Accessible
High-level inquiry and academics made accessible to the general public.
Public philosophy · Los Angeles
Where ideas meet the public square.
We create free environments where lifelong learners can connect with like-minded thinkers and a worldwide network of ideas and intellectual curiosity.
A place to hear and a place to be heard.Ideas become publicLos Angeles, CA
01 · Our mission
A flourishing community for lifelong learners.
Our mission is to create a place where lifelong learners can come to connect, discuss, listen, and be heard. We believe that whoever walks with the wise becomes wise.
Los Angeles is a beautiful melting pot of people from different backgrounds, educations, and belief systems. The Agora provides a space for rich professional and personal relationships, open dialogue, and sharp inquiry.
Discover our originRead Our Story→Interactive
Active learning that invites people to challenge assumptions and beliefs.
Diverse
Different backgrounds and disciplines stimulate creativity and discovery.
A thought in the square
01 / 15The unexamined life is not worth living.
02 · Public forums
Conversations worth entering.
The Agora attracts top scholars across science, philosophy, technology, art, history, and design. Our forums invite the audience into dialogue and roundtable questions.
Watch forumJune 21, 2024Technology & humanity
01
A.I.: What Makes Us Human?
A discussion of how AI is changing our expectations about truth, responsibility, time, attention, and human connection.
Dr. Donald J. Patterson · Julie Frumin, LMFT
View the forum ↗
Watch forumMay 16, 2025History & civic memory
02
Repeating History
A Holocaust forum examining propaganda, obedience, historical memory, and our responsibilities in the present.
Dr. Erica Miller · Dr. Chris Hoeckley · Dr. Brian J. Collins
View the forum ↗
04 · Give
Keep the public square open.
The Agora exists to facilitate community, self-enrichment, and public education. We aim to build a bridge between public education and higher academia so socioeconomic status is never a barrier for aspiring intellectuals.
Free public forums
Regular public forums without any cost to attendees.
Speakers & dialogue
Internationally acclaimed speakers and qualified academics at roundtable discussions.
Wider access
Media coverage and live streams that extend each conversation to online participants.
The Agora is committed not only to producing meaningful dialogue today, but to safeguarding the future of public intellectual life.
Give to The Agora LA →
The Agora LA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Already donated? Share your details ↗05 · Enter the square
Come to connect, discuss, listen, and be heard.
Whether your passion lies in the arts or in STEM, there is a place for you to find qualified people to learn from and share with.