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Philosophy Café

Hong Kong Philosophy Café
  • Tue 12-01-2016 7:30 PM - 2 h
  • Tue 16-02-2016 7:30 PM - 2 h
  • Tue 12-04-2016 7:30 PM - 2 h
  • Tue 10-05-2016 7:30 PM - 2 h
  • Tue 14-06-2016 7:30 PM - 2 h
  • Tue 12-07-2016 7:30 PM - 2 h
  • Tue 09-08-2016 7:30 PM - 2 h
  • Tue 13-09-2016 7:30 PM - 2 h
  • Tue 11-10-2016 7:30 PM - 2 h
  • Tue 08-11-2016 7:30 PM - 2 h
  • Tue 13-12-2016 7:30 PM - 2 h

Colette Artbar

Free Admission

Synopsis

The Fringe Branch of the Hong Kong Philosophy Cafe was established in October of 2000 with the goal of holding regularly scheduled discussions (in English) on serious, mainstream philosophical topics.

Meetings begin with a designated participant introducing a particular approach to dealing with the announced topic. After others have a chance to ask questions and/or give feedback to the introducer, a substantial block of time is devoted to small group discussions, with participants being encouraged to migrate between groups at will. Ideas raised during small group discussions are then shared in a concluding plenary session.

Moderated by: Steve Palmquist

 

Tue 12 Jan 2016

Topic: "How extravagant is the hope for an afterlife?"

Introducer: Joseph Li

 

Tue 16 Feb 2016

Topic: Brakes and cars: rules and freedom?

Introducer: Chris Maden

 

Tue 12 Apr 2016

Topic: "Capitalism: the zenith or swan song of modern civilization?"

Introducers: Alan Taylor and Guy Lown*

* This month's topic will be introduced in the style of a debate, with one introducer defending the "zenith" position and the other defending the "swan song" position. Following two opposing introductions (each shorter than usual, but together slightly longer than usual), the meeting format will proceed as usual, with a lengthy Q&A period, etc.

 

Tue 10 May 2016

Topic: "Should economics be seen as an objective science? An attempt to expose the values in economics"*

Introducer: Hektor Yan*

*Hektor writes:The introduction for this meeting will focus on the issue whether economics can avoid controversial issues relating to (ethical) values. Contrary to the common perception that economics is a positivist and objective science based on the consensus of economists, I argue that economics has an ethical dimension and that ideologies play a role in how people think about economic issues.
 
Reading materials (optional) -- two excellent and accessible books:
(1) The economics anti-textbook: a critical thinker's guide to microeconomics (by Rod Hill and Tony Myatt, 2010)
(2) The skeptical economist: revealing the ethics inside economics (by Jonathan Aldred, 2009)
 
 
Tue 14 June 2016
 
Topic: "How is death related to the meaning of life?"*

Introducer: David Young

 

Tue 12 July 2016

Topic: "What makes poetry great?"

Introducer: Steve Palmquist

Moderated by: Paul Stables

 

Tue 9 August 2016

Topic: "Truth or Trumpism: Could one religion be true?"*

Introducer: Chris Maden

*Background Reading: C. Stephen Evans - "Philosophy of Religion: Thinking about Faith" 1985 (2009)

 

Tue 13 Sep 2016

Topic: "What is wrong with Pokemon Go?"

Introducer: Rachel Smith

 

Tue 11 Oct 2016

Topic: "Political Correctness, Women and the Menace of Safety"

Introducer: Christy McCormick

 

Tue 8 Nov 2016

Topic: "Is the lawfulness of nature oppressive, or would total freedom destroy liberty?"

Introducer: Jörn Boost 

 

Tue 13 Dec 2016

Topic: "Physician Assisted Death"

Introduce: David Young

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