical systematizer in the tradition of Leibniz and Hegel, Schopenhauer posed a worldview entirely antithetical to the “optimism” characteristic of traditional Western philosophizing. Whereas...

How are we to understand loneliness today? It appears that we are facing a mass epidemic of loneliness. Britain has appointed a Minister of Loneliness to counter rising rates of isolation. Approximately 20-43 percent of American adults over the age of 60 experience “frequent or intense loneliness.” And, it is clear from medical research that loneliness...

Numbers are so common, so seemingly intrinsic to human life, that it’s baffling to recall that, for millennia, many humans did not use them at all. How, then, did the use of numbers come to be? Were they, in some sense, discovered? Are they qualities of the natural world or truths outside of time and space? Or, are numbers human creations—concepts...

Laziness is what we call a thick concept in philosophy: both descriptive, and evaluative. When we call a person lazy, we are not merely trying to objectively pick out a factual behavior. We are judging and indeed, blaming that person's behavior. After exploring bits of history around the idea of laziness and its conceptual cousins like sloth, idleness,...

The tarot is a powerful symbolic system whose images express mystical ideas from the Platonic, Pythagorean, and Hermetic traditions. Once one grasps the tarot’s philosophy and structure, the cards can be used as an intuitive device to connect with one’s inner wisdom.  In this class we will study the symbolism of the tarot as its Italian Renaissance...

The Anarchist Emma Goldman said, “If I can’t dance to it, it’s not my revolution.” Kick up your heels and join us for a tour of the neighborhood that shaped her freewheeling philosophy. As we wind our way between 14th Street and Houston Street, we’ll uncover the area’s rebellious past. Along the way, we’ll meet the Rebel Girl and the...

The Core Mat I program is the foundation of the Power Pilates method. Each subsequent program builds upon the information learned during this course. During this weekend you will learn to teach the 18 beginner level mat exercises and be introduced to Power Pilates teaching tools, philosophy, and teaching formula.  Every student new to Power Pilates...

If Mozart is one of the best-known figures in Western classical music, he is also, oddly, one of the most elusive. Admirers from his time to ours, while agreeing on his stature, have disagreed about almost everything else—to Wagner he was the “genius of light and love”; to Kierkegaard a musical apostle of the demonic. He has been claimed on...

This course is offered for writers returning or arriving to the Fledgling nest who are ready for a more traditional workshop experience. Mixing the generative experience you know and love with the critical seminar style you might expect from standard workshops, these sessions are split in two. Each writer will be the focus of an hour of discussion...

The Taoist arts of China and the general philosophy of Taoism are known and loved worldwide by millions of people. The simplicity and naturalness of the Taoist approach of Yin and Yang (Life Energy) to health, business, sex, relationships, family, and relating to everything within time & space, makes it an attractive path to follow.  With...

In 1930, Max Horkheimer became the director of the Institute for Social Research in Frankfurt, Germany. Along with his colleagues and a broader orbit of external scholars, he inaugurated the first wave of what came to be called “critical theory.” This course is an introduction to some of the key works and concepts of the Frankfurt School, including...

This two-day class will introduce students to Natural/Organic Beekeeping with a Biodynamic influence. You will come away with the knowledge, as well as the inspiration to nurture your honeybees and respect these hardworking, gentle creatures who live in complex and beautiful communities.  Intro to Organic Beekeeping: Planning a New Hive for Spring...

Explore the philosophy and history of the organic method, the biological principles upon which it is based, and the practical techniques used to implement it. This course will cover a broad number of topics including how to build and maintain soil health, encourage biodiversity, use resources such as water and energy responsibly, and avoid using chemicals....

You will learn the Shorinji Kempo techniques that are rationally designed to exploit the principles of body mechanics, physiology, and psychology so that anyone can do them. Shorinji Kempo is a method of self-defense that anyone, regardless of gender or age, can learn. The syllabus of Shorinji Kempo is divided into two main parts: Goho (hard system)...

You will learn the Shorinji Kempo techniques that are rationally designed to exploit the principles of body mechanics, physiology, and psychology so that anyone can do them. Shorinji Kempo is a method of self-defense that anyone, regardless of gender or age, can learn. The syllabus of Shorinji Kempo is divided into two main parts: Goho (hard system)...