Cafe Philo in New York City in three weeks, Thursday, 1/12/2012: Can we have meaning without words?

(Please note the new time: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM!!)

 

Due to the holidays, the next Café Philo which was scheduled for December 29th is cancelled, so the next Café Philo New York City will meet in three weeks, on Thursday, January 12, 2012. And since we lacked a quorum last week, we decided to hold over the discussion topic to the next meeting. The topic is "Can we have meaning without words?" I suggested the topic.

 

The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 6 attendees):

1. Do we need religion? (4)
2. Occupy Wall Street. (3)
3. Is our government democratic enough? (2)
4. Why are there holiday lights? (3)
5. Why do words have meanings? (3)
6. Can we have meaning without words? (5) *
7. How can jargon damage intellectual pursuit? (4)
8. What is important in life? (2)

I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.

 

As usual, the meeting will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)

 

After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.

 

There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

 

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

 

-- Jack Krupansky