Sober Philosophy: Deception/Doubt (David presents)

Symptom-free (from possibly contagious diseases) people with the capacity to listen considerately to diverse viewpoints are invited to attend after successfully RSVPing.

I include both intentional and non-intentional forms of deception (though for some, use of the term “deception” may presuppose intention). For example, one can intentionally deceive or lie to someone, usually for some gain. One may also unintentionally deceive, particularly in the case of self-deception. Presumably, we don’t intentionally try to deceive ourselves, though we may consider cases of wishful denial (compare “willful ignorance”): drinking to forget, avoidance of painful truth; or the case of the character Cypher, who wanted to be reinserted into the matrix. But other times, we think of self-deception as not active avoidance of a difficult truth but perhaps simply and comfortably holding, for whatever reasons, some wrong belief about oneself.

When we are aware of our ability to deceive others or ourselves, we naturally begin to doubt. We can doubt others, and we can doubt ourselves. Related concerns include epistemology (how do, or can, I know or be certain of something–i.e. have no doubt), testimony and trust (in what conditions can I take someone’s word or a community’s judgment), and the points at which having doubt is prudent or paralyzing.

2-Minute OPENING ROUNDTABLE FORMAT (ORT2m):

1. A countdown alarm will be set for 2 minutes.
2. The topic presenter begins the discussion by spending up to 2 minutes explaining why they are interested in the topic and some introductory thoughts on it.
3. Each participant in turn going clockwise from the presenter has up to 1 minute to describe their general thoughts on the topic.
4. If one is not ready to speak they can just say “pass” and the next person speaks.
5. After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to comment.
6. Once everyone has given opening remarks or passed twice, Opening Roundtable is completed and the meeting shifts into its main format.

TIMED DIRECTION FORMAT (TDRF>5):
If there are more than 5 people present we will use the format below.

1. We will divide up the timed direction discussion time by the number of participants plus one (for a buffer). A timer will be set for this amount of time.
2. Each participant in turn will become a Discussion Director and lead the group discussion.
3. If one is not ready to direct they simply say “pass” and the next person becomes the Discussion Director.
4. Anyone who arrives after step 1 (above), may participate but will not get a turn as Discussion Director.
5. The Discussion Director can make statements or ask questions, or interrupt or redirect the discussion at their discretion.
6. The discussion participants can state their own opinions only when asked by the Discussion Director, not Interrupt others and accede to the Discussion Director’s interrumptions or redirections.
7. When the timer goes off the person speaking finishes their thought and then the next participant clockwise becomes the next Discussion Director.
8. After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to direct.

At the end of the meeting, participants will have an opportunity to vote on the topic and format for the following meeting.