The Examined Life discussion group at the Providence Athenæum explores how literature relates to life. This season’s readings will feature classical and contemporary short stories and essays, complemented by relevant poetry selections. In each session, we analyze the readings and then evaluate their relevance to our lives today.

The conversations probe existential questions: What makes a life meaningful? Why are we here? Where are we going and how can we get there? How do we cope with mortality? What insights can we derive from the perspectives and voices of canonical authors? Great literature makes visible what we may not apprehend in our own lives and shows us how we are connected in more ways than we have realized.

We draw our inspiration from Socrates: I say again that the greatest good of man is daily to converse about virtue…and that the life that is unexamined is not worth living.

This group typically meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month, September through May, 5-7pm. All meetings will take place over Zoom until further notice.

Wed, Sep 23 | The Country Husband, John Cheever

Wed, October 28 | The Enchiridion, Epictetus

Mon, November 23 | Harrison Bergeron, Kurt Vonnegut

Mon, December 21 | Let It Snow, David Sedaris

Wed, January 27 | Quaestio Centauris, Primo Levi

Wed, February 24 | Eveline, James Joyce

Wed, March 24 | The Stone Boy, Gina Berriault

Wed, April 28 | The Use of Force, William Carlos Williams

Wed, May 26 | The Garden of Forking Paths, Jorge Luis Borges

The Examined Life Discussion Group is curated and led by Robert Allio, an Athenæum member with a continuing interest in the humanities.