PHILOSOPHY CAFE

Philosophy is the 'Love of Wisdom'. But what is Wisdom?

A definition of Wisdom is ‘experience and knowledge together with the power of applying them practically’. Wisdom is associated with attributes such as compassion, experiential self-knowledge, non-attachment and virtues such as ethics and benevolence.

According to the Oracle at Delphi there was no-one wiser than Socrates. Socrates believed that what the Oracle had said was a paradox, because he believed he possessed no wisdom whatsoever. He proceeded to test the riddle by approaching men considered wise by the people of Athens—statesmen, poets, and artisans—in order to refute the Oracle's pronouncement. Questioning them, however, Socrates concluded that, while each man thought he knew a great deal and was wise, in fact they knew very little and were not wise at all. Socrates realized that the Oracle was correct, in that while so-called wise men thought themselves wise and yet were not, he himself knew he was not wise at all, which, paradoxically, made him the wiser one since he was the only person aware of his own ignorance.

So rather than be wise or experienced in our field of specialty, as philosophers the idea is to be wise people. The activity of interest is life itself – therefore the knowledge to be sort is that which can enable us to master the art of living, and enable a person to live truly and happily".

In keeping with Socrates we can also define the "attitude of wisdom" as "acting with knowledge while doubting what one knows".

We can approach the question of discovering wisdom through considering the way a wise person acts, how they speak, how they are in themselves. We can ask, for any situation -“What would a wise person do?”

Discuss....!

Handouts provided on the day, or can download here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QO6ZmF5c0DvCYurOP_IRBz5185BirWbV/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108914814178375137957&rtpof=true&sd=true

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We have great venue, CAFE QUENCH in Hove, with our own space on the 1st floor.
Walking distance to Hove station. Free parking.

Please arrive in time to order your refreshments and find a table.
NOTE TIME: 2.30 - 4.30 PM
IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND, PLEASE CHANGE YOUR
RSVP.

.... to follow.....

The event runs from 2.00pm – 3.30pm at the English Language Centre, Salisbury Road, Hove BN3 2GB.

Conversation & Coffee

UPSTAIRS AT
THE WICK INN
63 Western Rd,
Hove, East Sussex.
BN3 1JD

Are some things unknowable?
Can science and religion coexist?
Can power exist without corruption?
Is creativity born or learned?
Is the subconscious more powerful than we think?
What is the purpose of suffering?
What makes a life meaningful?
What role should religion play in public life?
Would you upload your mind to a computer?

These, and hundreds of other questions maybe pop up in your minds..
Let’s meet and talk about them, and hundreds of other questions, in the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of a pub with a few thinkers on a Sunday afternoon..
We have about 300 topics, written on cards.
We look at the cards.. we pick one topic, we discuss it passing around a token, so that everybody has an equal chance to speak.
Then, we read the next card, and so on.

YOU CAN VIEW ALL THE TOPICS HERE