- Paperback: 160 pages
- Publisher: Lutterworth Press (1 Nov 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0718830202
- ISBN-13: 978-0718830205
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.6 x 0.8 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,240,296 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Review
"Intriguing, interesting, and often unexpected. A noble, accessible tome to enliven the philosophy shelf." American Library Association Booklist "Phillips winningly showcases a tantalising method for getting philosophy to thrive more widely." Publishers Weekly "Phillips mixes the fresh, unscripted dialogue of his subjects with the texts of Socrates, Aristotle, Plato and many others in a hopeful, energetic book that never loses sight of its purpose." Book "A bracing, rollicking read about the spark that ignites when people start asking meaningful questions." O Magazine "At once refreshing, humorous, troubling, confusing, encouraging, depressing, and provocative." Amazon.com "Charming." Tara McKelvey, USA Today "Most will see great value in Phillips' efforts to make questioning a key part of knowing oneself. Full of sample discussions and thoughts that can help to formulate ideas and approaches. Inspiring. I encourage anyone with an interest in philosophy to pick up this book and to consider whether starting or joining a Socrates Cafe might be a thing to do!" Steve McCardell, The New Times
Product Description
For a number of years, Christopher Phillips has been inviting ordinary people to gather together to discuss philosophical questions. His mission was: 'to return philosophy to the people, where it belongs' - and to learn from it. This is the stimulating account of his experience. "Socrates Cafe" is the name Phillips gives to the meetings held in bookshops, social centres, schools, universities, a church, a prison and similar venues. Throwing into each group some of the great philosophical questions for discussion elicits surprisingly thoughtful contributions, which the author presents in a modern form reminiscent of Plato's Dialogues, introduced by and interspersed with his own personal as well as philosophical reflections. His thumbnail sketches of the participants humanises their contributions and makes them more immediate and involving, while his own learning introduces readers to the contributions made to particular arguments by past philosophers. The idea of questioning meaning of 'life, the universe and everything' has become debased in modern society, but this book shows that there is a need for and a value in the Socratic method of thinking through aspects of our experience from ethics to existence. It can, for ordinary people as much as for professional philosophers, be exhilarating, illuminating, and developmental. This book does not offer easy answers to ultimate questions: it is dedicated simply to showing the value of questioning for personal and human development. "The one and only firm and lasting truth that has emerged," says the author, "is that there is always more to discover." An engaging blend of story-telling and philosophy, "Socrates Cafe" will inspire readers with enquiring minds to ask questions of themselves and others, and to strive to live more fully 'the examined life'.
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46 reviews
47 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Real People Doing Real Philosophy!
14 Feb 2001
Format:Hardcover
This book is the fascinating story of a young man imbued with the love of philosophy, who wants to bring philosophical thinking into the lives of more people. So, in his words, as a Johnny Appleseed of Philosophy, he begins going to book stores, coffee shops, elementary schools, senior centers, even prisons, to hold philosophical jam sessions. With a little advance notice, he can usually draw at least a small crowd. Sometimes he's surprised at the numbers of people who show up. He introduces himself, and asks what questions the folks in attendance would like to discuss philosophically. Suggestions are made, and soon a free wheeling, yet Socratically disciplined conversation begins, typically among people who don't know each other, and who are perhaps from very different backgrounds, occupations, and worldviews. With Chris playing the role of Socrates, and teaching by example how we can all play that role - the role of a seeker after wisdom who is willing to question everything in search of the truth - he ignites philosophy in a place where it may never before have happened. He teaches and he learns. And he moves on to the next opportunity for creating philosophical community.
It's quite a story. This is a man on fire to help people think more deeply about their lives and experiences. And a man willing to go wherever he can to make this happen. Throughout the pages of the book, he comes across as an idealist who is willing to do what it takes to see his dream come true. And the book consists of stories from along the way. We get to sit in on discussions all over the place, in a prison, or in a school. We are allowed to listen in on people's ruminations, reflections, and efforts to articulate their deepest beliefs. We overhear polite disagreements and witness collaborative efforts to get at the truth. What is the examined life recommended by Socrates? How can we live it? What is the best sort of life to live? And how do we get our bearings day to day, whatever we happen to be doing?
The conversations can veer from the practical to the theoretical, but always the voices of real people break through. I couldn't put it down until I had read the whole book, and it's rare for a new book to hold my attention like that when I really should be reading three others I've already started.
Take a look at Socrates Cafe and you may find yourself drawn into its great conversations like I was. And somewhere up in Platonic Heaven, Socrates himself may smile.
25 of 29 people found the following review helpful
An advertisement for itself...
28 Jan 2003
Format:Paperback
The book started off in a very interesting fashion. The dialogues he initiates are interesting. They also have some enlightening answers. Not to mention rational thinking, a very under-used part of the mind, is given an arena to exercise itself. However, I felt the second part dragged. Or as a family member described it, "he turned into his own commerical." The more I look back on it, the better that statement seems to describe later sections of the book. His writing is for the most part good. His aim is admirable. But in the process the book became bogged down and uninteresting. I also think the premise that truth can be arrived at through conversation is an untenable one. It can map out exactly what we are talking about and the complexities of the issue, but not much more than that. I don't think the book has anything lasting about it. It merely seems to reflect a trend to bring philosophy into the pragmatic, everyday world, such as Alain de Botton. I would recommend Botton's work as opposed to this, which has much greater insights into everyday life using traditional philosophy. If more people take this route, philosophy can be saved from word games and deconstruction, which even Derrida himself said "can not be a method and should not be one."
23 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Breathes new life into philosophy -- and into my life!
6 Feb 2001
Format:Hardcover
I was blessed to go to a reading-signing conducted by Chris Phillips, who also facilitated a live Socrates Cafe. I was astounded by how his dialogues in his books don't just mirror his live dialogues, but tie in all these wonderful threads with great thinkers across the disciplines from the past and present, while Phillips himself weighs in critically and creatively -- Socratically, I guess he'd say -- on so many timeless topics. He shows what a sham it is to create all these artificial divides between the disciplines, he shows how art and poetry and the hardest of the hard sciences are all intertwined, and how we can reveal hidden likeness between so many things by joining him in his exhilarating pursuit to question, question, and question some more in a decidedly Socratic way. My favorite vignette of all from his book is "What's Love Got to Do With It," where he recounts movingly the story of how he met his wife at a Socrates Cafe; in fact, she was the only one who came to that particular session -- they discussed the question, "What is love?" -- and they ended up marrying one another! It's so beautiful, and all the sections of the book are deeply moving, penetrating and insightful. Best of all, Phillips never talks down to his readers. Rather, he prods us to think through our own unique answers to life's great questions. What a gift he has given to us. Already, thanks to his book, I'm asking myself, and answering more fruitfully, "Who am I?" and "WHo can I become?"
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