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Upcoming Online Events

The Agora Foundation is a nonsectarian 501(c)3 non-profit endeavor, providing great books seminars and other educational opportunities to those who are busy with careers, families, and daily responsibilities yet are seeking to further their education. The goal of these offerings is to provide an understanding of the ideas that shape civilizations and to promote civil discourse on complicated subjects. The Agora Foundation has facilitated over 1,000 great books seminars and teacher trainings, covering a wide variety of topics including literature, philosophy, political science, theology, history, art, psychology, and more, featuring ancient and modern texts from around the world. In addition to seminars, since 2014 Agora has produced 35 panels, gatherings, and video interviews, promoting civil discourse on controversial and complicated subjects. Hundreds of these events can be freely viewed and listened to on this website.

 

Generously funded by The Ahmanson Foundation, Southern California Edison, The Shanbrom Family Foundation, the Ventura County Community Foundation, the WRG Foundation, the Constance Eaton and William Hart Fund, the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Ojai, CIty of Ojai, and private donations, the Teachers for Lifelong Learning Program provides training to high school teachers in this engaging approach to learning, and The Ojai Chautauqua provides panels promoting civil discourse on controversial and complicated subjects. 

Upcoming Regular Events

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Onsite Free Community Seminar

Eastern Classics - Tao Te Ching

Tuesday, December 3

12:00-1:00PM PST

Centering around the bodies of work from China, Japan, and India, this series will focus on the texts of Taoism, Confucius, Buddhism, and Hinduism. We invite you to join us and attendees can feel free to join intermittently.

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December 3 Reading:

Tao Te Ching - Chapter 21

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Schedule:

12:00 - 1:00PM PST

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Tutor:
Andy Gilman

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Location:

The Ojai Library

111 East Ojai Avenue

Ojai, California 93023

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Online Seminar Series

The Laws by Plato

Saturday, December 7

11:30AM-1:30PM PST

The Laws is Plato's last and longest dialogue. Scholars agree that Plato wrote this dialogue as an older person, having failed in his effort to guide the rule of the tyrant Dionysius I of Syracuse, instead having been thrown in prison. We invite you to join us as we read this often overlooked text, one section at a time, in monthly online events.

 

December 7 Reading:

Book 7 - Section 12 - Education
(pages 225-274, 788a-824a)

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Schedule:

11:30AM - 1:30PM PST

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Tutor:

David Appleby

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Location:

Online. Register to receive the link.

Online Free Community Seminar

Foundations of Our Republic - Federalist Papers Complete

Saturday, December 7

2:00-3:45PM PST

What are the fundamental principles of our Republic? Are these principles based on a view of objective reality/nature, or simply the "consent of the governed"? Please join us as we explore these political works through monthly weekend meetings.

 

December 7 Reading:

Federalist Papers 37-40

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Schedule:

2:00 - 3:45PM PST

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Tutor:

Andy Gilman

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Location:

Online. Register to receive the link.

Ojai Chautauqua Panel - The City and the Valley of Ojai - Understanding and Enhancing the Relationship Between the City and County
December 2, 2024

 

An evening of conversation between Matt LaVere - District 1 County Supervisor, Ben Harvey - Ojai City Manager, and Andy Gilman - Director of the Agora Foundation. This free community event explored the various boundaries between the City of Ojai and the Unincorporated Ojai Valley. How do these local governments collaborate, communicate, and work toward shared goals. Topics included homelessness, land use, traffic, safety, and housing.

An Introduction to The Agora Foundation. What is liberal education? 

An Introduction to The Agora Foundation's Ojai Chautauqua Panels.

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