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OCTOBER 2024 –THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
". . . endowed by their creater with certain unalienable rights, that among theses are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
– Declaration of Independence
October will be dedicated to the study of a few chapters from Jeffrey Rosen’s book The Pursuit of Happiness: “In reading the classical Greek and Roman moral philosophers who inspired the Founding Fathers, Rosen shows us how they understood the pursuit of happiness as a quest for being good, not feeling good. It meant the pursuit of lifelong virtue, not short-term pleasure. Among those virtues were the habits of industry, temperance, moderation, and sincerity, which the Founders viewed as part of a daily struggle for self-improvement, character development, and calm self-mastery. They believed that political self-government required personal self-government.”
Tuesday, October 1st
Temperance
Chapter on Benjamin Franklin's Quest for Moral Perfection
READING: Chapter on Temperance
Tuesday, October 8th
Frugality
James Wilson and George Mason's Debts
READING: Chapter on Frugality
Tuesday, October 15th
Sincerity
Phillis Wheatley and the Enslaver's Avarice
READING: Chapter on Sincerity
Tuesday, October 22nd
Resolution
George Washington's Self-Command. “The most striking feature of Washington’s daily efforts to control his “strong passions” is that, more often than not, he succeeded”
READING: Chapter on Resolution
Tuesday, October 29th
Silence
Pursuing Happiness Today
READING: to be posted
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SEPTEMBER 2024 – AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE OF HOPE
"Hope is the only good god remaining among mankind; the others have left and gone to Olympus. Trust, a mighty god has gone, Restraint has gone from men, and the Graces, my friend, have abandoned the earth. Men's judicial oaths are no longer to be trusted, nor does anyone revere the immortal gods; the race of pious men has perished and men no longer recognize the rules of conduct or acts of piety." – 6th century BCE Greek poet Theognis of Megara
Tuesday, September 17th
Hope
"Hope is the light that dispels the darkness of fear and despair, a front-looking and forward-leaning psychological posture."
The Study Circle will discuss the essay which begins with this statement, as well as the mythological interpretations of Hesiod's account of Pandora, wife of Epimetheus, and her famouns "box" or jar.
READING: Hope
Tuesday, September 24th
Chasing Hope
"Nauseating evil is often escorted by incomparable courage. Extreme challenges produce extreme strength, decency and humanism."
Such is the perspective of Journalist Nicholas Kristof as expounded in his new book "Chasing Hope". Kristof has witnessed the worst of humanity. He explains why there is hope.
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SUMMER BREAK: JUNE, JULY, AUGUST
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MAY STUDY CIRCLE 2024 – A CHALLENGE TO INDIVIDUALISM
"Wonder acts upon a man like a shock, he is "moved" and "shaken," and in the dislocation that succeeds all that he has taken for
granted as being natural or self-evident loses its compact solidity and obviousness; he is literally dislocated and no longer knows
where he is." – Josef Pieper
Tuesday, May 7th
A CHALLENGE TO THE IDEOLOGY OF INDIVIDUALISM
Roger Ames, Professor at Peking University, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Hawaii, gives a compelling portrait of the Confucian view of relationships in which the individual is inseparable from the community. The Circle will listen to one of Ames' presentations on YouTube and discussit and the reading: The Five Constant Virtues of Confucian Thought. These virtues provide a way to begin to understand thinking outside the individualism of the West.
Reading: The Five Constant Virtues
Tuesday, May 14th
TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION: THE ART OF LIVING AND LEARNING
This presentation is a special Institute-wide program via Zoom, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm (PDT). Dr. Sonal Murali and her staff will join us from India via Zoom to discuss the significant element of children's transformative education. Study Circle members will be sent a link as normal.
Tuesday, May 21th
LEISURE: THE BASIS OF CULTURE
Selections from Josef Pieper's book, "Leisure, The Basis of Culture", will be the basis for discussion. Pieper traces the meaning of leisure back to the Greek word that is the root of the English "school". He asserts that the statement "We work in order to be at leisure", turns everything upside down. Actually, really living is really learning. The selections are meant to stimulate thought on the subjects of work, leisure, school, contemplation, philosophy and culture. Could philosophy be the foundation of culture? But what does it mean to philosophize?
Reading: Leisure, The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper
Tuesday, May 28th
SYMBOLS AND SYNCHRONICITY: SIGNPOSTS ALONG THE PATH
Jeanne Martin will lead us in a discussion about how paying attention to the signs and symbols around us can help us navigate our lives right now. Discover ways that we can benefit from quieting our minds to open to these gifts which emerge along our path, especially in times of choice points. We will explore the concept of synchronicity from a Jungian perspective related to how symbols can foreshadow a potential future. Our speaker, Dr. Jeanne Martin, suggested the following resources as preparation for our discussion.
