Café Conversations: Participatory Philosophy in Public Spaces

$39.95
by Michael Picard

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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. Readers will enjoy the cartoons by Graham Harrop that take a humorous yet knowledgeable perspective on the field. A name index, concept index, and detailed references also make the volume an invaluable resource for scholars and participants alike. Contributors: Michael Picard, Canada; Marc Sautet, France;; Daniel Ramirez, Chile/France; Miriam van Reijen, Belgium/Netherlands; Albert Hoffmann, Switzerland; Mathijs van Dijk, Belgium; Tetsuya Kono, Japan; Carmen Zavala, Peru; Angelo Cárdenas and Claudia Rubio, Mexico; Walter Omar Kohan, Argentina/Brazil; Christopher Phillips, United States; Mark Battersby, Canada; Brian Fraser, Canada; Meguido Zola, Canada; Lydia Amir, Israel/United States; Barbara Weber, Canada/Germany; Anthony Simon Laden, United States; Elly Pirocacos, Greece/Canada; Yosef Wosk, Canada Michael Picard holds an MSc and a PhD in philosophy from MIT. He has taught cognitive science, psychology, management, leadership, philosophy, and sustainability. Now he teaches philosophy at Douglas College in Vancouver. Picard founded Café Philosophy in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, facilitating it weekly for twelve years; he remains a facilitator with SFU's Philosophers' Café program. He is also creator of Philosophy Sports, including the board game, Tug of Logic, now an app. Picard is author of How to Play Philosophy and This Is Not a Book, as well as co-author of Paradoxes: From Illusions to Infinity. He has translated two books by Gerd Achenbach for Hamilton/Rowman & Littlefield, Philosophical Praxis (2024) and On Right in Wrong (forthcoming). His own philosophical praxis is found at www.philosophical-coaching.com.

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