The text can be found here. 

Key Concepts

Existential happiness = happiness about having a basic life (being conscious and having agency)

Happiness about particulars = happiness about specific features of your life (your job, relationships, house, etc.)

The Central Arguments

Why is existential happiness rational? Because: 

Having a basic life has intrinsic value

We can be genuinely attached to the elements of life itself (consciousness, agency)

When does existential happiness occur?

Near-death experiences or close encounters with mortality

Moments of awe at one's own consciousness

Counterfactual thinking (realizing how unlikely your existence is)

These sessions are participant-driven discussions focused on philosophical essays, facilitated by a trained CU Boulder philosopher. Our goal at each discussion is to build a philosophical dialogue by investigating as a community of thinkers. Each session focuses on a philosophical text, but we do not regard the authors we read as unquestionable authorities. Rather, we consider each author to be another voice in our shared dialogue. 

To prepare, please read the selected text to the best of your ability. Most months you'll find a reading guide linked above. If you are unable to read ahead, please come anyway. We recommend bring a copy of the reading with you - digital or printed out.

At the discussion, after brief introductions and a review of the discussion policies, the facilitator will ask participants to share questions and ideas for group discussion.  The facilitator will then guide the group in working through as many of their questions as possible before recapping and wrapping up the discussion.

No background in philosophy is expected or required. We are excited to discuss the ideas raised by your interaction with the text!

Click here for our discussion guidelines.

More reading & discussion groups

Longmont Public Library "Deep Thoughts" reading group - We run an online discussion group in cooperation with Longmont Public Library that meets on the 4th Monday of each month. Registration is free and open to all

[CLOSED] Boulder Public Library "Classics of Philosophy" reading group - We used to run a discussion group in cooperation with Boulder Public Library that met on the 2nd Monday of each month. This group has closed, but you can still brows the list of past sessions for ideas on things to read!

Great philosophy podcasts

The History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps - Over 350 episodes covering various philosophers and topics. Includes episode series on Indian philosophy and Africana philosophy.

Hi-Phi Nation - over 60 episodes (as of 2023) that discuss philosophical ideas in contemporary contexts.  

Discussion groups

Grey Havens Philosophy - A Longmont, CO based nonprofit running weekly and monthly philosophical discussion groups for all ages.

Your local philosophers!

Philosophy Department at the University of Colorado - Boulder