Café Conversations

This collection is the first book in English to look closely at the phenomenon and theory of philosophy in a café. Since the tradition of philosophical dialogue in coffee-houses was revived in Paris in the 1990s, public venues for participatory philosophy have sprung up in numerous countries the world over, taking many forms, all seeking to stimulate intellectual engagement as well as meaningful community involvement and democratic participation. In Paris, the original Café Philo is no longer running, but other dialogue series, including some of the earliest to take root, continue to this day. The simple activity of reasoning together in a café is relevant to several areas of philosophy: epistemology, including critical thinking; social and political philosophy, notably democratic theory; and philosophy of education, among other areas. Although a great deal has been written on the theory and practice of philosophy for children, little or no concerted exploration has taken place of participatory philosophy in the public sphere, despite the parallels in issues and concerns. This book brings together the international voices of numerous facilitators of engaged philosophical inquiry, including some of the most prominent, together with observers in allied fields, to explore practical and organizational issues, but also to bring critical and theoretical perspectives to bear on café philosophy.

CONTENTS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction: Openings (Michael Picard, Canada)

Part I: Development and Dispersal of a Philosophical Practice

2. Un Café pour Socrate-Excerpts (Marc Sautet, France; translated by Michael Picard)

3. Café Philosophy: A Practice of Reflective Freedom (Daniel Ramirez, Chile/France; translated by Michael Picard)

4. Filocafe: From the "Ivory Tower" to a "McDonaldization" of Philosophy? (Miriam van Reijen, Belgium/Netherlands)

5. Open and Chaotic: Our Café-Philo in Zürich (Albert Hoffmann, Switzerland)

6. What Makes Café Philosophy Possible? (Mathijs van Dijk, Belgium)

7. Ethical, Conversational, and Logical Norms in Philosophy Café (Tetsuya Kono, Japan)

8. Café Philosophy as a Platform for Long-term Research in Philosophical Practice (Carmen Zavala, Peru)

9. Philosophy Café in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (Angelo Cárdenas and Claudia Rubio, Mexico)

10. Missing School at Café Philosophy: Philosophy in the Streets? (Walter Omar Kohan, Argentina/Brazil)

11. What Happens at Socrates Café (Christopher Phillips, United States)

12. Adventures in Café Philosophy: Trajectory of a Community of Ideas, 1997-2009 (Michael Picard, Canada)

13. Simon Fraser University's Philosophers' Café: A Synoptic History (Yosef Wosk, Canada)

14. Café Philosophy on the "Talking Stick" Model (Mark Battersby, Canada

15. Co-Creating a Flourishing Future One Conversation after Another (Brian Fraser, Canada)

16. My Zayde's Stories and "Philo Cafés" (Meguido Zola, Canada)

Part II: Theoretical and Conceptual Underpinnings

17. From Conversation to Dialogue: Philosophical Cafés and the Art of Discussion (Lydia Amir, Israel/United States)

18. John Dewey and Jürgen Habermas over a Cup of Ideas: The Role of Philosophy in the Public (Barbara Weber, Canada/Germany)

19. Two Concepts of Civility (Anthony Simon Laden, United States)

20. But Is It Philosophy? Critical Reflections on Social Reasoning and Café Philosophy (Michael Picard, Canada)

21. Philosophy Sports as the New Café Philosophy (Michael Picard, Canada)

22. The Parrhesiastic Game: Speaking Frankly as Care of Self (Elly Pirocacos, Greece/Canada)

23. Communications in the Cosmic Café: A Universal Choreography (Yosef Wosk, Canada)

The Contributors

Name Index

Concept Index