Itinerant philosopher spreads a little Socrates

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Books Editor

When Christopher Phillips asks a question, he learns something, whether or not the question is answered. He learns about himself, his thinking, his unconscious assumptions, prejudices and preferences. So he keeps asking questions.

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Where to find some dialogue Barnes & Noble is in the process of organizing a Socratic discussion group that will meet regularly at the store, probably beginning in January. Watch the store’s calendar of events for further details. More on Socrates Café: www.philosopher.org More on Sacred Space Sacred Space meets at 1 p.m. Sundays in picnic area No. 9, just mauka of San Souci Beach at Kapi‘olani Park; bring an umbrella, a beach chair, an open mind.

Phillips and Jaeger, separated by a continent and an ocean, share a belief that asking questions is vital to the future of our society, to finding happiness, settling disputes and discovering our own right paths.

Phillips, who lives in Virginia, is an itinerant philosopher and free-lance writer who travels the country organizing discussion groups he calls "Socrates Cafes." His book, "Socrates Cafe, A Fresh Taste of Philosophy" (Norton, $23.95) chronicles his experiences in this oddball pursuit (for which he does not charge a fee though he'll accept travel money and accommodations if they're offered). The 75 ongoing Cafes around the country have helped spark a revival in the fine art of dialogue, as distinct from conversation, debate or argument. He hosted the first Hawai'i Socrates Cafe last month at Barnes & Noble, while he and his wife, Cecilia, were here for a belated honeymoon.

Jaeger is a Honolulu insurance claims adjustor and the founder of the weekly "Sacred Space" circle, which meets every Sunday in Kapi'olani Park. Sacred Space is not a religious group, though those in attendance generally share a belief in something "other." It is, Jaeger said, a place where dialogue and a meditative state of listening are encouraged.

Jaeger, who connected with Phillips via the Internet, attended the first Socrates Cafe last month. "Socrates is interesting because, according to the Delphic Oracle, he was deemed to be the wisest man in Athens and the reason for that was that he knew that he didn't know," Jaeger said, approvingly. "To actually come to a point of not knowing is very rare these days. Most people are filled with all sorts of knowledge that they want to impart on people."

The two ideas — the Socrates Cafe and the Sacred Space — differ in practice but share some key principles. Both focus on a kind of talking and community-building that the group's founders say is rare.

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It started in ancient Greece Who was Socrates, anyway? A Greek thinker and teacher. Born Athens, 469 B.C; died Athens, 399 B.C. A former soldier, sculptor and stonemason, Socrates devoted the second half of his life to philosophy, thinking about "the way we should live." His teaching style was to ask questions; parrying one question with another, digging deeper into the issue at hand. After a failed revolution that involved some of his associates, he was accused of corrupting young people's minds and told to stop teaching. He ignored this order, refused an implied offer of clemency if he would just be quiet, and was condemned to die by drinking hemlock. He wrote nothing and is known to us only through his follower, Plato, who made Socrates a character in his books.

In a Socrates Cafe, the practice is to first invite the group to suggest questions for discussion, then to vote on the question and encourage a few people to state their views. (The question in Honolulu was, "Do we choose whom we love?") The facilitator intervenes in the Socratic way by examining people's views for built-in assumptions, embedded concepts and logical inconsistencies. Discussion ensues as layer after layer of shallow thinking, ill-considered viewpoints and errors of fact are stripped away. The conversations generally continue for a couple of hours.

"Most conversations are very unsatisfying," said Jaeger. "They don't go into much depth and when they start to, people seem to automatically go off on another subject. There doesn't seem to be any conscious attempt to explore an issue more deeply. Dialogue is different than just conversation or discussion: The intention is to promote deep listening and it also just means listening to the thoughts that are going through your own head."

In the Sacred Space, the meeting begins with everyone sitting in a circle in silence for a while, then suggesting topics to discuss, or a question. The only rule, Jaeger said, is that no one is to talk over anyone else. And everyone is directed to listen actively. This is not debate: "If it's a debate, then it's confrontation and that's not the point of dialogue," Jaeger said.

It is acceptable — indeed, encouraged — to respectfully challenge what others say. "It doesn't hurt to be challenged if your thoughts are somehow confused, or you need some help on a point — an ah-ha breakthrough, something that comes from outside," Jaeger said.

Sometimes, the discussion tapers off into silence. "It's almost as if there are two worlds, the known world and the unknown and we're always occupied in this little corner of the known world and the unknown is surrounding us but we seldom go there," said Jaeger.

Phillips, 42, began his Socratic mission at the lowest time in his life: He was divorced, broke and, he said, so depressed "I had trouble getting out of bed in the morning." But during his career as a freelance writer, his specialty was portraits of "unsung heroes" — people whose passion was to do something good in their own, small way. "I decided the answer for me was to follow in their footsteps and do what I knew to do," he said.

It worked out, too; he met his teacher-wife Cecilia at the second Socrates Cafe he hosted, and got a book contract shortly thereafter. They're not rich, but they get by and believe in what they're doing.

Philips believes passionately that Socra#tic debate is not merely an intellectual pastime, but a route to consensus and community, something we need now, after the events of Sept. 11, more than ever.

Jaeger concurs: "I think dialogue is vital. It may be the only answer to the world's problems. You're not going to convert everybody to one point of view, not without force. So many people won't talk to each other. Even our president says, 'No negotiation.' But until there is understanding of the similarities and the commonalities between people, there's going to be conflict. I don't know what the answer is for this world but I do know talking can't hurt."

It is, as Phillips often says in ending Socrates Cafe meetings, "something to keep thinking about."