Sydney’s Philosophy in the Café - Philo Agora.

We meet at the Fair Trade Coffee Company, 33 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, at 7.30pm on alternate Tuesdays.

A fortnightly exchange of ideas on the issues facing ourselves and our world within a philosophical format. A talk relating to a philosopher, philosophy or philosophical theme.

An interesting article by Alan Saunders titled Socratic Dialogues appeared in last month's Monthly. http://www.themonthly.com.au/nation-reviewed-alan-saunders-socratic-dialogues--2024 Well worth the read.

This Tuesday, December 1, Tibor Molnar talks on Buridan's Ass, Murphy's Law  and Hamilton's principle of least action."
 
Buridan’s Ass is said to have died of starvation standing midway between two identical piles of hay, paralysed by its own indecision over which pile to eat first. This seems implausible; and yet, according to Hamilton’s Principle, such suspension in ‘equipoise’ is inevitable. This apparent contradiction is a persistent problem for both philosophy and science; this presentation is an attempt to find a resolution.
 
Tibor Molnar studied Chemical Engineering at UNSW, and then pursued a career in IT. Today he studies philosophy of science, quantum mechanics and cognitive neuroscience, and teaches at Sydney University and the WEA.

As mentioned in an earlier newsletter, this talk will fill the cafe, so please arrive by 7pm to ensure a seat.

Philo Agora's format is a talk for 20 minutes. The presenter then answers any questions of clarification from the floor. We then take a break of 10 minutes for more coffees and to mull over the talk and discuss it within small groups. The microphone is then passed around the audience in turn for comment, opinions, and often counter argument to a maximum of 3 minutes. The presenter is then given a 5 minute right of reply. We usually finish up at 9pm.

Come early from 6pm and join the regulars in a meal before the presentation. Philo Agora's home is the Fair Trade Coffee Company at 33 Glebe Point Road.  This is a coffee house with its own particular ambience offering specialty fairtrade coffee and a relaxing spot to sit around and talk with new friends, both before and after the Philo Agora talks.  It is located close to the Parramatta Road and can be easily reached by public transport.  Take advantage of the free, three hour parking in the Broadway shopping complex.

As an extra, next Monday, 30 November, 1.00-2.30 in the Philosophy Common Room of Sydneu University, Peter Bowden will talk about:

 " WHY MORAL PHILOSOPHERS SHOULD NOT TEACH ETHICS"

An alternate title to this paper is 'An Appeal to Moral Philosophers', an appeal which asks that they incorporate into their teaching a range of empirical findings on ethical practices. Either title raises questions on what defines moral philosophy and whether it includes research findings. Other questions are what are the more significant findings?   Also whether current teaching includes these findings now, and if it doesn’t should it? The first question is answered by documenting statements by LaFollette, Singer and other philosophers today, and Nowell-Smith a half-century ago. Despite some inevitable disagreements, the paper develops a conditional statement that empirical findings are a necessary component of a course on ethics. The more significant of these findings starts with now convincing research that determines that most effective way to identify a wrong is through the views of those who are aware of it, and willing to say so. A second is Daniel Dennett’s assertion that having rules works somewhat; but more particularly the research on how those rules might be effectively developed and framed. A third is the exponential growth in structures and responsibilities that are now being used to institutionalise ethical practices The content of current teaching is determined by examining what journals of moral philosophy contain; on the basis that philosophers write about what they teach; and assuming that if they do not write about empirical research, they do not teach it.The final paragraphs explore the concept of how the research could be incorporated with other views on teaching ethics.

Peter Bowden, Joint Convenor of Philo Agora, will give a modified version of this talk next year to Philo Agora.

We look forward to seeing you on the night,

Regards,

Hazel, Cara, Sam and Peter.