Hello Philosophy Society!
Discussion 1: Group Discussion Mechanics
Learning to communicate in a group setting is very important. People are able to contribute to a meta perspective, where everyone that is participating listens to the speaker and interjects at certain points where they have something relevant to say. Part of this process is learning how to give and receive feedback. If you are the speaker, it is important to be open to the perspectives of others and employ critical thinking principles to increase the overall quality of our understanding.
All of us have our own perspective on our experiences. These perspectives are valuable but not necessarily truth in themselves. It may be true that person X perceived phenomena Y, but it is also possible that their perspective has some distortion or flaw in it. This is why using a discussion methodology in groups is so valuable: we are able to distill out the limitations of our perspectives so that we can approximate closer to truth. If we are able to listen to others, accept realistic feedback and regulate our emotions when the content is personally meaningful, we can transcend our current perspective to a greater understanding.
Discussion 2: Processing, Thinking and Reasoning
Our brains process information from our environment much like other animals and computers. Thinking is a conscious, attention directed form of processing that is within our volitional control. We are the agent of thought in our thinking process. Our brains may have automatic processes that we may even disagree with and we can use our thinking to correct those thoughts. Thinking is not necessarily done in the form of language.
All reasoning is done with language. In the context of this, higher ordered form of processing, critical thinking is making sure that our reasoning is correct. This means that we evaluate the language of our reasoning for certain kinds of flaws. Critical thinking and reasoning are part of philosophy for it is wise for us to make sure our reasoning is correct. Our thoughts guide us in our actions so to use a sound reasoning process is to ensure that we are creating a context where we are most likely correct in our actions. We can translate our feelings, experiences and thoughts into statements that can be reasoned. This translation is also part of the philosophical tradition.
Discussion 3: Group Empowerment
It is empowering to have a group of inclusive people who will filter our anything we say or do with a non-biased and impartial process. This means that we can gain the perspectives of others in a healthy way where the rules that are being applied to use are also applicable to them. The form of the method being used here do not have problems like an appeal to authority, an appeal to emotion, conformity, group think and other fallacies or cognitive/social biases.
If human beings are limited in their reasoning by fallacious thinking or the biases inherent in our brains and groups, then we can move beyond those limitation with a social method that accounts for them. This is a significant part of the purpose of the Philosophy Society: to train and practice skills that make us aware of the limitations of the human condition and value ways of being that do not succumb to their drawbacks. These limitations have been mentioned many times and this is where our critical thinking and awareness of psychology and social science help. We can be mindful of correct forms of reasoning and be aware of the innate tendencies humans have towards certain ways of processing information that may be incorrect.
The reason that creating a social group to practice these skills is so important is because the very nature of biases means we may not be able to see them. Having others who are trained and practice counter skills towards the lapse in our evolutionary development gives practicing members of the Philosophy Society the necessary skills to empower each other in being their best self. It is wise, and hence philosophical, to practice weekly a way of living that protects you from fallacious reasoning, healthy emotional conduct, and an eye to our biased brain.
We can see this practice as a form of mental self-defense. Embedded in our brains evolutionary development, there simply was not an environmental selection pressure for us to have the genes that equip us with some prevention towards flaws in reasoning or cognitive/social biases. This empowered training will give people a means to respond to abuses of authority and the skills needed to increase their own autonomy and self-determination. Promoting our own agency, together, is valuable in its own right for it directly responds to our human condition.
Politically, the merit of our vote in a democratic society is directly relative to the circumstances of the state we are living in. If people vote for something that is misunderstood or irrelevant to that which will increase the well being of their society, then that vote has less merit or is not as valuable. People need to understand what is going on in the world for democracy to work. If they do not, then their votes are most likely determined by the limitations of human reasoning discussed before. Critical thinking is needed for the autonomy of a vote. If one does not possess critical thinking skills, social and psychological biases will skew the judgment of the voter.
Discussion 4: Beliefs
Beliefs are different from knowledge. Beliefs can be true or false whereas knowledge, to know something, is only true. For us to have knowledge, it is important to evaluate and assess the quality of our beliefs. Here again is where critical thinking and psychological awareness are important. The human condition is such that our beliefs can be understood as a predisposition to behave. We are animals and the function of beliefs determines some action. The quality of the belief is essential to ensure that our actions are correct.
There is a difference between reality and our beliefs. There is a relationship between our self-awareness, the beliefs we have, and what really is the case, or reality. Consciousness and reality are not necessarily overlapping. We have to put effort into our beliefs to make sure that they are as in line with reality as possible.
Discussion 5: Group Context
The Philosophy Society can be understood as analogous to a religious group but has explicit differences. Religious groups meet certain needs for people like offering a moral compass, an explanation of our existence, death and the afterlife, a sense of belonging, social inclusion and weekly meetings and ceremonial traditions. All of these needs can, have, and will be met by the Philosophy Society in some form.
