Workshops & Courses

Philosophy workshops and courses covering ethics, existentialism, economics, and decision-making in professional contexts.

These programs draw on seven years of university teaching and four years of independent cohorts with over 700 participants worldwide.

Formats

1. In-Person Seminars & Offsites: For leadership and product teams stepping back to examine foundational assumptions and decision-making.
2. On-Demand Cohorts: Focused online discussion cohorts tailored to your organization or community.
3. 1-on-1 Guided Study: Direct reading mentorships over four to six weeks.

To discuss scheduling a workshop for your organization or joining a cohort, get in touch.

Core Programs

Asking Questions & Navigating Uncertainty

A three-session workshop for professionals and business leaders. Guided by Socrates and the Stoics, we explore the art of asking meaningful questions, reframing complex problems, and navigating uncertainty in personal and professional decision-making.

The Quest for Meaning

An exploration of how three eminent thinkers grappled with existence, purpose, and the human condition: Aristotle on fulfillment and the pursuit of excellence, Viktor Frankl on discovering meaning amidst adversity, and Jean-Paul Sartre on freedom, choice, and authenticity.

Introduction to Ethics

An introduction to the foundations of ethical decision-making through the original writings of Aristotle (Virtue Ethics), Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism), and Immanuel Kant (Deontology), with applications to real-world dilemmas.

Upcoming

• Philosophy of Software Architecture (Dec. 2026): A three-part course exploring the philosophical foundations of software engineering through Plato, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Bergson, Whitehead, and Deleuze. Taught by Barry O’Reilly.

Course Archive

A selection of independent courses previously offered to international cohorts:

• Money, Morality, and Debt: Ancient credit systems, the morality of debt, capitalism, and modern finance.

• Existentialism in Literature: Freedom, subjectivity, anxiety, and death through Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Sartre, and Camus.

• Knowledge and Reality: Perception, external-world skepticism, time, and theories of mind.

• Philosophy of Economics: Economic thought through Hume, Adam Smith, Marx, Keynes, and Hayek.

• Philosophy of Religion: Rational examination of religious concepts, the problem of evil, and faith versus reason.

• Introduction to Philosophy: Foundational survey of Plato, Stoicism, Epicureanism, Descartes, and Hume.

Coverage & Participant Notes

“This is not your typical class. The lecture is over, so we’re free to leave, but the conversation is still going strong.”
Megan Preston Meyer, Toastmasters Magazine

“Mahmoud does an excellent job of presenting the course material and topics in a way that is open ended and invites discussion. Background readings and in-depth references are always made available… The class is designed for people with busy lives, who are not philosophy majors, and who usually don’t have any background in philosophy at all.”
Anthony Smyrski, The Random Embassy Papers

“Mahmoud convenes a fascinating global audience of really interesting people to consider, dissect big questions. He is really deft at building consensus on interesting subject matter and facilitating an expansive dialogue.”
Peter Noble

“The discussion is like one you’d have with friends over coffee, tea, or beers. The attendees come from all over the world… Spain, Germany, Sweden, Lebanon, India, America, which brings a wealth of perspective you won’t get with your neighbors.”
Steve S.