Drink & Think: Philosophy of Stories
Details
Join us for a Friday night Drink & Think event at the Rose & Crown. At this lively discussion, we’ll explore the role of storytelling and narratives in philosophy.
Bring a thought, story or question to share.
Drink & Think: Philosophy & Stories
How do novels, allegories, and poetry explore life’s questions differently than analytic philosophy?
Consider works that use narrative to probe meaning:
- long multi-part fantasy series like Dune;
- Aesop’s Fables;
- the spiritual poems of Rumi;
- existential works such as Dostoevsky’s Notes From the Underground or Camus’ Myth of Sisyphus;
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
Compare these works to analytic philosophy and formal arguments such as:
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Russel’s Paradox —https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/russell-paradox/
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Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem — https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/goedel-incompleteness/
Quite the Difference! Right?
Do stories provide insight that formal logic struggles to convey? Bring a your perspective and join the discussion.
More Questions to Spark Discussion:
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How do stories differ from structured arguments? Do novels reveal truths logic overlooks?
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Does dialogue uncover meaning differently? How? What other elements make storytelling a novel way of exploring philosophical ideas?
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What are the downsides or limitations of storytelling? Can narratives address all philosophical concepts?
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What are the limitations of logical arguments? Can formal logic address all concepts that stories can address? Any good movies that convey analytical thinking?
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Finally, if we were to update our book of “Human Wisdom” as a gift for our AI overloads, what might we add to the section on “the purpose of stories”?
Optional Materials for Context:
1. Aesop’s Fables - http://classics.mit.edu/Aesop/fab.1.1.html
2. Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus (full essay) - https://youtu.be/x-ekNmD3soo?si=A19AtsAA5DfOJVve
3. Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground (Chapter 1) - https://youtu.be/93ydYrm8WGg?si=zIV0xeDBWL9d4-5m
4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - https://youtu.be/EqQMdupNzjs?si=eMZxGcjoZ9xWHTer
Meeting FAQs
Do I need to show up at the start time? No, folks usually stop by throughout the evening, often stay until close. We’ll comment when we leave.
Where can I find you? The bar is small, but we may move around as more people join us. Check the comments for details!
Do I need to buy something? If you plan on staying more than 30 minutes, we ask you make a purchase of food or drink to support the staff. Rose & Crown is a popular location on Friday night, and we’d love to keep hosting here. A good reputation with our venue goes a long way :)
I don’t drink alcohol, can I attend? Yes! Purchasing alcohol is certainly not required! Drink & Think was originally established as a bar philosophy group, but many members indulge in other menu times.
Feel free to review the venue’s menu beforehand—Personally, I recommend the fish & chips (points if you arrive before I’ve finished eating)
Can a be a jerk? Sorry, we have a no jerks allowed policy. Making people cry, and we tell “you goodbye.” While it’s rare for us to ask people to leave, we want to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all attendees. We encourage you to review Meetup’s policies and our community guidelines for more information.
Can I be a philosopher? Of course! Lovers of wisdom are not afraid to ask hard questions during their search for truth. We enjoy deep thinking, inquiring minds, devil’s advocates, playful passion, intellectual sparing, and other mental pursuits.
Welcome fellow philosophers :)
We’ll see you at the bar!
Drink & Think: Philosophy of Stories