Interintellect Event to Unpack Surprising History and Implications of 'Boundaries' Concept

Interintellect, a platform dedicated to fostering deep intellectual discussions, is set to host an event exploring the often-unquestioned concept of "boundaries." Writer and editor Lily Scherlis, alongside host Lylia Li, will delve into the historical origins and societal impact of this seemingly intuitive idea, prompting participants to examine their assumptions.

The online and offline salon series, described as reinventing the "French salon for the 21st century," provides a space for open and respectful conversations on diverse topics, including philosophy, technology, and society. Interintellect aims to bring together curious minds to engage with significant ideas and perspectives.

Lily Scherlis, a PhD candidate and editor at the Chicago Review, has extensively researched the popularization of "personal boundaries." Her work, notably the essay "Boundary Issues," traces the concept's emergence in the mid-1960s within ego psychology and systems theory, often linked to Cold War-era geopolitical anxieties. It then gained widespread traction in the 1990s self-help movement.

Scherlis critically argues that the modern "boundaries" discourse often frames human relationships through the lens of property ownership and neoliberal individualism. She suggests this perspective can lead to an overemphasis on individual responsibility, potentially overlooking systemic issues or even enabling victim-blaming. The discussion will highlight how this pervasive concept, despite its moral authority, warrants deeper historical and philosophical scrutiny.

The event, as announced by Interintellect, invites attendees to:

"explore its surprising history & why that matters for how we relate today. Understand your assumptions."

This discussion seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of how "boundaries" have shaped contemporary social and psychological narratives, urging a re-evaluation of their role in personal and collective interactions.