List of topics for our discussion group

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Take5
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List of topics for our discussion group

Post by Take5 »

Hi folks

I'm the convenor for a U3A discussion group called Enquiring Minds and I thought I'd run our upcoming programme past you guys! :D

At the beginning of each season I distribute the programme to all the participants - then, the week before the session, I send out a link to the topic. Our meetings are run on P4C, or Sapere, lines - we split into small discussion groups for a few minutes, who then decide on a question or statement about the topic. A vote is then taken to determine which question or statement we will begin the general discussion with. The other questions or statements are visited in turn later in the session.

The topics are mainly decided by myself, but everyone is encouraged to suggest their own.

I've just sent out the programme for the next 10 weeks:

Are some areas of knowledge more important than others?
Would life be better if robots did all the work?
Stop trying to find yourself.
The world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it.” Albert Einstein
In this country we pride ourselves in having a free society, but have we? Are we really free?
“I want” shouldn’t always get.
The rainbow of religious belief
Me! Me! Me! Are we living through a narcissism epidemic?
Are animals conscious? [Not mine - this was suggested by one of the participants]
Science vs conspiracy theories.

As I said, I send out a link to these topics beforehand - and I ask everyone to do their own research.

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on these, and suggestions for links to these topics - not everyone is online, so I avoid videos and look for articles I can use as a handout.

TIA!
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NonZeroSum
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Re: List of topics for our discussion group

Post by NonZeroSum »

Heya this looks great, how long does the general discussion go on for? And the session in total? How long do you usually get to talk? I'd have a think about your philosophy and what concepts your keenly interested in giving voice to and having understood, then plan to have that as a through-line over the 10 weeks, so starting small in the hopes that people will comprehend your bigger arguments instinctually towards the end.

You can give us your cliff notes working up to each session and I'd be happy to suggest little things you could throw in.

Best of luck, I really like the idea of these school debate clubs, I never got a chance when I was young, just when we had substitute teachers in and they let the class devolve into ideological gang warfare aha.

Here's another school debate club post from way back at the beginning of the forum by EquALLity:

Vegan C.A.T.C.H. Club Session
http://philosophicalvegan.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=623
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brimstoneSalad
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Re: List of topics for our discussion group

Post by brimstoneSalad »

Those topics sound pretty good.

On consciousness, it might be better to ask what consciousness is, and discuss informatics and neural networks/how the brain and mind work. I don't think there's any real debate about whether higher animals are sentient and conscious, BUT there is lots of stimulating discussion about where the line is drawn. Are insects? Are worms?
The Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness is a good place to start.
http://www.animalcognition.org/2015/03/25/the-declaration-of-nonhuman-animal-conciousness/
We declare the following: “The absence of a neocortex does not appear to preclude an organism from experiencing affective states. Convergent evidence indicates that non-human animals have the neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and neurophysiological substrates of conscious states along with the capacity to exhibit intentional behaviors. Consequently, the weight of evidence indicates that humans are not unique in possessing the neurological substrates that generate consciousness. Nonhuman animals, including all mammals and birds, and many other creatures, including octopuses, also possess these neurological substrates.”
NonZeroSum wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2017 9:11 pm Best of luck, I really like the idea of these school debate clubs, I never got a chance when I was young, just when we had substitute teachers in and they let the class devolve into ideological gang warfare aha.
I don't think it's a school debate club, U3A is mainly for retired people (I think) unless it's hosted by a university campus or something (then students might be involved too, but I think he said everybody at his group was older).
I thought Take5 was around 80.

It's unfortunate that the only main opportunities most people have to further themselves are during school and after retirement, but also really great to have that opportunity; and how Take5 reclaimed his health so he can live this time to the fullest and grow so much intellectually is inspiring. He said once he feels like a very fit 40 year old, which is awesome.
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NonZeroSum
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Re: List of topics for our discussion group

Post by NonZeroSum »

brimstoneSalad wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2017 9:44 pm I don't think it's a school debate club,
Oh sorry Take5! Just assumed from your last post that the moderator was a teacher or something, read your introduction now. I used to travel through Taunton a lot to get to a land project in between there and Yeovill, it's called Tinkers Bubble, where they're into sustainable building, and a little apple orchard where they make juice and sell timber from mechanical mills and press's they run all on their own site with no fossil fuels. What discussion groups have you found locally? Are there any in Bristol you know that would be worth visiting?
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Take5
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Re: List of topics for our discussion group

Post by Take5 »

Thanks, NZS and brim. Yeah, I've been round the block a bit. :)

We have 2 hours all told - the main discussion takes place during the first hour, then we have a coffee break for 30 mins (the social aspect is very important), then we come back with general announcements (what's going on elsewhere in people's lives that others might be interested in), then we return to the topic and mop up any of the questions or statements we haven't yet covered. Then the final five minutes is taken up with Last Word - how was it for you this morning, how well did you listen/contribute, etc.

As the convenor/facilitator, it's my job to bring people in who want to speak, to ensure the smooth running of the debate. BTW, it's OK if someone just wants to listen - no-one has to contribute, although most do.

Our ground rules are pretty much the 4 Cs - collaborative, caring, critical and creative thinking. The inspiration comes from Matthew Lipman's 'Socrates for 6yr-olds'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD1vXSO-30I

We've been going about 5 years, now, with very little turnover, and it's a very safe, supportive environment. So safe, in fact, that I felt enabled to tell them about the child abuse I suffered in my teenage years (no big hassle - I'm a survivor, not a victim). Opening up about this enabled me to tell my sisters who had no idea about this.

That's a brilliant link, thanks, NZS - made me think if I could take that direct approach with my group.
Take5
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Re: List of topics for our discussion group

Post by Take5 »

That Tinkers Bubble looks very interesting, hadn't heard about that.

I'm afraid I don't know of discussion groups in other areas - the U3A is pretty ubiquitous, although you might be a bit young for that! :) But looking back, you're light years ahead of where I was at at age 25!

Thanks for that link, brim, I'll certainly use that. Although my programme has been shredded already! :)

We decided yesterday that we needed to reinforce our Socratic principles, so the first session on the programme has now been changed to:

Socrates!

I've also been thinking the group should be involved more in deciding which topics to discuss. Simply asking them for their own thoughts on this hasn't produced very much - but if we devoted half an hour one morning to thinking about new subjects, I'm pretty sure that would be quite productive.
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