Practical Philosophy Club, a community that organizes weekly in-person meetings and brings critical thinkers together for the opportunity to dive deep into a topic,

By Polina Amaya

January 13th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

I’m a member of Practical Philosophy Club, a community that organizes weekly in-person meetings and brings critical thinkers together for the opportunity to dive deep into a topic, practice communication, and build community, all with no formal philosophy background required.

I believe this community initiative offers a meaningful response to a growing hunger for depth, dialogue, and shared reflection in an increasingly fragmented and online world, especially when there is so much talk about loneliness and isolation. People get the chance to meet in person at no cost, hear others’ opinions, positions, and reflections face-to-face, without hiding behind a screen, staying anonymous, or relying on ChatGPT. A bonus is what happens before and after the discussion, when people mingle, introduce themselves, and reconnect with familiar faces.

I’ve personally been a member of the Hamilton chapter for two and a half years. More recently, in December of last year, a Burlington chapter opened up. The group meets weekly, either at Alton Community Centre or Tansley Woods Community Centre, Thursday, January 15th, start at 7pm to 9pm

Jump-off points to think about:

1. In terms of the past, where do you get your lessons? Personal past or exploration of history?
   2. What’s the greatest lesson we can learn from the past?
   3. What’s a mistake that we continue to make from the past?
   4. Can we use the past to predict the future?
   5. Is there a lesson from your own past you wish you had learned earlier?
   6. Can we reinterpret the past depending on what we think is better for the future, or is it objective?
   7. When you imagine the future — personal or collective — do you feel hope, fear, or responsibility?
   8. Do we have a moral responsibility to future generations? Should our choices today be based on the wellbeing of people not born yet?
   9. If you could time travel to any time in the past, where would it be and why?
   10. Do we idolize the past while fearing the future?
   11. Is there any chance that something entirely new and unexpected will happen in the future, or have all the possibilities happened?
   12. How much responsibility do you have in shaping the future, or is it up to oligarchs and world governments?

Practical Philosophy received charitable status last year and has chapters across Southern Ontario. I believe that if more people in Burlington heard about it, many would truly enjoy and benefit from the experience.