Summer Reading Groups: Plato & Nietzsche

In partnership with:

 
 

In person, free & open to the public 

The Berkeley Institute is partnering with the Catherine Project this summer to offer three reading groups on great books led by Zena Hitz, author of Lost in Thought. The groups will be in person and open to the public (ages 18 and older). If you want to take on a Platonic dialogue or a work of Nietzsche; if you want to read closely and think deeply in the company of others; or if you want to develop the habits of patient and generous thinking, apply below. Groups will consist of two meetings each across two weeks. Reading in advance of each meeting is expected.

All questions about this program are welcome at info@binst.org.

Plato’s Phaedrus*
(*Currently at enrollment capacity)

Meeting 1: Thursday, June 16, 6-8pm; Read from the beginning to marginal page number 257c

Meeting 2: Thursday, June 23, 6-8pm; Read to the end

Inexpensive recommended edition: Either here OR here. Free copies are available for college students, but must be picked up in advance.

Application is required. Please apply below.

Location: Downtown Berkeley, TBA to enrolled participants

Plato’s Theaetetus (*Waiting list only)

Meeting 1: Thursday, June 30, 6-8pm; Read from the begininning to marginal page number 186e

Meeting 2: Thursday, July 7, 6-8pm; Read to the end

Inexpensive recommended edition: here. Free copies are available for college students, but must be picked up in advance.

Application is required. Please apply below.

Location: Downtown Berkeley, TBA to enrolled participants

Nietzsche’s “The Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life” (*Waiting List Only)

Meeting 1: Thursday, July 14, 6-8pm; Read the Preface and Sections 1-5

Meeting 2: Thursday, July 21, 6-8pm; Read Sections 6-10

Inexpensive recommended edition: Here. Free copies are available for college students, but must be picked up in advance.

Application is required. Please apply below.

Location: Downtown Berkeley, TBA to enrolled participants

  • Zena Hitz

    Tutor at St. John’s College, author of Lost In Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life, and founder of the Catherine Project, a non-profit for adult education

Application

This program welcomes participants from all walks of life and educational backgrounds. Because we want to create a meaningful space for thoughtful conversation, we must limit the number of participants in each reading group. You may apply for more than one reading group, but space is not guaranteed and will fill up quickly. Please only apply to join a reading group if you can commit to attending both meetings and completing the reading beforehand.