Homo Neophilus meme trading for the intellectually curious… “We want to recruit you because you’re so gullible.  That is, gullible in the right way.  You’re skeptical about conventional wisdom, but attracted to unorthodox ideas…All humans are irrational, but there are two different kinds of irrationality-- those who love old ideas and hate and fear new ones, and those who despise old ideas and joyfully embrace new ones…They are all in one piece, so to speak…They are fully aware…And conscious w …

For anyone badass and passionate about ideas and their real life application. The BA Book club is interested in innovative ideas from sociology, economics, physical sciences, and philosophy but we're open to anything reasonable. Group will meet once a month in a badass pub to discuss that month's book. We're looking for young innovator-types. "Your hosts are two guys in their mid to late 20s".  This previous statement is now more of an idea of who our hosts once were...now every member should fe …

This group is for people interested in reading and discussing Russian fiction literature, from authors like Sergey Lukyanenko, Roman Zlotnikov, Oleg Bubela, Andrey Kruz, VItaliy Zykov, Yosif Golman. We are interested in finding common interests, book recommendations, satisfying intellectual discussions, personal growth, creative brainstorming, and just laid back socializing.

Think about it... a group devoted to intellectual discourse, philosophical inquiry, self-improvement through education, and community improvement through communication. think. strives to be such a group. We will meet weekly on the following thematic cycle First Wednesday: Science Night Second Wednesday: Philosophy Night Third Wednesday: Pushing the Envelope Night Fourth Wednesday: Book Club Night for in-depth discussions of prepared topics. think.ers will be encouraged to consider and practice T …

With the press of clinical work, broader intellectual needs of mental health clinicians can go wanting. But clinical fields are hardly the only—one could easily argue not even the strongest—avenue to understanding lives. Many scientific and scholarly disciplines study, and shed light on, human nature, suffering and well-being, and conditions that make for better and worse lives. This study group explores the work of such disciplines. This is not a book club. We will devote to each topic we addre …

Lively discussions on new authors and old favorites. Themes and one-hit wonders. Come back to Common Grounds (4321 SE Hawthorne Blvd) for a group with some familiar faces and plenty of chairs for new opinions. Eclectic readres welcomed. Voracious readers especially wanted. We meet on the last Monday of each month at 7:30.

Are you drawn to the past through books and films? And if so, are you drawn to 19th C. England? We're a small group of women who really enjoy discussing books reflecting the life and times of 19th C. England ---especially for women who lived in a Tightly Corseted World. We will read books written by men and women to better glimpse British life in order to help us understand our human nature with its hopes, dreams, struggles, humor,  complexities, etc. We understand that not everyone is able to …

A meetup group for those who want to learn about the latest findings in neuroscience. We plan to use this group to explore the latest findings in neuroscience and consciousness studies.  We want to keep things rational and scientifically-based, so we'll shy away from the New Agey stuff, while acknowledging that there are some pretty deep mysteries in this area, and parts that are necessarily subjective. The point of a meetup group is to actually meet people, so please dive in!  We can all learn …

This group is for education and empowerment on subjects that help people have a more meaningful and wiser ways to enjoy their life experience. Our events will include many local activities that add value such as: seeing movies like "What the Bleep Do We Know" or having potluck and discussion on a variety of subjects such as: philosophy, communications, awareness or on many books. We will also host activities to see speakers who come to Portland. The Dali Lama was just here and we will definitely …

Open to Mensans worldwide born between 1976 and 1995 (inclusive), we offer a means of bringing together the next generation of Mensa. This indicates not the exclusion of older, more, uh, mature persons, but simply the coherence of us youngins for discussion, amusement, and human relationships.

On May 14, Gilad Atzmon is visiting Portland, playing on KMHD, and hosting a meeting, "Jazz is my Jihad", at E Portland Community Center, 740 SE 106th Ave, 6:30 pm. He is one of the world's leading jazz musicians, but is only beginning to get known in the USA. Born in Israel, he has become one of its most effective critics. His latest album: https://www.facebook.com/gilad.atzmon.music "Songs of the Metropolis". His latest book: "The Wandering Who", http://www.gilad.co.uk/the-wandering-who, John …

Too many books, to little time to read what a book group wants you to read. Right? But you still want to share the books you love, yes? This is the book group for you. First, we pair up, and each person gets 5 mins. to tell the other one about one of their favorite reads. After 10 mins., we switch bookpals. Lather, rinse, repeat. After 3 rounds (30 mins), we get to mingle freely. We'll also put everyone's book title and name on a board to stir up further intrigue. Optional: Scribble or send a tw …

Portland Skeptics in the Pub is a casual social event for people who share an interest in science, skepticism, reason and critical thinking. We meet the last Sunday of every month at 5pm, now at the Roadside Attraction in SE Portland. Feel free to join us for conversation, drinks, and food in a friendly atmosphere.

This is a one-day event on May 18, 2013. We're meeting up at Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, Oregon (and hopefully, continuing the group after!). The group is for anyone interested in the Irish language and culture in the Portland Metro Area. It's a place to meet new people and practice your Irish! There have been groups of people meeting for several years for language, music, dance, etc., we're hoping to bring these groups together--and make new friends, too! The event started six years ago …

We are atheists and agnostics that think the natural world is all there is.  (This worldview is known as "Philosophical Naturalism" or "Metaphysical Naturalism.")  Given this outlook, how should we view life? What is the meaning of life? Where did we come from, and where are we going? How should we live the good life?  What is morality? What about love and other emotions?  We investigate to find naturalistic answers to these traditional human questions. Our group has two primary goals: 1. Develo …

This meetup is intended to give Mensa members opportunities to share events that they enjoy, beyond the Omen Calender. The group is also open to prospective members, who are curious about just what we do and why. Some of the events are duplicates of Omen events. Sign up and you'll get timely reminders. If you are a member of a band, choral group, or you just love Science Pub and Nerd Night, share them with the group.

A democratic inquiry group that elects questions from a participant generated list. Also check out our main website at socratescafepdx.wordpress.com

Obsessed with exercise and startups? Great, let's kill two birds with one stone and sweat while we network. Ideally, we'll morph into a sweet support group for the uber-motivated entrepreneurial athletic set! I'd love to talk shop while climbing mountains, or at least while cycling, hiking, kayaking, etc.  But I haven't had time for any epic adventures lately. If you'd like to organize - even intermittently - holler! ANY MEMBER can suggest a meetup activity!  You are all organizers: do it! E- …

This is a group to discuss the issues between science and religion. All religious faiths (and atheists) are included and welcomed. Anything that deals with science and religion is fair game, such as: -- Is there DNA evidence for evolution? -- Were Adam and Eve real people? -- Can Christians accept evolutionary theory? --- NOTE --- --- NOTE --- --- NOTE --- --- NOTE --- --- NOTE --- Please only attend if you are sure that you can share your views in a respectful manner. Some people are unable …

A discussion group for moms interested in exploring the connection between the roles of motherhood and the principles of feminism. This is a welcoming group in a warm and friendly space. You're not required to have a background in feminism to participate, just a desire to join the discussion and learn from each other.  I created this group so that mothers could come together and use the intellectual part of their minds -- a part often neglected when you are busy raising children and working. Lap …