For anyone on the lookout for good ideas around which to organize a discussion group, here is one alternative. This concerns the real world rather than an online group, but what couldn't RC become topical in reality not only virtual reality ? BR --------------------------------------------------------------- New Philosopher magazine Is there a cafe philo near you?
_by New Philosopher_ (http://www.newphilosopher.com/author/admin/) on April 30, 2013 Following in the footsteps of Marc Sautet’s café philosophique – which was set up in 1992 and is widely credited with bringing philosophy back to the general public – is an English language version run by American expat Michael Muszlak. His monthly meetup at the iconic Café de Flore in Paris’s upmarket 6th arrondissement draws an eclectic group of young and old, professional and amateur, each on a quest – be it for answers, questions or just a good cup of coffee and an argument. A long-time resident in Paris, Muszlak initially set up the Café Philo around the corner from his Latin Quarter apartment as an addition to his bilingual supper club “TeaTime is TalkTime”. Five years on it boasts more than 1,000 members and can lay claim to being one of the largest of its kind in the world. In true democratic style topics are proferred by the participants, then put to a vote. This time around “ Technological advancements – positive or negative for humans?” beat out “ Does class exist?”; previous sessions have covered free will, beauty, the limits of human knowledge, what is a conscience, the rights of the individual and metaphysics. At the end of an evening of lively discussion, wine and coffee with a group of amateur intellectuals, it’s easy to see why café philos are such a hit around the world. England has its own version in the form of Pub Philosophy, replacing wine with beer but holding on to the rest, meanwhile Australia has various options including Sydney’s Socrates Cafe (founded by New Philosopher writer Tim Dean), Philo Agora at Berkelouw Books in Leichhardt and Western Australia’s long-running café/pub philo at the Sail & Anchor pub in Freemantle. -------------------------------------------------------- Comments : I love this idea. When I was young there were a number of what we referred to as 'Push' pubs in Sydney, where you could rely on finding good conversation, and people were happy to argue, vociferously at times, and no one took offense. The Royal George in Sussex St was my first experience, as an alienated, precocious fifteen-year-old who used to hitch-hike looking for real conversation. I still remember the buzz of walking into that hive of the mind and feeling like I'd come home. Then there was the Vanity Fair, down towards Central, and the Windsor Castle and Four in Hand in Paddington. There were also a couple of like-mind-hives in Balmain, but I didn't go there often. I don't know if places like this still exist, but I'd love it if there was one out my way, on Sydney's Northern Beaches. ----- I am part of a small group of thinkers in the lower Hunter Valley known as "The Hunter Valley Socratic Society" and we meet on the first Tuesday of the month at East Maitland Library. Our original concept was to establish a philosophy café however we could not find a suitable venue. The article in NP is enlightening and thanks for the effort. We will look again for a suitable café and keep you informed. Some of our past topics were – What is a just war. Was justice done in Pakistan. Should we choose the lesser of two evils. Ethics in education. -- -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
