What we’re about
Philosophy Café in Rochester, NY is a group that reads philosophy texts and meets to discuss them.
All are welcome! Our meetings are open to “beginners” and “experts,” alike. No prior experience with philosophy is required or expected. If you have an interest in philosophy, we’d love for you to join us!
We meet on the second Saturday of each month at 11:15 a.m., unless indicated otherwise.
A typical meeting starts with a short, general introduction of the topic and the readings, and then we break into small groups (3-5 people) to discuss. At some point, we re-mix the small groups so we each get to talk with and hear from different people. And at the end, we sometimes bring everyone back together as a big group to share observations that came out of the small group discussions.
More info: [PhilosophyCafe.net](https://philosophycafe.net)
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Philosophy Cafe meeting - Sat., Aug 9, 2025, 11:15 am740 University Ave, Rochester, NY
Meeting info:
- When: Second Saturday of each month at 11:15 a.m.
- Where: Writers & Books, 740 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607.
- Map: https://goo.gl/maps/ix5sYdvhRNnP4gzf8
- More info: https://philosophycafe.net
- Contact: https://philosophycafe.net/contact
_
Discussion topics:- Philosophy; History of Philosophy
- Readings: https://philosophycafe.net/events/#next-meeting
_
Philosophy Café in Rochester, New York is an informal group that reads philosophy texts and meets to discuss them.Our meetings are open to “beginners” and “experts,” alike. No prior experience with philosophy is required or expected. If you have an interest in philosophy, we’d love for you to join us!
- Discussing the Tao Te Ching – Part 1: “The Way”Brighton Memorial Library, Rochester, NY
Hi Folks,
Nice to meet you. My name is Ryan. Bruce has kindly allowed me to host this event exclusively on Philosophy Cafe in Rochester. I may have met some of you in the past and I look forward to new folks I shall meet.
Please join us for a two-part group discussion on the Tao Te Ching, the foundational text of Taoist philosophy authored by Laozi. This short yet profound classic explores timeless questions about the nature of existence, virtue, and how to live in harmony with the world.
### 📖 About the Text
The Tao Te Ching is traditionally divided into two parts:
- Part 1: Chapters 1–37 — The Tao (道)
“The Way” — explores the ineffable nature of reality, the mystery of existence, natural flow, and the principle of non-doing (wu wei). These verses are abstract, poetic, and contemplative. - Part 2: Chapters 38–81 — The Te (德)
“Virtue” or “Inner Power” — focuses on how the Tao is expressed in human character, ethics, and behavior. Themes include effortless virtue, humility, compassion, and simplicity.
Each chapter is short and typically takes around 60 seconds to read aloud.
### 📚 Reading & Participation
You are welcome to read the full set of chapters in advance (1–37 for Part 1, 38–81 for Part 2), but it’s not mandatory. During each session, we’ll read aloud 5 selected chapters, followed by small group discussions for deeper reflection.
> Feel free to read any translation — chapter titles vary. Below are the selected readings using titles from Sam Torode’s 2021 edition, which is based on Dwight Goddard’s 1919 translation (public domain). The first chapter name is from Goddard and the second in parentheses from Torode, if differently translated. For convenience I've made a collation of our selection here.
### 🌀 Part 1 Readings: “The Tao” (Ch. 1–37) - Friday August 15th - 3:30 to 5:30pm
- Chapter 1 – What is the Tao?
- Chapter 11 – The Value of Non-Existence (Immateriality)
- Chapter 14 – In Praise of the Profound (The Mysterious Tao)
- Chapter 25 – Describing the Mysterious (The Mother of All)
- Chapter 37 – Administering the Government (Stop Striving)
***
### 🌱 Part 2 Readings: “The Te” (Ch. 38–81) - Friday September 19th - 3:30pm to 5:30pm
***
### 💬 Discussion Format
- Each session will include five breakout discussions, one for each featured chapter.
