"If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
John Stuart Mill On Liberty
“I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Attributed to Voltaire
WHAT WILL WE DISCUSS?
The possibilities are almost endless. Here are some, which we will add to as members suggest other topics and philosophers that they would like to discuss or lead a discussion on:
• Individual philosophers, their context, ideas and influence
• My favourite philosopher, and why
• Practical or topical ethical issues
• How do we know we’re not dreaming?
• How do we know anything?
• How do we know right and wrong?
• God, existence of
• What is art?
• What is beauty?
• The good life
• Free will v determinism
• Materialism
• The mind / body question
See also http://www.e-voice.org.uk/kingstonphilosophycafe/some-possible-topics/.
HOW WILL WE DISCUSS?
There are lots of ways of starting off a good philosophical discussion, and we hope to try most of them. We hope that members will volunteer to lead discussions and that everyone will be prepared to challenge ideas and arguments and to have theirs challenged (1).
We hope to spend 2 sessions on some topics: the first to set the scene, raise and begin discussing the issues and arguments, and suggest questions to think about and reading; the second to continue the discussion having had time to read and think further and deeper. Some topics will repay discussion several times over a year or two, focussing on different aspects or questions. One rarely completely finishes with a philosophical question.
- You could start a discussion by reading a paper or an essay on the ideas of a philosopher or a philosophical issue. You could post an outline or some questions and ideas on the KPC website, to give members things to think about before the meeting. If you are a philosophy student could try out an essay on a friendly but critical audience. A philosophy teacher could give a talk - perhaps on a favourite philosopher or topic that isn't on the current syllabus, or one that is and on which you'd like to test out some theories.
- You could just come along with a stimulating question (or several related questions) to open up discussion. (Not much preparation required).
- You could arrange to have a dialogue with another member on a philosophical issue, or ask someone to respond to your paper.
- Some sessions could begin with a thought experiment or a philosophical puzzle, as in Julian Baggini’s book The Pig That Wants To Be Eaten (2) or Martin Cohen’s 101 Philosophy Problems or Stephen Law’s The Philosophy Gym: 25 Short Adventures in Thinking or Exploring Ethics by Jeremy Hayward, Gerald Jones & Marilyn Mason, or Peter Cave's What's wrong with eating people? (3)
- Some could work like a reading group, with everyone reading a text (some are available on the internet) and coming to the meeting ready to discuss it.
- Depending on how many come along, we can discuss in one large group, or several smaller ones, or a combination of the two.
- Extracts from Gerald Rochelle's Practical Philosophy Café Philo which has some good ideas for ways of running a Philosopy Cafe which members might like to consider, including:
"Café Philo
…is a regular meeting of people who discuss the ‘larger questions’ of life…
…stimulates real dialogue in an open and comfortable setting…"
"Good Listeners and Good Speakers
Good listeners:
Are open and receptive to speakers
Patient with different speaking styles
Know when to be silent
Listen with empathy
Listen in accordance with the speaker’s purpose
Are courteous
Do not engage in side conversations
Are open, honest and willing
Good speakers:
Focus on the topic
Take chances and risks
Think before speaking
Strive for eye contact
Check body language of listeners
Convey integrity
Build on the comments of others
Get to know their audience
Talk with not at their audience
Are open, honest and willing
Do not stray from the topic
Do not give monologues
Do not monopolize time"
WHERE WILL WE DISCUSS?
Usually in a cafe in central Kingston, and in one of the back rooms of the Grey Horse pub, Richmond Road, Kingston. Please come along a bit before meetings to meet up and buy a drink before discussion begins.
WHEN WILL WE DISCUSS?
See Events section of the website. Dates and times may vary, but normally we will meet on the first Thursday of the month in a Kingston cafe and the third Wednesday of the month in the Grey Horse pub.
For most of the year we will have serious but informal philosophical discussions, as above. One evening a year will be spent reviewing and planning the programme for the following year.
Notes
(1) This is not a debating society and scoring points is not the point. Challenges may include asking for evidence, reasons for an argument and clarifications of meaning. “Why do you think that…?, “What exactly did you mean by…?” or “How did you get from argument or fact A to argument or fact B?” are typical and legitimate philosophical challenges. The “principle of charity” should govern Philosophy Café discussions; this involves not assuming the worst of a speaker, instead taking the most coherent, rational interpretation as the intended one when there are other possible interpretations, thus avoiding unwarranted accusations of irrationality, logical fallacies or falsehoods.
(2) A sample, in which Julian Baggini asks some of the country's leading thinkers to consider four of his philosophical problems, can be read at http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/politicsphilosophyandsociety/story/0,,1540242,00.html or search inside or buy it here.
(3) Buy Peter Cave's What's wrong with eating people? here or see a flyer here.
