Inaugural meeting of
The Lamma Island Branch of
The Hong Kong Philosophy Café (HKPC)

SCMP article about the HKPC

7:00 P.M.
The Bookworm Café
G/F, 79, Yung Shue Wan Main Street

The Lamma Philosophy Café will meet on the first Sunday evening (7:00 P.M.) of every month
(a different topic will be explored every time)

For more information, contact Lammacafe@gmail.com

The worldwide philosophy cafe movement originated in Paris in 1992. The French philosopher, Marc Sautet, sought to reclaim philosophy from the 'Ivory Tower' of academia and return it to the lived lives of genuine communities for discussion and dialogue around issues that meaningfully impacted our lives.

The topic of the first meeting is "Centering Prayer" - a form of Christian meditation.

Presenter, Cynthia Bourgeault, is an Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader who travels globally to teach and spread the recovery of the Christian contemplative path. Cynthia is the author of six books including, most recently, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

opps! Thanks Alan. Here's the article then:

We think, therefore we drink ... no, we drink, therefore we think
They are, perhaps, Hong Kong's most unlikely bunch of bar-room brawlers. David Watkins trades highbrow blows
May 03, 2004

Arguing is good for you. No, it isn't. Yes, it is - vocalised confrontation in a relationship is a positive thing, demonstrating that both parties feel comfortable enough to reveal their true selves to each other. Heightened emotions at the time might suggest otherwise, and chances are you're going to hear a few things you'd rather not. However, assuming that the storm successfully clears the air, you can continue onwards on an elevated plateau of understanding.

Of course, there's nothing quite like winning an argument, either. Handing out intellectual beat-downs is perhaps one of the most satisfying forms of combat. It's also a two-way street, and so the members of the Hong Kong Philosophy Cafe meet once a month to hone their skills.

Not that there's any bad feeling here, with everyone arming themselves with a few beers and some good-natured banter at the start of each two-hour sessions. 'Not everyone is used to the process of formulating and defending a point of view,' says Roy Butler, a long-time member of the Hong Kong Philosophy Cafe Fringe Club branch, who is limbering up his grey matter along with 17 other like-minded individuals.

'These evenings always include a certain amount of attack and defence, and some people get upset. Hopefully, most newcomers learn by the end that anyone ought to be capable of engaging in a serious disagreement without getting upset.'

Assuming a disagreement is to be had at all, of course. 'Our meeting two months ago was unusual in that it was impossible to generate any form of discussion, because everyone agreed,' he says. 'I was the speaker and my topic was 'The Absurdities of Christianity'. So, you might conclude that most of the people who are interested in philosophy are perhaps not coherent to any religion, which is useful. A sceptical approach is a necessary part of the equipment.'

In its five years, 424 members have signed up to the cafe. Up to 40 regulars cram themselves around a table upstairs in the Fringe Club every month. A Kowloon branch meets at the Cultural Centre, and there's a Cantonese branch, as well as a newly arranged 'Happy Hour' branch that rarely strays out of the pub.

One person supplies a short introduction before the topic (tonight's is Nietzsche) is opened for general discussion. A moderator - although at more heated moments you could call him a referee - ensures everyone gets a chance to talk. 'Last month was the first time when people couldn't get in the room,' says Butler, eyeing me. 'That was on the ethics of journalism.'

This is apt. If it weren't for a spot of shoddy journalism, chances are the club wouldn't have started. The Philosophy Cafe phenomenon was born out of a journalistic mistake. In the summer of 1992 at the Cafe des Phares in Paris, Marc Sautet, a Nietzsche expert, was sitting with friends, discussing his plans to open a private philosophy consultancy. Sitting next to him was a journalist who, after catching snippets of conversation, went and announced on a radio programme that people were meeting every Sunday morning at the cafe to discuss philosophy.

So, it came as a surprise to Sautet when, the next week, 10 people turned up for a discussion. From that point on the 'Cafe Philo' was alive and kicking. Today, there are 130 cafes in France and a further 70 around the world, including Hong Kong's own branches, first opened five years ago by Dr Stephen Palmquist, associate professor at Hong Kong Baptist University's department of religion and philosophy. 'I was convinced ... this sort of organisation would make a meaningful contribution to Hong Kong's successful democratisation,' he says.

