THE DISCUSSION ROOM
The purpose of The Discussion Room is to serve as a safe community of diverse discussion concerning the most pressing topics in our world today, including music, literature, media, ethics, religion, culture, and politics.
WHAT IS THE DISCUSSION ROOM?
The Discussion Room is a social group based upon the foundations of a traditional Socratic Seminar. A Socratic method of discussion encourages open listening among members of a group regarding a topic or a text, and the consideration and critiques of each others' arguments. The goal of a Socratic discussion is to bring unique perspectives to a group discussion and build bridges among different opinions- not to debate with the intent of having a "winner" and a "loser".
The Discussion Room is a place for intellectual people of all ages and backgrounds to get to know each other. Together, we organize fun events and apply our knowledge and drive to real social change, through volunteering and other forms of community service.
WHY JOIN?
It's easy to become heated in conversations regarding personal or unjust matters. However, angry conversations rarely prove to be productive when debating with people who are just as opinionated and inflamed as you are. This begs the question: How can we encourage open-minded thinking and productive discussion among us, while also staying true to our values and working towards a just society?
The only way this can be accomplished is through compassion, love and respect in discussion. We encourage passion, but strive to nega
WHO CAN JOIN?
The Discussion Room is an intergenerational, interracial, interfaith, coed community of diverse backgrounds and opinions.
People of all ages are encouraged to drop in whenever they would like, or according to the topics and events that they find the most interesting.
HOW DOES THE DISCUSSION ROOM WORK?
Options for discussion are two Sundays per month at a coffee shop in the Folsom area from 2 pm to 3:30 pm. Each week will center around a topic, which is posted on the blog prior to the discussion every week. The topics may focus on politics (global and domestic), art, music, short stories, philosophical questions, or moral issues. Any topic is fair game, as long as we can sustain a respectful debate.
The discussion itself is casual and fun- though we do have a few ground rules (see the blog "Rules of a Socratic Seminar").
If you like- you can prepare for the discussion (or not!) The most essential factor for a productive and interesting discussion is to come willing to share and listen.
Martin Luther King Jr.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
