Hosted by figment_of_your_imagination and Miashineon, Topic #29: Voltaire once noted that "God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." Why are we afraid?

Miashineon
Da_Vinci
Alice
GaudyNIght
SunnyCalifornia
PilgrimOfTruth
PirateEmily
wegotrhythm
AdamGiveADamn - combined post on all 3

Hosted by Nance1, Topic #30: Is there sanity in committing suicide?

Nance1
clandestinejoys
Mannaangst, Part 2
Building_A_Mystery
Socratic_Monkey
TheLegendaryFrog
Ink_Droppings
Zeal4living
artickworld
wazwhy
GaudyNight
AdamGiveADamn - combined post on all 3
eddiefromhb
Mia

Hosted by Wonko_the_Sane, Topic # 31: If human beings are all considered to be equal, then how do we act equally in social terms?

tychecat
Wonko_the_Sane
RedHairedCelt
AdamGiveADamn - combined post on all 3


I am quoting here an excerpt from the website of the Society for Philosophical Inquiry to remind us of the method and purpose of our discussion:


"Facilitator and Participant Dos and Don'ts

Do be an active and engaged listener. Respecting the ideas of each participant is a key element of a successful Socrates Café. Be open to what people have to say even if you disagree. The facilitator needs to let the group know that putting down others is absolutely taboo at a Socrates Café.

Do encourage participants to offer specific examples that back up what they take to be a universally accepted view. The facilitator should try to get them to support their perspectives with cogent, well-constructed, reasoned views.

Do question the perspectives offered by others and try to examine any perceived logical inconsistencies. The collective goal is for all participants, not just the facilitator, to become a more expert questioner.

Don't allow the dialogue to become a one-on-one back-and-forth between facilitator and participant (or between one participant and another). Remember: this is a community of philosophical inquirers. So a good facilitator should involve everyone else at every turn.

Do make sure everyone has a chance to speak. Invite but do not pressure quieter participants to contribute to the dialogue.

Do be receptive to unexpected and unfamiliar responses. Facilitators should avoid steering the dialogue in a preconceived direction, as if they know better than others what the answers, or questions, should be.

Don't browbeat a participant or put him on the spot in a way that makes him uncomfortable. You should nudge participants into articulating their perspectives as clearly as possible, but if someone doesn't have a response to your further prodding, move on to other participants.

Don't strive for consensus. In the version of Socratic inquiry practiced at Socrates Café, it doesn't matter if everyone begins and ends a dialogue with disparate perspectives. There's never any need to try to force any sort of agreement.

Do remember the Socrates Café is just one version of philosophical discourse, and it might not work for everybody. For those who don't seem satisfied with Socrates Café style of discussion, encourage them to form their own groups so they can promote their own kinds of philosophical inquiry."