Socrates Cafe

National Public Radio’s Margot Adler interviews Christopher Phillips.

Socrates Café are gatherings around the world where people from different backgrounds get together and exchange thoughtful ideas and experiences while embracing the central theme of Socratizing; the idea that we learn more when we question and question with others. It all started a decade ago when Christopher Phillips, then a freelance writer asked himself what he could do that would in some modest way further the deeds of those noble souls who had come before him and, as William James put it, “suffered and laid down their lives” to better the lot of humankind? The epiphany and also the answer for him was to be a philosopher in the mold of Socrates, and to hold Socratic dialogues with anyone and everyone who’d like to engage in a common quest to gain a

better understanding of human nature - who shared with him the aspiration of becoming more empathetic people and more critical and creative philosophical inquirers.

Today, there are over four hundred ongoing gatherings around the globe coordinated by hundreds of dedicated volunteers who are deeply committed to making ours a more participatory and inclusive world, many of which are written vividly in the book by Christopher Phillips. We encourage you to facilitate your own Socrates Café, click here for information on how to start one.

Socrates Café goes to the radio
Listen to Christopher Phillips on the New Hampshire public radio with Laura Knoy to discuss four questions: “What is good art?”, “Should race matter?”, “What is success?” and “What does love of country mean?”.

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