What we’re about
"Those who can be made to believe absurdities can be made to commit atrocities."
- Voltaire
Come and join a friendly group of people in Fairfax, Virginia for monthly Sunday discussions of the ideas of the European Enlightenment, also known as the “Age of Voltaire.” These ideas include the following:
- A critical attitude toward religion
- A profound respect for reason and science as sources of knowledge
- The idea of individual rights and a free society
- The importance of freedom of speech for a free society
- Human happiness or flourishing as a moral standard
We’ll look at the writings of Voltaire and his contemporaries (such as Diderot, d’Alembert, and Paine), as well as much more recent writings that may fit into the Enlightenment tradition (including works by Steven Pinker and Richard Dawkins).
Our first project was a set of discussions on Steven Pinker’s book Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress.
The group host is Frederick Seiler, author of God Versus Nature: The Conflict Between Religion and Science in History.
Upcoming events (3)
See all- John Locke's Letter on TolerationPanera Bread, Vienna, VA
Let's talk about John Locke' Letter on Toleration -- a crucially important work that influenced the US Constitution. It was written in late 17th-century England.
Please try to read at least the first 5 sections of the letter. Let's discuss: How does Locke defend toleration, and what does he mean by toleration? To what extent do his arguments depend on religion?
You can find the letter here, under "Toleration":
LINKThere is also a wikipedia entry on Locke's letter here:
LINKI hope to see you there!
Fred