Readings: Glossary of Jungian Terms
Reading: Synchronicity-Book List
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APRIL STUDY CIRCLE 2024 – CRITICAL DISTANCE: CONSCIOUSNESS BEYOND THE BRAIN
After a follow up discussion of equal rights (as presented in the IWC's first April Forum) the April Study Circle will continue its focus on the concept of “critical distance” and the science, experiences and implications of Near Death Experiences.
Tuesday, April 2nd
WOMEN AND EQUAL RIGHTS
Some members requested a follow up to the Forum on Equal Rights so Danson Kiplagat will share his experience of the roles and issues related to women in Kenya, Donna Moore will speak about matriarchy in Native American traditions, and Nancy Martin will continue her reflections on the status of women and answer questions.
Tuesday, April 9th
ARE NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES REAL?
Dr. Bruce Greyson, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia gave a 2022 lecture on the scientific study of Near Death Experiences (NDEs). We will listen to the first half of his taped lecture and then discuss the issues he raises in the study of NDEs.
Tuesday, April 16th
ARE NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES REAL? (continued)
At this meeting, the Circle will view and discuss the second half of Dr. Greyson's taped lecture on NDEs.
Tuesday, April 23rd
JUSTICE AND THE GOLDEN RULE
Mellon-Thomas Benedict was dead for an hour and a half. Then he came back to life to recall a very usual NDE experience. We will listen to his summary of his experience and discuss its implications.
Reading:
A Journey Through the Light and Back, Near-Death Experience Story of Mellon-Thomas Benedict
Tuesday, April 30th
CONSCIOUSNESS BEYOND THE BRAIN
Dr. Eben Alexander has written two books based on his, and others, NDEs – Proof of Heaven & The Map of Heaven. All the discussion will be based on this material. The intention if to find the relevance of NDEs in the mystic, religious and philosophical traditions. In the reading, Heaven should be thought of more in terms of the Gnostic Pleroma or the Hindu Akasa.
Reading: Exerpts from "The Map of Heaven"
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MARCH STUDY CIRCLE 2024 – CRITICAL DISTANCE: INDIVIDUATION AND SHAKESPEARE UNCOVERED
The March Study Circle will focus on the concept of “critical distance.” The first meeting in March will focus on a philosophical consideration of how 'critical distance' is related to 'individuation'. The last three meeting in March will use the PBS series Shakespeare Uncovered to help us find out how understanding other people as aspects of ourselves develops the necessary objectivity to act wisely. In each episode of Shakespeare Uncovered, a major Shakespearean actor or director explores and reveals the extraordinary world and works of William Shakespeare and the still-potent impact they have today.
"The psychological breadth and depth of this self-reference depend upon the measure of critical distance a person can maintain in the midst of pressing preoccupations. . . . Whereas the philosophical standpoint is concerned with knowledge and perception, with clarity and comprehension, the psychological standpoint requires us to talk in terms of release, and of integration." ~ Parapolitics, Raghavan Iyer
"The renewal of civilization has nothing to do with movements which bear the character of experiences of the crowd; these are never anything but reactions to external happenings. But civilization can only revive when there shall come into being in a number of individuals a new tone of mind independent of the one prevalent among the crowd and in opposition to it, a tone of mind which will gradually win influence over the collective one, and in the end determine its character. it is only an ethical movement which can rescue us from the flough of barbarism, and the ethical comes into existence only in individuals. The final decision as to what the future of a society shall be depends not on how near its organization is to perfection, but on the degrees of worthiness in its individual members. The most important, and yet the least easily determinable, element in history is the series of unobtrusive general changes which take place in the individual dispositions of the many." ~Albert Schweitzer
Tuesday, March 5th
INDIVIDUATION, PARAPOLITICS, RAGHAVAN IYER
“Whereas the philosophical standpoint is concerned with knowledge and perception, with clarity and comprehension, the psychological standpoint requires us to talk in terms of freedom and fulfillment, of release, and of integration.
Reading: "Individuation" from Parapolitics by Raghavan Iyer"
Tuesday, March 12th
SHAKESPEARE UNCOVERED – THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
With F. Murray Abraham, we will “look at the efforts over the years, for better or worse, to treat Shylock more as a victim and rescue Shakespeare from any taint of anti-Semitism.” At a time when nationalism and extremism are on the rise, questions about the importance of understanding and acceptance need more attention than ever.”