- Expect ~20 minutes per breakout, with time to share insights at the end.
- Bring your curiosity, questions, and personal reflections.
### Location
Brighton Memorial Library, RSVP for the address and room details.
### Event Details
This event is welcoming to all. For more details about the group check out the website.
### Questions or Feedback?
If you have any questions or wish to provide feedback, feel free to reach out to me on Meetup.
Best Regards,
Ryan - Part 1: Chapters 1–37 — The Tao (道)
- Philosophy Cafe meeting - Sat., Sept. 13, 2025, 11:15 am740 University Ave, Rochester, NY
Meeting info:
- When: Second Saturday of each month at 11:15 a.m.
- Where: Writers & Books, 740 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607.
- Map: https://goo.gl/maps/ix5sYdvhRNnP4gzf8
- More info: https://philosophycafe.net
- Contact: https://philosophycafe.net/contact
_
Discussion topics:- Philosophy; History of Philosophy
- Readings: https://philosophycafe.net/events/#next-meeting
_
Philosophy Café in Rochester, New York is an informal group that reads philosophy texts and meets to discuss them.Our meetings are open to “beginners” and “experts,” alike. No prior experience with philosophy is required or expected. If you have an interest in philosophy, we’d love for you to join us!
- Discussing the Tao Te Ching – Part 2: “Virtue”Brighton Memorial Library, Rochester, NY
Hi Folks,
Please join us for part two of our two-part group discussion on the Tao Te Ching, the foundational text of Taoist philosophy authored by Laozi. Find details on Part 1 here. This short yet profound classic explores timeless questions about the nature of existence, virtue, and how to live in harmony with the world.
### 📖 About the Text
The Tao Te Ching is traditionally divided into two parts:
- Part 1: Chapters 1–37 — The Tao (道)
“The Way” — explores the ineffable nature of reality, the mystery of existence, natural flow, and the principle of non-doing (wu wei). These verses are abstract, poetic, and contemplative. - Part 2: Chapters 38–81 — The Te (德)
“Virtue” or “Inner Power” — focuses on how the Tao is expressed in human character, ethics, and behavior. Themes include effortless virtue, humility, compassion, and simplicity.
Each chapter is short and typically takes around 60 seconds to read aloud.
### 📚 Reading & Participation
You are welcome to read the full set of chapters in advance (1–37 for Part 1, 38–81 for Part 2), but it’s not mandatory. During each session, we’ll read aloud 5 selected chapters, followed by small group discussions for deeper reflection.
> Feel free to read any translation — chapter titles vary. Below are the selected readings using titles from Sam Torode’s 2021 edition, which is based on Dwight Goddard’s 1919 translation (public domain). The first chapter name is from Goddard and the second in parentheses from Torode, if differently translated. For convenience I've made a collation of our selection here.
### We have completed Part 1 Readings last event, so please proceed directly to Part 2:
***
### 🌱 Part 2 Readings: “The Te” (Ch. 38–81) - Friday August 15th - 5pm to 7pm
- Chapter 38 – A Discussion about Teh (True Virtue)
- Chapter 49 – The Virtue (Teh) of Trust (Universality)
- Chapter 63 – A Consideration of Beginnings (Small Beginnings)
- Chapter 67 – Three Treasures (Compassion)
- Chapter 81 – The Nature of the Essential (True Words)
***
### 💬 Discussion Format
- Each session will include five breakout discussions, one for each featured chapter.
- Expect ~20 minutes per breakout, with time to share insights at the end.
- Bring your curiosity, questions, and personal reflections.
### Location
Brighton Memorial Library, RSVP for the address and room details.
### Event Details
This event is welcoming to all. For more details about the group check out the website.
### Questions or Feedback?
If you have any questions or wish to provide feedback, feel free to reach out to me on Meetup.
Best Regards,
Ryan - Part 1: Chapters 1–37 — The Tao (道)
