The Cold Spring Harbor Philosophical Society was established to enrich intellectual inquiry and dynamism within the North Shore of Long Island. The society's activities reflect the general spirit of interdisciplinary exchanges to promote a more enlightened and humanistic society.

The Society’s approach is inspired by the Romantic era beliefs of knowledge being imbedded within the cultural and social dimensions of society and its contributions to the formation of its views on ethics, art, music, science, education, and literature. The social capital held by individuals is immensely valuable and makes up an important basis for the sociology of knowledge. Within our modern institutional structures, the human experiences and their promotion of economic justice, equitable distribution of wealth and services, and individual rights are supported.

The Society's events include art viewings, music salons, poetry readings, book discussions, and invitational lectures.