Final Words?
After a great weekend of Freethinking in Liverpool I'd like to leave the last word to the Philosophy In Pubs peeps.
Vincent Lawrenson-Woods is a computer programmer from Liverpool and has agreed to put something together on the group's behalf. His partner, Luan, is also active in the group. Luan works as a business advisor for an organisation who gives out free business advice to women across Merseyside. Together Vinny & Luan have also been instrumental in setting up
"culturepool brings people together to share the experience of the city's art & cultural events. We regularly visit venues such as galleries, theatres and cinemas throughout the city and then get together afterwards to talk and reflect on the experience."
In the lead up to the Freethinking festival Vinny very kindly invited me along to an enquiry.
Below he gives us a flavour of that evening.
Esther, in an earlier blog asked the question 鈥淗ow do I know that my beliefs are not, in fact, my prejudices?鈥
The question won the public vote, which was then debated in the Peoples Choice event during the Free Thinking festival.
I believe it won because it鈥檚 an important question, but one that is difficult to answer unless we know what a belief is. We may know our beliefs, but what is a belief?
Esther joined myself and other Philosophy In Pubs members in the Philharmonic Pub on Hope Street to discuss this very question.
I鈥檝e posted photographs taken by Barbara Connolly and an audio recording of the evening.
Please listen to the enquiry, and join the debate!
You'd like to leave the last words to the philosophy in pubs peeps -why?
what have they in common with the rest of us - haven't seen them commenting around here much - so NO Esther - they don't have the last word - unless they can be bothered posting like the rest of us!
It would seem to be that there are a variety of discussion levels going on - some on cyberspace some in 'real life' and never the twain shouild meet perhaps. It seems to me a poor soul in the worlds ether that none of us are really meeting up in reality - there are free thinking discussions going on for sure - some here - some in the pubs - some on the radio and we are all exhaulted to connect and listen and respond - tall order dear Esther - it won't and doesn't happen - so your task dear esther is to make it happen - you are I assume a key cog - a connector - so don't just keep telling us when and where we can meet - make it happen for goodness sake! after all surely you now have the technology if not the impetious?
Great Blog.
Regardless of the question mark - the phrase "final words" seems to put a stopper in it - don't it like?
Why last word to PIPs?
I'm the 'Liverpool' blogger and they're a Liverpool group of people who have been making it their business to 'make connections' in the real world for nigh on five years.
But you are right. I am inspired to make all sorts of connections. But I prefer the 'face to face' sort myself.
Things in common? Well they're people for a start. They make use of a really accessible ritual common to a great majority of people - going the pub - in order to foster enquiries.
In my opinion that's a great thing. I got in a taxi the other night and told the taxi driver where I'd been - Freethinking Festival -he hadn't heard of it - but he was sufficiantly interested to write down the PIPs info.
'It would seem to be that there are a variety of discussion levels going on' - it's the way of the world Fitz. We do what we can, when we can, with what is available to us.
'so don't just keep telling us when and where we can meet - make it happen for goodness sake!'
I am.
You seem to enjoy a good debate Fitz. I reckon you should start a Philosophy in....wherever you like to hang out. Know what I mean, like?
Vinny refers to audio of the PIP discussion - we hope to have that up very soon - by Nov 15 with a following wind.
Southendian - Radio 3 host
Hi Fitz
I'm a member of Philosophy In Pubs and would like to respond to your blog.
Firstly I find the question "what have they got in common to the rest of us" very saddening. Just because I haven't posted regularly doesn鈥檛 mean we have nothing in common.
Why even make these distinctions? Is real life and cyberspace actually that different? I assume that you and your computer exist in the real world. I can communicate to you here, so I expect you can speak to me in a pub for example.
Like books and telephones, the Internet is the latest piece of communication technology. Lets not forget that these technologies can help or hinder communication between people, not replace it.
Finally, Esther not Philosophy In Pubs has had the last word. It appears with you and me the virtual world and real world have finally met, connected by Esther.
Hi Vincent - sorry to hear:"Firstly I find the question "what have they got in common to the rest of us" very saddening."
but I must point out that only you have made you sad - no one else - so my suggestion is stop being sad Vincent - the last lad with your name I recall being sad cut his ear off!
Yes real life and cyberspace is definitely different - haven't you noticed.
But I do understand - there are many sad kids these days who cannot distinguish between the two and get really caught up - I hope you are not one of them.
"Is real life and cyberspace actually that different?" come on Vincent - get real!
"I can communicate to you here,"
really - well the point I am making is that we never have until this moment - so yes 'free thinking' is going on all over Liverpool, but why haven't we ever connected until this late date - I blame Esher myself!
No I can't speak to you in a pub - I am in cyberspace remember?
Well yes I am glad that Esther has finally connected us - pity it was so late in the piece!
Mine's a double brandy by the way!