What's So Funny? A Socratic Conversation, Thursday, 5/21, 4-5pm

Inspired by Socrates' famous conversations with his friends in the marketplace of 5th century Athens, students engage in spirited discussions of ideas and issues. Socratic conversations range broadly and probe deeply into the basic challenges of life. They are informed by the latest literature for reference and follow up. While building a sense of community on campus, these meetings enliven the intellectual atmosphere and model dialogue and discussion as modes of inquiry.

Courage! Are We Living Boldly Enough and in the Right Ways? A Socratic Conversation, Thursday, 5/7, 4-5 pm

The challenges of our lives often call upon us to be courageous: intellectually courageous in standing up against faulty ideas, politically courageous in confronting in injustice, emotionally courageous in our intimate relationships.

Does courage come naturally when needed? Can we enhance our capacity? Does it have the same meaning for everyone, and for different areas of life? How do we handle our fears?

For Aristotle and Confucius, courage meant the ability to choose a moderate course of action despite extreme stress or pressure. Buddha and the Dalai Lama urge daily training of oneself. What do YOU think?

Come share your thoughts, experiences, and convictions:

• In what ways have you tried to be courageous in your life or work?


• Who and what do you admire as models of courage?


• Should and can courage be cultivated in schools?

Why Socrates? He engaged in lively, important conversations, exemplifying the values of dialogue and discussion. Socrates is an iconic figure in Education - but he transcends the profession in Western intellectual history.

What's So Funny? A Socratic Conversation, Thursday, 5/21, 4-5 pm

Humor is the most distinctive function of the human mind, displaying our capacity to instantly re-shape perceptions through creative connections. And laughter has been shown to be highly serviceable in helping us relate, cope, heal, teach, criticize, and understand.

Come share your thoughts and experiences, sparked by a couple of hilarious short videos.

• What’s your kind of humor – and why? (Steven Cobert? Comedy Center Roasts? 30 Rock? New Yorker cartoons? Ethnic jokes? Woody Allen? Judd Apatow? Seinfeld? Chris Rock? Guys and Dolls?)


• What roles does humor play in your life?


• Can satire and parody go too far or be pernicious? Or does anything go in making fun?

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These highly-participatory conversations with fellow students are moderated by Ronald Gross, author of Socrates' Way and Co-chair of the University Seminar on Innovation in Education. They are part of a year long series of Socratic Conversations hosted by the Gottesman Libraries.

To assure yourself a spot, complete with diet hemlock and cookies, please RSVP to libary@tc.edu.

Next session: Thursday, July 9, Topic: TBA

Where: Second Floor Salon