Circle of Thought - a Culture of Debate

Let's explore the idea of Culture of Debate.

It seems hard these days to have people engaging in a respectful debate of ideas. It's becoming urgent to re-create a culture of debate, where we would:

• come with an intention of seeking the truth, instead of winning
• hear different viewpoints with curiosity, instead of hostility
• explore the nuances of complex arguments and situations (shades of grey), instead of oversimplification and looking for scapegoats (black and white thinking)

Here are a few questions we will consider during this evening:

• How does a culture of debate contribute to democratic ideals, and what is the role of dissent in a just society?
• What is the practical value of engaging in debates, and how does it influence decision-making and societal progress?
• Is there a moral responsibility in participating in debates, and are there limits to what should be debated?
• Is there an art to debating, and how does the form of argumentation impact its philosophical value?

🌮 Food for thought

• "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire
• "Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future." - John F. Kennedy
• "The growth of knowledge depends entirely on disagreement." - Karl Popper
• "If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things." - Descartes

If you've never participated before, here's what to expect:

• 2 hours of deep, interesting conversations in a respectful environment that will elevate your spirit and give you new ideas for life, work or relationships
• a supportive group of people sharing their own unique experiences and viewpoints, and encouraging you to do the same
• a rich mix of newcomers and regulars from different countries and cultures for a broad diversity of opinions and experiences

Please remember the existing rules of this group:

• DO express your ideas clearly, calmly and concisely
• DO listen actively
• DO approach the conversation with an open mind and be willing to hear different perspectives
• DON'T go too much into personal examples. While it's fine to illustrate one point with a personal story, this event focuses on having intellectual discussions
• DO make yourself fully present. DON'T pull out your phone during the conversation

🚫 No-show policy
As the group size is small, no-shows have a strong negative impact on the group. As such, the policy is that as a general rule, no-shows and same-day cancellations will not be able to sign up for future events. To avoid this:

• Only reserve a spot if you really intend to come.
• If your plans have changed, cancel at least 24 hours before the event, to give people on the waiting list a chance to change their own plans and make it to the event.
• If you have a real last-minute emergency and need to cancel in the last 24 hours, please contact me directly to avoid "no-show" status.