Judging by last week's news, it hasn't quite achieved that. 'One of the benefits of philosophy is not that it leads you to the answers, but that it shows you what limits there are in applying reason in pursuit of those answers,' says Simon Patkin, a cafe regular and business-English tutor. 'What you're doing is looking at reality in a way that you can deal with it.'

You could call it mental aerobics, says Butler. 'I come along to get my intellectual muscles working. Others do it because they're genuinely searching for answers to some of life's most important questions.'

The Hong Kong Philosophy Cafe: www.hkbu.edu.hk/~ppp/HKPC

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

A philosophy café is NOT a religious meeting.
No system of belief or values will be privileged over any other…

Except for…

a belief in and a deep commitment to genuine dialogue, where the right to present one’s own point of view is protected (provided it is not denigrating the dignity of others or ridiculing different opinions) and where dissent is not only allowed, but embraced as the fuel that powers a deep exploration of ideas.
The Lamma Philosophy Café will provide a friendly place for the exploration of ideas, where we may question our own assumptions and the assumptions of the various circles of culture within which all of us struggle to find our own ‘right path’. It will not always be comfortable, but as we learn to embrace our differences and celebrate our commonalities, we will build a community of sharing where we will learn it’s safe to be ourselves – to be different. And all of this while potentially enjoying a favourite veggie snack and a cup of coffee or a glass of organic wine or beer.

The Hong Kong Philosophy Café was started by Professor Stephen Palmquist, of the Religion and Philosophy Department of Hong Kong Baptist University in 1992. They have been holding monthly meetings since September of 1999 and currently meet the 2nd Tuesday evening of every month at the Fringe Club in Central and there is a second group called ‘ Happy Friday’ that meets in a pub on HK Island. The HKPC’s stated goal is to promote free and open discussion of philosophical issues by arranging regular meetings in local venues open to the general public.
The first topic of the new Lamma branch of the HKPC happens to have a Christian theme, the presenter being an Episcopalian Priest from the United States. But I must stress that all are welcome to participate in the dialogue regardless of the nature of (or lack of) their spiritual/religious convictions. The point is to explore the ideas critically in a way that may crack them or ourselves open to receiving new insights.

No future topics have yet been established, but they will doubtless range from the more formally philosophical to questions around environmentalism and community life, to presentations of other religious/spiritual positions. So, whether you are atheist, agnostic, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Wiccan, a devotee of one of the many Chinese deities, a Taoist, New Age, or any of the other time honoured or new religious movements of the world PLEASE FEEL WELCOME to join in our new community of dialogue!

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

Whhooaa,

Since when did Philosophy have anything to do with religion.

Religion= blind unquestioning faith in the face of zero evidence .

Philosophy = the study of general and fundamental problems concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language.[1][2] It is distinguished from other ways of addressing fundamental questions (such as mysticism, myth, or the arts) by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational argument (thanks wikipedia)

Someone has confused matters here, no philosophy club would bother with this bunch of twot.

I smell a Christian and would be very surprised if they didn't hand out some nice little Jesus pamphlets and try and get you radical free thinkers into Church next weekend.

They'll be more philosophy in the Island Bar than this Bible bash.

yes, that bit kind of smacks you in the face at the end.

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

I'm another one misled by the poster's design.

The key elements: the cross, the font, and 'Centering Prayer' and the whole design just shouted "earnest evangelical proselytizing" to my mental filters, and I didn't pause to read any more on my way past.

So I missed the first meeting. Hope to be there for the next.

In the mean time can I suggest the graphic designer puts the words "Philosophy Cafe" in big bold sans serif letters on the next poster?

Despite Bookworm Ken's "Prayer Warrior" T-shirt, see below, it was a very free-spirited and wide-open discussion about many issues with a big group of interesting people, with even a handful of off-islanders.

I'm looking forward to the next one, but a topic needs to be suggested and somebody willing to say a few words for a few minutes about it to get the next meeting off the ground. Any ideas and suggestions, please?

Here's a report and some pictures from the first meeting:

Oct 5: Lamma Philo Cafe - 1st Meeting

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.