April Philosophy Café
Dr Andrew Vandenberg asks why Egypt began to democratise while Libya has fallen into civil war
Wednesday 27 April from 7-9pm at The Barking Dog hotel

At this month’s philosophy café Dr Andrew Vandenberg, Senior Lecturer in Deakin University’s School of International and Political Studies, asks ‘Why did Egypt begin to democratise while Libya has fallen into civil war in 2011?’ A period of questions and discussion will follow Dr Vandenberg’s presentation.

Philosophy Café is held from 7-9pm on the last Wednesday of each month, February to November, in the ‘Kennel’ at The Barking Dog hotel, 126 Pakington st, Geelong West.

This month’s café takes place on 27 April. Entry is free and includes a glass of wine and nibbles.

No DPS meeting this week

There will be no Deakin Philosophical Society meeting this Wednesday 27 April due to the intra-trimester break. We’ll next meet on Wednesday 4 May.

See below for other philosophical events to keep you satiated until then.

Coming Paideia Australia events

Compassion Reading Group
begins Tuesday 3 May, 7.30pm at the Wesley Centre for Life Enrichment

Following the success of this year’s compassion-themed Fun and Philosophy weekend, Paideia Australia is hosting a reading group based on Karen Armstrong’s Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life. The reading group will meet each fortnight for ten meetings beginning on Tuesday 3 May. Each meeting will be held from 7.30-9pm at the Wesley Centre for Life Enrichment, 218 Ryrie St, Geelong.

The cost to participate is $75 for the ten meetings and includes a copy of Armstrong’s book.

This events is open to a limited number of participants. For further information and to register visit paideiaaustralia.org.au/groups.

Cinema Paideia
begins Wednesday 18 May with Winter in Wartime

Enjoy good conversation and wine where philosophy meets film: Cinema Paideia. The coming Cinema Paideia series begins on Wednesday 18 May at 7pm with a screening of Winter in Wartime. This series will be held in the newly-upgraded Morrow Theatrette, Little Malop St, Geelong (above the Geelong library).

The cost is $20 per screening ($18 concession) or $50 if you purchase tickets to all three films in the series in advance ($45 concession). Purchase tickets by cash or cheque at any Paideia Australia event, including Philosophy Café. Credit card payments can be made through the Paideia Australia website. Tickets will be available at the door on the night, unless sold out prior.

Other films to be screened in the series include Noi the Albino (on 15 June) and The Machinist (on 20 July). Each screening will be followed by a panel discussion and informal conversation on the philosophical themes of the film.

For more information on Cinema Paideia visit http://paideiaaustralia.org.au/cinema.

Kind regards,

Dylan Nickelson,
President, Deakin Philosophical Society.

Friends,

DPS meeting
What is democracy?
Wednesday 20 April from 5-6.30pm in ib3.307 on Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus

This Wednesday the Deakin Philosophical Society will meet to discuss the question What is democracy? Our discussion last week of Nussbaum’s essay on the type of education system required for a flourishing democracy versus the type of education system required for a flourishing economy turned into a debate about what we mean by ‘democracy’. This week we’ll continue this debate, discussing an excerpt from Joseph Schumpeter’s 1943 Capitalism, socialism and democracy.

Enjoy!

Kind regards,

Dylan Nickelson,
President, Deakin Philosophical Society.

Friends,

DPS meeting
The education crisis and the depletion of democracy
Wednesday 13 April from 5-6.30pm in ib3.307 on Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus

This Wednesday the Deakin Philosophical Society will meet to discuss a 2011 essay by philosopher Martha Nussbaum on the tension between the type of education system required for a flourishing democracy and that required for a flourishing economy. The article, ‘The education crisis and the depletion of democracy’, is available on the ABC Religion and Ethics website (http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2011/02/15/3139497.htm). Some of the article text fails to print from web browsers, so I have posted a PDF copy of the article for those of you who prefer to read a print copy.

Nussbaum’s article ties in with our discussion last week of happiness while leading us into next week’s topic, critical thinking and rhetoric. Here’s a sample of Nussbaum’s argument:

The humanities and the arts are being cut away, in both primary/secondary and college/university education, in virtually every nation of the world. Seen by policy-makers as useless frills, at a time when nations must cut away all useless things in order to stay competitive in the global market, they are rapidly losing their place in curricula, not to mention in the minds and hearts of parents and children.

But, as she goes on to argue,

Pure models of education for economic growth are difficult to find in flourishing democracies, since democracy is built on respect for each person, and the growth model respects only an aggregate. However, education systems all over the world are moving closer and closer to the growth model, without much thought about how ill-suited it is to the goals of democracy.

Ergo,

…producing economic growth does not mean producing democracy, and it certainly does not mean producing democracies that show respect for the liberty and conscience of all citizens.

Hope to see you there,

Kind regards,

Dylan Nickelson,
President, Deakin Philosophical Society.

PS. If you have become a DUSA Access member since paying your 2011 DPS membership, please let me know so that I can update our records. The DPS gets more funding for each member who is also a DUSA Access member, so letting me know will help keep the DPS in good shape.

Friends,

DPS meeting
Why is it so hard to find happiness?
Wednesday 6 April from 5-6.30pm in ib3.307 on Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus

This Wednesday 6 April from 5-6.30pm in room ib3.307 on Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus the Deakin Philosophical Society will meet to discuss an Age article by Australian author David Malouf on the search for contentment in the modern world.

You can access Malouf’s article, ‘Why is it so hard to find happiness?’, which is an excerpt from the current Quarterly Essay, at http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/why-is-it-so-hard-to-find-happiness-20110311-1bqmo.html.

The article is brief, and the question of why am I, or, more likely, am I not happy may be front of mind as assessment task due dates loom. So, enjoy.

Kind regards,

Dylan Nickelson,
President, Deakin Philosophical Society.