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
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:
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 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:
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Schedule:
2:00 - 3:45PM PST
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Tutor:
Andy Gilman
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Location:
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.