What we’re about
SO WHO ARE WE?
Curious Soul is a dynamic meetup group designed for critical thinkers seeking intellectual exploration and engaging discussions. We are a diverse community of individuals who value objective analysis, evidence-based reasoning, and above all, open-mindedness. With our collective passion for expanding knowledge, we come together to delve into thought-provoking topics, challenge conventional wisdom, and explore the complexities of the human experience.
Whether you're interested in philosophy, science, religion, contemporary issues, or any other subject of debate, please join us to connect with other passionate, loving and curious minds on our exciting ride to discover truth . With this spirit in mind, I believe we can truly cultivate a community where critical thinking thrives!
WHY JOIN THIS GROUP?
Our understanding of Truth as human beings has a long history of being taken for granted. With little scrutiny, society at large has passively accepted & obeyed information from media publications, cultural norms, public education, religious doctrines, scientific studies, corporate entities and even the occasional words spoken by a respected friend.
This overall lack of concern for Truth as a guiding principle should come as no surprise when you consider that we live in this world where information has never been so accessible & rich, yet strangely hard to access through a mystifying network of misleading publications, politicized search algorithms, bots/fake profiles, meme culture, censorship, and sometimes at best "edutainment". In a world such as this, having a trained and critical mind is your best chance towards untangling the Truth.
With this in mind, we should make no mistake about it: We have an immense duty & privilege as the stewards of our community, our generation and our planet, to develop ourselves into great critical thinkers. It is inherent in the very process of searching for truth that we can begin to change our beliefs. By changing our beliefs, we can change our actions and only through changing our actions, we can create real change in ourselves as well as the world around us.
HOW WILL THIS BE STRUCTURED?
I have been pondering on several formats that could lead to very colorful and insightful discussions. One where we have a panel speaker followed by Q&A, a formal debate structure around a topic with time limitations for each person or group to argue their point, and even a happy hour where we grab a coffee, tea, or beverage of your choosing where we can discuss more casusally. I'd imagine that preferred formats will begin to emerge as the group grows and we will probably end up offering a variety of formats on different dates so that people can best align with their format of interest.
I am always open for both discussion topics as well as format suggestions and would encourage anyone to share a topic/format that is important to them. So, if you have one, please submit it to me in advance so we can plan accordingly.
CURIOUS SOUL ADVENTURE ETIQUETTE & VALUES:
Why develop group etiquette?
Developing group etiquette ensures that we all have an agreed upon code of conduct. This group etiquette will serve much like the rules of engagement for any sporting match, board game, or traffic regulations that we are already accustomed adhering to. Essentially, it will serve as a guardian to keep the chaos at bay :)
Critical thinking can already be tough in general, but especially in group settings with people that hold diverse backgrounds, life experiences, values, and ideologies, all of which can be held with strong conviction. To preserve a safe and positive environment as we embark on our critical thinking adventures, it is necessary for us to focus on cultivating a sense of civility and mutual respect while discussing controversial topics.
Curious Souls’ group etiquette consists of the following list of values and corresponding principles to incentivize open-minded conversation while establishing healthy boundaries:
Respectful dialogue:
- Treat people with civility and kindness. This means not engaging in personal attacks or using inflammatory language. Attack arguments, not humans.
- Do not interrupt others while they are speaking.
Open-mindedness and curiosity:
- Be open to evidence and arguments that challenge your perspective. Rigidity and stubbornness are the true antagonists to critical thinking.
- Try to ask clarifying questions before objecting to an argument. Asking questions helps us learn something new and cultivates an atmosphere of curiosity.
Self-awareness and humility:
- Be conscious of your human limitations. Our attention, memory, knowledge, sensory modalities, and understanding are far from perfect, so try and leave your ego at the door.
- Don’t be afraid to concede or clarify when someone provides evidence that undermines your point of view/argument.
Meticulous, evidence-based thinking:
- We value evidence over conjecture. Try your best to base your conclusions on intellectual rigor, scientific evidence and/or well-reasoned arguments. Anecdotes and stories can help provide clarity and context to arguments but are not sufficient to be the basis of an argument itself.
Be bold and have fun:
- Do not be afraid to challenge assumptions, regardless of the popular opinion. Remember that the earth was thought to be at the center of the solar system for around 1500 years!
- Try to bring innovative ideas to the table and support a culture of learning & growth. This is how we all level up as critical thinkers on our path towards truth.
- Comedy is encouraged and can often be a great antidote to some of the tension that can result from contradictions we will uncover at the core of our discussions.
- Have fun! Philosophers, theologians, scientists, and political parties alike do not agree on many topics. As such, it is important that we do not get too lost in the seriousness of it all.
This is a group of critical thinkers, so if anyone would like to make suggestions in terms of edits, redactions or additions to our group etiquette & values, we can certainly have a debate around the topic.
