Philosophy Club | "God is Dead"

Jeanne Proust at Living Room

Wed, Aug 21 at 8 p.m. | 90 minutes

We've all heard Nietzche's quote "God is Dead" but not many of us have had the opportunity to unpack these words with a scholar of his work and examine it in the context of 2019 modernity. Join Jeanne Proust for an intimate living room session where we discuss our understandings and misunderstandings of these ideas.

God is dead, or "Gott is tot" is a widely-quoted statement that first appears in The Gay Science and in Thus Spoke Zarathustra. What was Nietzsche saying when he first wrote those words in 1882, in a post-Enlightenment culture, where atheism, materialism, positivism and rationalism were casting religion aside? What clichés might we have in mind about Nietzsche that blur the possible interpretations of this quote?

In this Olio, we will explore the ways in which we can understand that God has ceased to exist: for whom, why, and whether it is a good thing. We'll dive into what we may have misunderstood about this idea. Finally, we'll examine what this quote means for us in 2019.

*This Olio will take place in Bed-Stuy in a member's living room. Address will be sent upon rsvp*

Teacher: Jeanne Proust

Jeanne Proust's research focuses on Théodule Ribot’s Diseases of the Will, both in philosophical and psychological perspectives. While teaching at different universities here in New York, Jeanne is advocating for a widening of philosophical education beyond the academic frontiers.

Venue: Living Room

What is Think Olio?

Think Olio is here to put the liberation back into the liberal arts.

Classically, the liberal arts, were the education considered essential for a free person to take an active part in civic life. To counter a humanities that has been institutionalized and dehumanized we infuse critical thinking, openness, playfulness, and compassion into our learning experience.

Scenius Membership

If Friday night lectures, museum field trips, and living room salons sound like your kind of thing, then you've found your people. We can't wait to welcome you to the Think Olio Scenius. More info