Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
INTELLECTUAL HAPPY HOUR
  • In Person

Persona Launch Party: In Defense of Human Nature with Francis Fukuyama

Note: This is a past event, additional resources may be available below.

Fri Sep 11, 2026
Washington, DC

Date

Fri Sep 11, 2026
6:30pm – 11:30pm EDT

Location

Announced When Registered

Contact

    [email protected]

Hosts

  1. Philosophy & Society

It’s time to fight about humanity.

We are launching a new publication—Persona—to have all out debates about humanity’s first principles: what we are and where we are going.

We want arguments with anyone willing to wrestle with first principles: pro-tech founders and anti-tech activists, secularists who believe in trans-human destiny and religious visionaries who believe in intrinsic human dignity.

Join us next Friday, Sept 11 for our launch with Francis Fukuyama defending human nature.

Celebrating his new book—In the Realm of the Last Men—we’ll dig into the primary questions: Is there such a thing as human nature? What should that mean in a world in which we can live an extra two hundred years, or boost our IQ by 150? And what is to become of society in this new age of technological prowess?

Doors – 6:30pm

Live taping – 7:15 – 8:30pm

Party til late

Our Society Reimagined 2026: Session 4 – Is “E Pluribus Unum” Possible After the Midterms?
Event

Our Society Reimagined 2026: Session 4 – Is “E Pluribus Unum” Possible After the Midterms?

Our Society Reimagined is a four-week series that provides an opportunity to explore the domestic issues that have shaped our modern society.

Our Society Reimagined 2026: Session 3 – Is Patriotism the Problem or the Cure?
Event

Our Society Reimagined 2026: Session 3 – Is Patriotism the Problem or the Cure?

Our Society Reimagined is a four-week series that provides an opportunity to explore the domestic issues that have shaped our modern society.

Our Society Reimagined 2026: Session 2 – Can Extreme Politics Make Our Government Stronger?
Event

Our Society Reimagined 2026: Session 2 – Can Extreme Politics Make Our Government Stronger?

Our Society Reimagined is a four-week series that provides an opportunity to explore the domestic issues that have shaped our modern society.

Our Society Reimagined 2026: Session 1 – Can the Idea of America Last?
Event

Our Society Reimagined 2026: Session 1 – Can the Idea of America Last?

Our Society Reimagined is a four-week series that provides an opportunity to explore the domestic issues that have shaped our modern society.

Aspen Policy Academy Director Betsy Cooper and another guest facilitate a panel with former Mayors London Breed and G.T. Bynum. The 4 speakers sit in chairs on stage with the Aspen Policy Academy logo displayed on a projector screen behind them.
Event

Running for Office

Learn the fundamentals of running for elected office with 2 former Mayors in this 1-hour webinar.

Another AI is Possible: Data Centers & the Future of Community Compute
Event

Another AI is Possible: Data Centers & the Future of Community Compute

Hear from builders and thinkers reimagining what data centers could be, from tiny distributed networks to public-owned utilities.

Placeholder
Event

Religious Pluralism at America 250

A live conversation on faith, pluralism, and the American experiment.

Placeholder
Event

Susan and John Klein Book Series featuring Kai Bird and Susan Goldmark on American Scoundrel

How to Tell Governments What You Think
Event

How to Tell Governments What You Think

Learn how to tell government actors what you think about their ideas in this 1-hour webinar.

Two people sitting at a desk leaning over a laptop.
Event

Scam Fighters Workshop

Participants will learn how to advocate for stronger scam fighting and cybersecurity infrastructure in their communities.