What makes life meaningful?

Meaning in life is a big question for a Thursday night, but that is exactly what this discussion-led evening at EarlyAfter is set up for. Matthew Hammerton, an associate professor of philosophy at Singapore Management University, works through four candidate sources — work, leisure, self-enrichment and relationships — and asks what actually makes each one worthwhile, particularly once you look past work, status and achievement. He is currently writing a public philosophy piece on work, meaning and identity, prompted by Wim Wenders' film Perfect Days, so the thinking is fresh rather than recycled.

The format is not a lecture. Matthew shares briefly, then opens the room: three questions go to him, differing viewpoints are invited, and attendees can tell their own stories or simply listen and join in where it suits them. Doors open at 6.45pm for drinks, dinner is served at 7.15pm, introductions run at 7.25pm before Matthew takes over, and the session wraps at 8.35pm with time to mingle. S$35 covers the evening, and the whole thing runs 7–9pm.