A More Perfect Union
Our efforts to make ours a far more perfect union are getting some notoriety; here’s a piece about what we’re up to in the wonderful publication of Zocalo Public Square, NEXUS: A Magazine of...
Doing philosophy versus teaching philosophy, going deep with inquiry versus conversation
My philosophy of the difference between doing philosophy and teaching philosophy: here’s the linkWhy Democracy Cafe? Why now more than ever?
At the Democracy Cafe I held in Sebastpol, CA, recently, I was interviewed beforehand by the group’s young and dynamic organizer, Odin Halvorson. The multitalented young man has an amazing social conscience (thank the heavens that he came across my first book,...
Who speaks for the trees?
At our Democracy Cafe yesterday at a zocalo (plaza) in a Mexican pueblo, a 10-year-old child, her 1-year-old sister in her arms, stood on the periphery listening intently, but was too shy to take part. So I approached her after the formal dialogue ended, to ask what...Democracy Cafe — A System Unrigged
Thanks to two donations (one of them incredibly generous), the first leg of the ‘Democracy Cafe — A System Unrigged’ journey across the fruited plain begins tomorrow. First up, middle and high schools for three full days in Mt. Shasta California...
My tattoo, Arête, & Meraki — Greek words to live by
At the not so tender age of 57, I decided to get a tattoo — or tattoos, if you consider that there are two halves of a heart emblazoned on my forearms, inside of which are the Greek words arête (on my left forearm) and meraki (on my right). I’ve written a...
Socrates Cafe, the Military, and Democracy — a message that made my year
This message from an Army Captain made my year: Dr. Phillips, Thank you for your work towards improving democracy and healthy dialogue throughout the world. I am a company commander in the U.S. Army, and I started hosting Socrates Café dialogues with my junior leaders...Anyone can, and should, philosophize
Cross posting this blog of mine that I originally published on the Childing.org siteSocratizing in Beaumont
I love that the organizer of the Socrates Cafe in Beaumont, Texas, sees that his group is a thriving one, even though attendance each gathering is just a bit more than a handful. Numbers aren’t the name of the game with Socrates Cafe and attendance. Even if...Check out the Book:
