World, Writing, Wealth discussion

I'm on board!

So, what are we going to talk about, guys/girls? I'm open to suggestions.

Marissa wrote: "Deep topics/conversations/discussions- I definitely can't say I don't like them sometimes, but they're beginning to frustrate me. Obviously we're on the right track if we're even interested in goin..."

oh come now, you mean get organized in our learned discussions? *_*

isn't there a great book series that focuses on knowledge? i watched part of Bronson's Ascent of Man and some of Connections. i just found this wikipedia listing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_b...

i've also started a book list of what i think best elucidates that true nature of reality (https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...✓)

barring latching onto a "great books series," we could have a series of symposiums wherein we read some books and otherwise gather knowledge on particular subjects. each symposium could span a month to 3 months.

more thoughts?

Alex G wrote: "Marissa wrote: "Deep topics/conversations/discussions- I definitely can't say I don't like them sometimes, but they're beginning to frustrate me. Obviously we're on the right track if we're even in..."

I think a weekend symposium would be more stimulating, give us more diversity of opinion, increase participation, decrease topic fatigue and encourage participation.

Selections from the Great Books list, or selections of certain topic we'd all like to learn more about, sound good to me.

I took an intensive month-long teaching course over the summer, and it reminded me of how much you can learn about one subject over the course of a measly month, if you have the time and resources to immerse yourself in it. It would be good to do that with a subject that is actually interesting.

Marissa wrote: "I agree. In any case, I would find it refreshing.

Any suggestions for subjects that might be interesting to participants?"

Topic
We should brainstorm. Each participant could nominate what interests them and discuss. To amplify Mike's desire, it's very important for all of us to be enthusiastic about whatever topic we decide on.

Goal
To develop an in-depth understanding of a particular topic and have a fulfilling discussion.

Time period
Tara suggested a weekend, but I don't think that I could commit to an intensive weekend. A discussion thread is asynchronous, so it's good for long-running discussions. How about 2 - 3 weeks? Maybe it could be variable depending on the topic?

I'm interested in anything in science, world history (including religion with the caveat that I'm agnostic), world mythology, economics, and writing.

Out of all of these, my blindspot is economics.

I suggest we give our own opinion. Not some booksy opinions--that's the opinion of the author. Better yet, give the opinion of what we as individuals think. That way we get a diverse opinion, not some educated or scholarly input we hold to be true. For instance: what is truth? What is moral?

GR wrote: "I suggest we give our own opinion. Not some booksy opinions--that's the opinion of the author. Better yet, give the opinion of what we as individuals think. That way we get a diverse opinion, not s..."

i agree insofar as we exercise our own critical thinking skills to evaluate the argument of whatever content we read as well as vet its sources and evidence. however--as Marissa stated in her OP--without knowing what has been stated before on a topic risks inefficiency at the least and lack of precision in thought at the worst.

Well done on the initiative, Marissa!
I doubt very much that all possible ideas have already been discovered. And there are so many questions still unanswered or maybe answered multiple times as a hypotheses. Plato, Einstein or Hawking - my point of view - everything's open for challenge and discussion -:) Not sure, whether it matters if some idea that we hear for the first time from one of the members here, was originally presented by Spinoza, for example -:)
At that, learned discussion based on something studied specifically for that purpose combined with individual critical thinking in the aftermath sounds like an excellent idea..

Agree!
What subject(s), guys?
Something from what Alex mentioned or GR, something different?

Or of Marissa?

If these interest anyone, I'd suggest:

in political: direct democracy vs representative one

and/or

economic: cap on enrichment

and/or

general philosophy: meaning of life; life after death -:)

Cool. Let's see who's game and on what

Nik wrote: "Cool. Let's see who's game and on what"

great! so let's wait for Mike, Tara, Michel, and GR to chime in more.

meaning of life would definitely mean delving into Plato, the Bible, the Koran, some Buddhist texts. i'd recommend narrowing that down a bit--for which i don't have any ideas right at this moment.

if you want to discuss direct vs. representative democracy, we could narrow that down to voting systems--instant run-off, first-past-the-post, approval (which I've done some research on already). Locke would also be on the list of research items.

cap on enrichment -- that's a good question. maybe we could look at the income inequality level in different countries. for example, the GINI coefficient in this case is applied to income inequality (0 being complete equality and 1 being complete inequality):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gini_co...

for system failures, maybe we could focus on one like the 2009 financial meltdown. Marissa: is system failures related to roles of education and employment or were they different categories? do you mean the relationship between education and employment and how that can prevent or foster system failures? i'd be interested in that since i'm very much invested in my middle-school daughter's education.

Marissa wrote: "I'd be really interested in exploring democracy and the role of governments. Also regarding economics, maybe property rights?

I'm a big fan of exploring the root causes of system failures, the rol..."

This is up my line, but we should start a new subject. This one is getting too long.

Subjects:

Failures in our system: Economics, Education, Marriage

After life: What is it?

These I like. Anybody else have a good one?

GR went even further and started 'marriage' and 'life after death' threads -:)