It’ll be the most intellectual Saturday night you’ve ever had.

It was only a year ago that the first Nuit des Idées happened, with more than 4,000 people convening on the Quai D’Orsay to hear the greatest French and international minds speak about contemporary and highly contested topics. Now, in 2017 for its second edition on January 26th, Nuit des Idées events will be happening in 40 countries and 70 cities around the globe.

This year’s global theme is “a common world.” From sunset to sunrise, debates, panels, performances, and screenings will cover topics about conflicts and divisions, shared responsibilities, and common desires for the future. Individual cities can deviate from that theme in topic and title. New York retitled its chapter to “A Night of Philosophy and Ideas” but in terms of content, the evening will remain generally consistent with the global theme.

Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Branch will host this year’s Night of Philosophy and Ideas on Saturday, January 28th, from 7:00pm to Sunday, Janurary 29th at 7:00am. The philosophers, thinkers, and performers coming to the 12-hour marathon of intellectual discussion are elite intellectuals, coming from all over the world to share their perspective. Some key events include Borders in Today’s World with Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak (8:30pm), How to Do Bad Things with Words with Anna Gotlib (10:30pm) and The Dilemma Series which will be addressing everyday ethical questions with 15 philosophers (beginning at 7:00pm, happening every half-hour until 3:00am). See a complete schedule of events here.

For those concerned about staying up so late, let food and drink fuel you, available for sale on location. As with the best philosophical debates, there’s no need to RSVP—just come if the moment strikes you! And if you’re not in New York, check out the official Nuit des Idées map to find events near you.

Contact
For more information, please contact the Brooklyn Public Library’s BPL Presents team.
RSVPs not required
Phone 718.230.2200
Email [email protected]

Co-presented by Brooklyn Public Library and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy.

Original concept by Mériam Korichi