Let's Socialise... Philosophers' Community Project (Touching Base)

When arriving say you are part of the booking under the name Peter and they will tell you where we are.

Hello, sorry for the inactivity since the beginning of March. Unfortunately I didn’t react well to the lockdown. Things seem okay at the moment, hence this meetup event.

We will be meeting in a new pub called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (145 Fleet St, London, EC4A 2BU), meeting at 2pm.

Important: the pub has strict rules attendees need to follow. If we wish to continue using this pub please follow them. Some of the key rules are:

• Stick to your own table (I booked 2 separate tables).

• Don't chat with or face other tables, instead face those on your own table.

• Keep a maximum distance possible away from those on your table (where possible).

• When queuing for the bar, queue on the tape (not beyond it) and be 2 metres apart from anyone else in the queue. Note to also keep your distance away from pub staff too.

• Do not move pub furniture, including taking a chair(s) from one area/table to another.

• Finally, only one person per table (at one time) can go to the bar. Once they return another one person can go.

Thanks.

The reason for picking a new pub is that the pubs I am familiar with seem unlikely to be viable. One pub won’t open until September at the earliest, another pub is not opening with other pubs of it’s chain on the 4th July and information regarding it is not present at the moment. Finally, the other pub I looked into will not take any bookings above 6 people and their large room space on the 1st floor is closed for the time being.

This meetup series is about creating a philosophical community (especially as a result of regular attendees) and therefore will likely add richness to philosophical interaction here and at other meetups (where overlap occurs).

Whilst philosophical dialectics are definitely encouraged, I believe sharing our backgrounds/story/personal life with each other can promote a stronger sense of social connections than pure philosophical exchanges.

• Important: this group encourages open and honest conversations, however, personal information and views that identify a person are to stay within the group (Chatham House rules), unless with explicit consent from the relevant attendee(s). Furthermore, anti-social/disruptive behaviour that weakens the community group is not welcome (e.g. bullying) *

It is important to note that I don’t plan for this group to be a guaranteed intellectual safe space. I have the view that free speech is essential in order to help people navigate their way in life (I value intellectual freedom). Having said that, I do hope for the group/community to be a friendly space.

Everything in this meetup series is voluntary, it is up to individuals how much they wish to interact/engage in the community.

Ice breaker topics:

What makes a good philosophical community?

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

What do you think is one of the most important life lessons to have learnt?

Summary: social meetup for philosophers (lovers of wisdom), Chatham House rules, voluntary, free speech, getting to know each other (especially regulars), no strict philosophical topic (open/casual), community.

The format of the meetup is casual/relaxed but attendees must follow the pub rules (aforementioned).

Thanks for reading and hopefully see you soon.

The Pub:

https://londonist.com/pubs/pubs/pubs/ye-olde-cheshire-cheese

https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/ye-olde-cheshire-cheese_1565