The major differences between the two kinds of organizations is that religious groups are based on scripture, believe in god, an appeal to religious authority and require the psychological process of ‘faith.’ The Philosophy Society is based on increasing each individual’s autonomy. There is no authority but an appeal to the social methodology practiced that in itself rules out appeals to authority in itself. The closest form of authority is the factilitaro of the discussion meetings or experts that would be speaking on some practice or scientific information. Even in these instances, there is no strict appeal to authority for any individual to be proven wrong through reason or demonstration.
The Philosophy Society does not require faith as in believing in something in the absence of reason or evidence. All beliefs are proportioned to the evidence. Understanding the forms of deductive and inductive reasoning are essential to qualifying the kind of beliefs that we may hold.
There is no scripture that has been disseminated by any prophet. No philosopher is a prophet. No philosopher is to be taken as communicating the ‘word of god.’ Philosophers have translated their experiences in a sound reasoning format. We study and understand the language philosopher’s have shared with us because there is wisdom within it. The principles, applicability or comprehension of the philosopher’s writing is essentially related to conceptual analysis or the good life. All philosophical writings are to be understood with critical thinking and the principle of charity.
The Philosophy Society does not believe in any god. If an individual who is a member of the Philosophy Society believes in god, that is for them. It is up to them to discuss the nature of their belief or not. If they do choose to discuss their belief in god in the context of the Philosophy Society, all of the same training will be applied to that belief. A belief in god is a personal belief. We will respect an individual's feelings about that belief but also acknowledge its merit philosophically. It is important to be respectful of all beliefs, whether it is in god or someone who is suffering from schizophrenia and is burdened with delusional thinking.
If the belief matters to the person, it is up to us to have empathy for the meaning of that belief. If the person chooses to discuss it, it is our responsibility to do so in a respectful way that is compassionate towards the person's attachment to it. It is important to not forget the purpose of this group: We will evaluate all beliefs on the basis of our human biases and reasoning processes. How we do this is what matters.
The Philosophy Society practices the development of a moral compass by studying ethics and the application of ethics. Ethical relativism is not the position of the Philosophy Society. Some groups and people may have practices that are moral within their communities but are actually unethical. It is a fundamental property of the Philosophy Society to learn practical wisdom in the application of ethical principles to real world situations. It is also important not to rely on the appeal to tradition, as seen in many cultural practices, appeal to authority or conformity for all of these are fallacious or biased. Ethical principles are objective. Our ability to apply them takes awareness, practice and skill.
Existentially, the Philosophy Society can discuss the meaning of life and our place within the cosmos. This includes ideas like the after life, death and being present. All of these things are brought together with the sense of inclusion we gain as a group. Meeting weekly is important because it gives people the opportunity to look forward to being heard by others and creating a sense of meaning knowing that you belong and are accepted.
The Philosophy Society is not a cult. Cults, like Scientology or the Solar Temple group, are structured with devotion to a charismatic leader which is an appeal to authority. Cults do not share or disclose information about the structure of their belief systems and indoctrinate members before communicating the delusional nature of those beliefs. All of the informational structure of the Philosophy Society is explicitly provided upfront. Cults also demand high financial investment from their members usually amounting to nearly all of the members fortune. The Philosophy Society is free. At some point, for organizational growth, there will be an economic mechanism incorporated but it is not similar to the practice of cults. Lastly, cults demand that its members disassociate from their other social groups when joining to increase social cohesion. The Philosophy Society is a place to practice skills that are used in all other social contexts like family, intimate relationships, friendships and the workplace. Membership increases your social functioning in all other domains.
Some of the skills one will learn in the Philosophy Society are the same skills that are used in the treatment of mental illness. Learning and practicing these skills together will retroactively treat some forms of mental illness like depression and anxiety. Learning these skills will also proactively prevent these same forms of mental illness from developing because you will be living in such a way contrary to their development. These skills are learning how to give and take feedback, developing empathy, practicing communication skills, and critical thinking.
Discussion 6: Parenting
Our final discussion briefly touched on parenting. We discussed how being a good parent means being supportive yet respecting the independence and autonomy of one’s child. At the same time, it is important to be real with our children and also make time for having fun. We want to offer guidance to our kids when it is time for that but also maintain a sense of playfulness. There is a time to be serious but having fun in life is really what many of us strive for. The week can be filled with monotonous work and many look forward to times when they can relax. Knowing how to regulate our stress and not put that strain on our loved ones can be difficult at times. We have to develop a sense of balance within ourselves so that we can appreciate the quality aspects of our relationships and our life.
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