Being Human in an Artificial Age - A World Philosophy Day Event

Being Human in an Artificial Age

A World Philosophy Day Event

What does it mean to be human when machines can imitate thought, emotion, and even art?
As artificial intelligence reshapes our ideas of creativity, knowledge, and consciousness, we are challenged to rediscover what it means to be human.

On this World Philosophy Day, join Denis Bricnet, philosopher and founder of the New Acropolis School of Philosophy in Canada, and Gilad Sommer, director of the New Acropolis school in Chicago, for a reflective and participatory session.

Rather than competing with technology or retreating from it, philosophy invites us to reclaim our inner life — that quiet space where meaning, moral discernment, and imagination are born.

Together, we’ll explore:

• How can we stay awake, authentic and self-directed in a world that monetizes distraction?
• What qualities truly define human intelligence?
• How can ancient wisdom and philosophical practice help us cultivate balance, presence, and ethical clarity today?

This event combines discussion and practical exercises drawn from classical philosophy — short moments of reflection, observation, and discussion — designed to reconnect us with our own capacities for awareness and discernment.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to ponder the essence of being human in the age of technology!

When: Sunday, November 23rd, 2025

Time: 3:00pm - 4:30 pm

Where: 4001 N. Ravenswood Ave. suite 204B

Speakers:

Denis Bricnet - originally from France, Denis is a public speaker and orator. In 1987 he founded the school of New Acropolis Canada and he currently acts as the regional coordinator of NA North America. Denis is a specialist in the field of the comparative symbolism of ancient cultures and has more than 40 years of experience as a teacher and a presenter of philosophy in a classical manner. In his free time he enjoys mountain climbing and currently lives in Montreal, Canada.

Gilad Sommer is the current director of the Chicago chapter of the New Acropolis school of philosophy. For the last 20 years he has been devoted to teaching philosophy as a way of life, through lectures, workshops and seminars on various topics ranging from Stoicism to classical music. His book about Stoicism, "Above All, Be Good" was published in 2019.

World Philosophy Day, which is celebrated worldwide around the 3rd Thursday of every November, was declared by UNESCO to emphasize the importance and value of philosophy for the development of human thought, culture and individuals.

With this emphasis, New Acropolis, as a school of philosophy in the classical tradition, is sharing a vision of philosophy as a way of life; a timeless method for the transformation of the individual and society, uniting and celebrating cultures, giving purpose to the individual and meaningful change for the community.