What we’re about
Do you enjoy deep, honest and respectful discussions of fundamental human questions? If yes, then you will love this meet up!
We ask questions and discuss ideas to stimulate critical thinking. We enrich ourselves with the perspectives of others, not to convince others about our own perspectives.
Our meetups are about our own philosophies of life and not necessarily what the great philosophers and academics have said or written. It is not a debating club or a platform for proselytizing. Instead, we place the emphasis on questioning, open mindedness and challenging our own assumptions while listening to and considering the views shared by others.
A Socrates Café meeting typically ends with participants leaving with many more questions than they had at the beginning.
WHAT TOPICS ARE DISCUSSED?
At the start of each meeting, the Facilitator invites participants to suggest topics. We then vote and choose that evening's most popular topic for discussion. No academic training in philosophy necessary; just enthusiasm for exchanging ideas and points of view.
A few examples of subjects chosen at past meetups:
• What ideals, if any, are worth dying for?
• What is the best form of government?
• What makes you "you" despite physical and experiential changes over your lifetime?
• What is beauty, and how important is it?
• What are ethical pricing and greed?
• What is the "best" education?
• What is true friendship?
• What would the world be like if women were in charge?
WHO SHOULD JOIN?
Everyone is welcome! Our events include women and men from different cultural backgrounds, ages, native languages, careers, and educational levels. No formal philosophical training is mandatory. The only requirements are a willingness to listen respectfully, and to be open to what people have to say even if you disagree. Putting down others is absolutely not allowed. You would also need at least minimal understanding of spoken English to participate. No one is required to speak, although sharing is encouraged within the supportive environment of the group.
Our usual participants are people that have a hunger for deeper understanding of themselves and the world.
THE FACILITATORS
The Socrates Café is run by a team of facilitating members. With more facilitators we can have more people joining the meet ups. If you like this meet up and want to help out making it available to more people, let us know.
FEEDBACK
If you have any feedback regarding our events, different facilitation styles, or anything at all, reach out to the facilitator you want to give the feedback to or to the organizer of the group. You can message us using meetup private messages. We regularly check our inboxes.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- The Socrates Café — international version (online)Link visible for attendees
Event Description: Philosophical discussions about fundamental human questions.
Format:
1. The discussion topic is provided by and chosen by participants. If there is a question that you would like to discuss, please put it in the chat! If you are new here, you can find our previous questions here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/133sfywQ81G2jcQ4acXESK2-BCosHipvMNQ7w1pj1WL8/edit?usp=sharing
2. When we have a list of questions, we will vote on the topic for this week.
3. We start with an opening round, so everyone has a chance to introduce themselves and share their initial thoughts on the topic. The person who proposed the topic usually starts.
4. Once everyone has had a chance to speak, the discussion starts. Those who want to speak place their name in the chat to create a queue.
5. The discussion concludes with a closing round, where each participant shares their final thoughts on the topic. The person who proposed the topic usually goes last.
6. OPTIONAL: After the formal discussion ends, participants are welcome to stay around for an informal chat.
Some practical stuff:
- Everyone is welcome, but not all behaviors are welcome. If there is anything that may prevent you from participating in a respectful discussion, leave them outside before you come into the discussion. If you cannot do that yet, please take a break from our discussions until you are ready.
- If you cannot make it, please cancel as soon as possible before the event - otherwise you will be marked as a no-show. Frequent no-shows will be moved to the waiting list in future meetups. For those on the waiting list, last-minute spots may be available due to no-shows, so please keep an eye on your notifications.
- Please arrive on time so that you can participate in the whole discussion. If something unexpected happens, let me know as soon as possible.
- It is sometimes necessary to challenge others' ideas in the process - you are welcome to do so without attacking the person who presented those ideas.
- Please turn your camera on to help us create a safe environment for discussion.
- Please make sure you log in with your Meetup username. For the safety of the other participants, I will not let in anyone who I cannot recognize. If you are unable to change your name on Zoom, please give me a heads up before the meetup starts.
It’s not a lecture! It’s participants like you who make the discussion a success, organizers just facilitate it. We bring our most puzzling questions - along with creativity, curiosity and genuine interest to enrich ourselves with perspectives of others. We discuss, we inquire, we think aloud - respect is the main rule.
You can read more background about Socrates Café in the meetup group description, and if you have any questions - feel free to ask!
See you soon!
***
Supporting the Meetup:
We are a group of volunteers who share the time and costs of running Socrates Cafe. We appreciate donations in any form to keep this going!
a) If anyone would like to make a donation towards our costs, please contact the main Organiser, Denitsa.
b) If you'd like to donate your time to help with moderating, please let any of the regular hosts know.
Many thanks to those who have made a contribution already <3
- The Socrates Café — international version (online)Link visible for attendees
Event Description: Philosophical discussions about fundamental human questions.
Format:
1. The discussion topic is provided by and chosen by participants. If there is a question that you would like to discuss, please put it in the chat! If you are new here, you can find our previous questions here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/133sfywQ81G2jcQ4acXESK2-BCosHipvMNQ7w1pj1WL8/edit?usp=sharing
2. When we have a list of questions, we will vote on the topic for this week.
3. We start with an opening round, so everyone has a chance to introduce themselves and share their initial thoughts on the topic. The person who proposed the topic usually starts.
4. Once everyone has had a chance to speak, the discussion starts. Those who want to speak place their name in the chat to create a queue.
5. The discussion concludes with a closing round, where each participant shares their final thoughts on the topic. The person who proposed the topic usually goes last.
6. OPTIONAL: After the formal discussion ends, participants are welcome to stay around for an informal chat.
Some practical stuff:
- Everyone is welcome, but not all behaviors are welcome. If there is anything that may prevent you from participating in a respectful discussion, leave them outside before you come into the discussion. If you cannot do that yet, please take a break from our discussions until you are ready.
- If you cannot make it, please cancel as soon as possible before the event - otherwise you will be marked as a no-show. Frequent no-shows will be moved to the waiting list in future meetups. For those on the waiting list, last-minute spots may be available due to no-shows, so please keep an eye on your notifications.
- Please arrive on time so that you can participate in the whole discussion. If something unexpected happens, let me know as soon as possible.
- It is sometimes necessary to challenge others' ideas in the process - you are welcome to do so without attacking the person who presented those ideas.
- Please turn your camera on to help us create a safe environment for discussion.
- Please make sure you log in with your Meetup username. For the safety of the other participants, I will not let in anyone who I cannot recognize. If you are unable to change your name on Zoom, please give me a heads up before the meetup starts.
It’s not a lecture! It’s participants like you who make the discussion a success, organizers just facilitate it. We bring our most puzzling questions - along with creativity, curiosity and genuine interest to enrich ourselves with perspectives of others. We discuss, we inquire, we think aloud - respect is the main rule.
You can read more background about Socrates Café in the meetup group description, and if you have any questions - feel free to ask!
See you soon!
***
Supporting the Meetup:
We are a group of volunteers who share the time and costs of running Socrates Cafe. We appreciate donations in any form to keep this going!
a) If anyone would like to make a donation towards our costs, please contact the main Organiser, Denitsa.
b) If you'd like to donate your time to help with moderating, please let any of the regular hosts know.
Many thanks to those who have made a contribution already <3
