Brooklyn Institute for Social Research
Classes in Chicago
The Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, established in 2011, offers liberal arts education and research opportunities to local communities while supporting young scholars. With a mission to engage various intellectual traditions, the institute aims to provide accessible education and foster active, engaged citizens.
7 classes with availability
Gershom Scholem: Mysticism and the Philosophy of History
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Delve into the rich intellectual legacy of Gershom Scholem. Explore his profound insights into Jewish mysticism and its intersection with contemporary politics and the Jewish historical condition. Uncover Scholem's influential philosophy of history, rooted in kabbalah, messianism, and a deep engagement with language, literature, and nationhood.
Nov 22nd
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Sun. Nov 22nd, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Thomas Mann: The Magic Mountain
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Explore Thomas Mann’s modernist masterpiece through a close reading of its complex themes and philosophical questions. Examine the tensions between life and death, science and mysticism, and progress and tradition. Engage in thoughtful discussions about the novel’s characters, symbolism and historical context.
Nov 18th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Wed. Nov 18th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
What is Participatory Democracy? Theory, Activism, and Power
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online Classroom
Delve into the complexities of participatory democracy, exploring its diverse interpretations and potential for societal transformation. Through readings and discussions, you'll engage with classical and contemporary thinkers, examining how civic participation can reshape political power and address social inequalities. Consider whether participatory democracy offers a genuine alternative to existing systems.
Nov 17th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 5 Times
$355
3 Seats Left
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Tue. Nov 17th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(15 hours over 5 sessions)
Museums: a Critical Introduction
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Explore how museums became influential spaces for preserving, interpreting and presenting art, culture and history. Examine the political, ethical and cultural forces shaping these institutions, including colonialism, repatriation and curatorial authority. Develop a critical perspective on museums and their role in shaping knowledge and cultural narratives.
Nov 18th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Wed. Nov 18th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Ruth Wilson Gilmore: Race, Capitalism, and Incarceration
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Explore Ruth Wilson Gilmore’s influential work on race, capitalism, incarceration, and prison abolition. Examine how carceral systems shape social expectations and ideas of freedom, justice, and responsibility. Consider alternative approaches to justice beyond retribution and imprisonment while engaging with critical questions about society and liberation.
Nov 22nd
2–5pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Sun. Nov 22nd, 2–5pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Bach: Music and Transcendence
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Explore the complex life and enduring musical legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach. Examine the beliefs, emotions and religious convictions that shaped his compositions, from sacred works to major instrumental pieces. Discover how the intellectual and spiritual conflicts of his era influenced Bach’s distinctive musical voice and lasting appeal.
Nov 22nd
2–5pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Sun. Nov 22nd, 2–5pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Tragedy and Decolonization: From Pessimism to Emancipation
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Explore how tragedy and decolonization intertwine through literature, theory, and political struggle. From the Haitian Revolution to contemporary liberation movements, examine how writers and thinkers like Césaire, James, Fanon, and Soyinka reimagined tragedy to confront history, violence, and the pursuit of freedom.
Nov 18th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
24 Seats Left
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Wed. Nov 18th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
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Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason (Chicago)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 150 Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
Delve into Kant's groundbreaking "Critique of Pure Reason," a seminal work that revolutionized western philosophy by critiquing reason itself. This course offers close readings of key sections, exploring fundamental questions about knowledge, reality, and human reason. Examine Kant's concepts like the synthetic a priori, transcendental idealism, and the limits and nature of rationality.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Emily Dickinson: Poetry, Heresy, and Desire (Chicago)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 1210 W Thorndale Ave, Chicago, IL
Explore the complex realities of fascism beyond ideology and psychology, examining its institutional structures, economic policies, and governance. Through influential texts and historical analysis, uncover how fascist states functioned — and consider whether insights from the past can help decode transformations in today’s political and economic landscape.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Socialism or Barbarism: an Introduction to Rosa Luxemburg
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 150 Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
Explore Rosa Luxemburg’s revolutionary vision — from her critique of reformism to her bold theories of mass strikes, imperialism, and international socialism. Engage with her powerful debates against Lenin and the Second International, and uncover what her legacy of uncompromising radicalism, shaped by both triumph and tragedy, can teach us about the struggles for democracy and socialism today.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
What is Fascism? Economy, Society, and State
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 1210 W Thorndale Ave, Chicago, IL
Examine the institutional and economic foundations of fascism, exploring its governing systems, civic roles, and ideological frameworks. Through classic and contemporary texts, investigate how fascist regimes functioned, their economic policies, and the relevance of this history to understanding today's political and economic transformations.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Spinoza’s Ethics (Chicago)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 1210 W Thorndale Ave, Chicago, IL
Explore the bold, rationalist vision of Baruch Spinoza as you delve into his Ethics, where God and Nature merge into a single, infinite substance. Unpack his critiques of free will, anthropocentrism, and teleology, and trace his lasting influence on metaphysics, political thought, and materialist philosophy.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: Love, Money, and the Modern Self (Chicago)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 1210 W Thorndale Ave, Chicago, IL
Examine Pride and Prejudice as a groundbreaking response to the challenges of selfhood, social critique, and representation in the modern novel. This course situates Austen’s work within the socio-political tensions of her time, exploring how narrative form, character, and the marriage plot engage with questions of class, gender, and modernity.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
A Ruthless Criticism of Everything Existing: an Introduction to Marx (Chicago)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 1210 W Thorndale Ave, Chicago, IL
Engage with Karl Marx's "ruthless criticism of everything existing" as this course examines his transformative contributions to philosophy, economics, and politics. Through key texts and influential interpretations, explore how Marx's ideas shaped diverse movements, from feminism to ecosocialism. No prior background is required to dive into this critical exploration.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Reviews of Brooklyn Institute for Social Research
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George Eliot: Daniel Deronda
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Late-Capitalist Architecture
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Reading the Iliad
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Solarpunk: Theory, Fiction, and Radical Futures
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Herman Melville: The Confidence-Man
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Architectural Experiments: Revolutions in Design
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Emanation and Return: an Introduction to Neoplatonism (In-Person)
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Kierkegaard: Either/Or
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Ruins: Beauty, Feeling, and Catastrophe (In-Person)
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Leo Strauss: Philosophy Between the Lines
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Hysteria, Dreams, and Psychoanalysis: an Introduction to Freud
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Leo Tolstoy: Anna Karenina (In-Person)
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The Subway: Urbanism, Infrastructure, and Social Life
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Vergil’s Aeneid: Myth, Empire, and Ruin
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Vergil’s Aeneid: Myth, Empire, and Ruin
First, I was really out of my element. I was lost from the start! I found the reading difficult….and I think I had the wrong book. Second, the discussions were tedious and baffling. The “class” was filled with Aeneid groupies who tried one-upping each other at every turn; I didn’t get anything out of that except being annoyed that everyone was trying to impress each other with their academic prowess. It just was the wrong class for me. I’m sure the students I’m referring to loved it! But it was really beyond me. And that’s on me. -
Mining: Industry, Ecology, and Capitalism
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James Joyce: Ulysses
It was not easy, but I didn't expect it to be. I got some very useful insight into the book, which will help in my second reading. I will be looking for more classes taught by Professor Porte. -
Hannah Arendt: The Human Condition
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Proust in Time: The Prisoner
pretentious, and unwelcoming professor -
Henry James: The Portrait of a Lady
