In its beginnings Philosophy was a "public affair": Socrates and his disciples chose the main square -the most crowded place in the polis- as the ideal stage to discuss the nature of truth and justice.

For those first philosophers the challenge of "thinking" was also something that should be enjoyed in the company of friends (without renouncing arguments and disagreements).

Both elements are in the origin of l'Université Populaire of Caen - an initiative begun in France by the philosopher Michel Onfray which sought to establish a non-academic forum, an informal one, for debating and spreading new ideas.

Its success was replicated in other "universities" in different French cities like Lyon o Avignon. In 2007, the idea also caught on in Boston, where a group of French expat residents of Cambridge began the local chapter of this center of "intellectual resistance".

According to its founder, the French philosopher Olivier Saint-Vincent, the proposal is, at least on paper, simple: organize free philosophy lessons which are open to the greater public. The only "prerequisite" for its participants is a healthy curiosity for topics like ethics, politics, arts or biology.

The classes at l'Université Populaire, taught by volunteers that are professors and specialists, take place at different venues in Cambridge. (The program and locations are on the web upboston.blogspot.com).

Some readers might be disappointed to find out that the courses are imparted in French - but this could work as an incentive for those people who are interested in learning a new language. In the end, it's just another way of cultivating curiosity…

And that's what counts.