Socrates Café - Philosophical Discussion

Socrates Café:

A space where ideas can be examined and dialogue can flourish

Bait:

Why do you believe what you believe?

Has your world-view ever changed over the years or on any topics?

Do you value deep, honest and respectful dialogue?

Overview:

Socrates Cafés are gatherings around the world where people from different backgrounds get together and exchange thoughtful ideas and experiences while embracing the central idea that we learn more when we question, and question with others.

At the Socrates Café, we get together for a discussion of a life topic/question that interests or challenges us.

On the night, we submit topics to discuss, pick one (or two) by voting, and then explore the topic through a lightly-facilitated dialogue.

Description:

No philosophical background/knowledge/reading required.

This kind of Socratic approach to dialogue can be a valuable way to consider why we believe what we believe, and to uncover that with other curious people.

We place the emphasis on open mindedness, questioning and challenging our own assumptions while attentively listening to and respecting the views shared by others using an approach which is often called the Socratic Method.

These sessions are about exploring our own personal philosophies of life and not necessarily what the great philosophers, thinkers and academics have said or written.

There are some superb forums for debating, arguing, dominating, preaching, proselytising or projecting onto others out there - however West London Socrates Cafe is NOT one of them.

To give you a flavour for the types of questions that we could explore, here are some examples:

• “Where the exploitation of the others start?”
• “What does equality in society mean?”
• “Free Speech - how far is too far?”

Itinerary:

6.30pm Online Meeting room opens

6.40pm Welcome, Ethos, Guidelines, Tips for getting the most out of the evening

6.45pm Introductions

6.55pm The Socratic Method - introduction to the method and brief discussion using the method

7.05pm Choose discussion topics,

7.10pm Facilitated Group Discussion on chosen topic

8.00pm Break

8.10pm Facilitated Group Discussion on chosen topic

9.00pm Closing thoughts

9.15pm Wrap up, feedback

9.30pm Close; stay on for drinks/socialising/discussion if you wish

Please arrive on time to get the most from the evening; arriving a few minutes early allows a chance to check any technical issues

Socratic Questioning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_questioning

Cost: This meetup is offered free to you but it costs me; Voluntary donations help me cover the Meetup costs, and if there’s anything left I’ll happily drink it: www.paypal.me/CharlieKalra

If you think this might be for you, or even if you are not quite sure yet, why not come along and give it a try (you can just observe if you like).

It would be great to see you.

Kind Regards,

Charlie

The meeting will be online using jitsi(works in a browser): https://meet.jit.si/moderated/b03a1d41b817feaf63cf961a8c63fd95e639e272498c55fe3186a66be6540bad

Check the meetup page comments in case of updates or changes