Reading: "The Merchant of Venice" Plot Summary
Tuesday, March19th
SHAKESPEARE UNCOVERED – MACBETH
With Ethan Hawke – Uncovering “the story behind Macbeth, seeing some of the greatest productions, and discovering the insights into the criminal mind that Shakespeare reveals.
Reading: "Macbeth" Plot Summary
Tuesday, March 26th
SHAKESPEARE UNCOVERED – MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
With Helen Hunt – “Exploring the relationships between Claudio and Hero and Beatrice and Benedick, and what the ultimate “ado” about “nothing” really means.” Helen Hunt reveals how the play inspired countless romantic comedies in Hollywood and gave voice to a new kind of heroine, full of wit and the power of words.
Reading: "Much Ado About Nothing" Plot Summary
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FEBRUARY 2024 – "SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL" – REVISITED
In February the Study Circle will revisit E.F. Schumacher's iconic book, "Small is Beautiful". We will be reading and discussing chapters of "A New Study Guide to Small is Beautiful," produced by the Schumacher Center on the occastion of the 50th anniversary of the publication of "Small is Beautiful" in 1973. The Guide reviews his ideas in light of the contemporary world. A copy of the Study Guide is avaliable free of charge at:: https://centerforneweconomics.org/envision/library/small-is-beautiful-study-guide-50th/
"The book "Small is Beautiful" is also the story of how one man managed to stand in the way of a juggernaut - the stultifying series of errors in economics that stemmed, according to the author, from scientific materialism." – David Boyle
Tuesday, February 6th
Introduction to E.F.Schumacher's life and work and an overview of "A New Study Guide to 'Small is Beautiful'.
"The book "Small is Beautiful" is also the story of how one man managed to stand in the way of a juggernaut - the stultifying series of errors in economics that stemmed, according to the author, from scientific materialism." – David Boyle
Tuesday, February 13th
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL, CHAPTER 1. WHAT IS CAPITAL?
The Problem of Production.
"Few people will be easily convinced that the challenge to man's future cannot be met by making marginal adjustments here or there, or possible by changing the political system. . ."
Tuesday, February 20th
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL, CHAPTER 2 & 3. GROWTH and ECONOMICS
Peace and Permanence: "It could well be that rich people treasure peace more highly than poor people, but only if they feel utterly secure – and this is a contradiction in terms."
Buddhist Economics: "Call a thing immoral or ugly, soul-destroying or a degradation of man, a peril to the peace of the world or to the well-being of future generations: as long as you have not shown it to be 'uneconomic' you have not really questioned its right to exist, grow, and prosper . . "
Tuesday, February 27th
SACRED ECONOMICS
We will continue to explore the economy with a chapter on "Transition to a Gift Economy" from "from Charles Eisenstein's book, "Sacred Economics". "Ultimately, what economics attempts to measure, underneath money, is the totality of all that human beings make and do for each other."
Reading: Transition to a Gift Economy
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JANUARY 2024 – MUSLIM CIVILIZATION Click here for a printer-friendly program flyer
In January the Study Circle will consider what has been called Islamic Civilization, especially the many and varied manifestations of that culture to World Culture.
"Any person can joyously rediscover his or her membership in the commonwealth of humanity by incarnating the best that can be gleaned from the great religions, cultures and literatures." – Raghavan Iyer
Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024
AN INTRODUCTION TO MUSLIM HISTORY
Ghazala Rahman Rafiq will lead us in a discussion of Muslim history: "In some ways there can be no such thing as a 'Muslim' history of civilization. One can clump a number of societies together and term them as one thing. The Arab, Turkish, Iranian, Indian-Muslim, African, Indonesian cultures; all have Islamic genes, but does that make them all part of an 'Islamic Civilization', given how differently they feel about art, poetry, and philosophy. Is there one Islamic DNA?"
Reading: Introduction
Reading: Time Line
Reading: Medical
Tuesday, January 9th, 2024
THE MUSIC OF ISLAM
Ghazala Rahman Rafiq will help us understand Islamic contributions to music along with some of the significant figures in its development.
Reading: Music
Tuesday, January 16th, 2024
THE POETRY OF LOVE, PEACE AND HARMONY
Local Santa Barbara poet Ibrahim ibn Sama will read and discuss some of his poems focused on infusing love, peace and harmony in the world.
Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024
MUSLIM PHILOSOPHERS
We will take up a long list of Muslim philosophers who influenced the history or the world.
Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Muslim_philosophers
Tuesday, January 30th, 2024
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
Local Santa Barbara architect Kirk Gradin will give us survey of the splendors of Islamic architecture.
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