We are a group of people who regularly meet on the second Sunday of the month, major holidays excepted, to discuss philosophical issues, not necessarily on topics centered in Continental Philosophy (although many of us do share an interest in the same). We meet at 3:30 pm in Heffron Hall on the corner with Palmer St and Burton St, Darlinghurst. A cost of $5 is charged which helps to pay for the hiring of the venue. Free tea/coffee and refreshments included.
On most occasions we have a speaker who reads a short paper. We prefer speakers, if possible, to also supply some copies of their paper so that the audience can also 'read' what the speaker is saying. With this text to hand, at the end of the paper, we can then question the 'reader' focusing closely on what was said. Participation is encouraged. Moreover, an emphasis is placed on the informal and readers are encouraged to find what ever style suits their topic to hand. In this light papers do not need to be fully worked out word for word and could include only headings, various points that need to be raised, quotes, themes, questions, etc. However, completed texts in electronic format can be published here and these contributions are much appreciated by our members who could not attend.
Sometimes we have open forums on topics of interest in various formats.
Each year we hope to organise a mini-conference, usually November. In 2006 the conference will be held in Heffron Hall, starting 2pm.
People wishing to read a paper can email the convenor Noel Tointon, email address:
Sun 14th April: Noel Tointon: Co-Authored Phenomena
Sun 12th May: Robert Zentner: Robert Norick: Free Market/Economic Rationalism... and Beyond?
Sun 9th June: Michael von Brasch: Terrorism - Part II
Sun 14th July: Noel Tointon: Process Theology - From Physics to Theology?
Sun 11th August: Refugees... Asylum seekers... Economic Migrants... What Difference is there in a Name... In so far as how Australian Immigration Policy Should be Formulated?
Sun 8th September: A Key Principle in Conflict Resolution - "What is good for one party is good for any other"?
Sun 13th October: Mary Harnett: What is God Like: Through the Analogy of Mind?
Sun 10th Nov: Blue Mts Conference/Symposium (no meeting at Green Iguana)
Sun 15th December: Alien Abduction - Have Your Been Taken?
2003
Sun 12th January: Lindsay Mell: Towards an 'Ethical Culture': How do we relate ethical principles to the state of contemporary culture?
Sun 9th February: Media or Medium:Does a Democracy Today Need to Fear a Monopolization of the Media?
Sun 9th Mar: Open Forum:Why is going to war (in Iraq) so controversial?
Sun 13th April: Noel Tointon: Beyond Therapy
Sun 11th May: Noel Tointon: Problem(s) of Deception and Self-Deception
Sun 8th June: Lindsay Mell: Looking at the work of Singer
Shift of Location to The Rustic Cafe/Surry Hills
Sun 13th July: How Sientific is Science? (A) Dark Matter or an Occult Science?
Sun 10th Aug: Francesco Amati: Ricoeur and Levinas, two modalities of self.
Sun 14th Sep: Noel Tointon: Finding a Place for the 'Idea' of God - Dead or Alive?
Sun 12th Oct: Michael von Brasch: Algabel and the arabessques of power
Sun 9th Nov: IVth Annual Conference (The Rustic Cafe/Surry Hills)
Sun 14th Dec: Marc Marusic: Rousseau and the French Revolution
2004
Sun 11th Jan: Lindsay Mell: Popular Philosophy: A Contemporary Reflection
Sun 8th Feb: Phil Wong: Scientific Hypothesis, Scientific Methodology, Scientific Proofs... A Review
Sun 14th Mar: May Harnett/Noel Tointon: Papers on Theological Topics
Sun 11th Apr: Michael von Brasch: Title to be announced
Sun 9th May: Francesco Amati: Ricoeur and Levinas, two modalities of self.
Part II - Ricoeur....
Sun 13th Jun: Marc Marusic: The Frankfurt School versus One Dimensional Man - Questions of Consciousness, Meaning, Identity, Everyday Life, Culture, Desire and Power?
Sun 11th Jul: Open Forum: Has Australia Now Become Merely a Mirror of American Society: Both Culturally and Politicaly?
Sun 8th Aug: Noel Tointon: On the Role of Textual Reflexivity in Determining the Contemporaneous Nature of the Post-Postmodern Condition? Between the Pre-Modern, the Modern, the Postmodern and the Contemporary is there a real difference in the production of their texts? Titled a "Current Controversy...."
Sun 12th Sep: Open Forum: Is a Culture Blind to its Own Myths?
Sun 10th Oct: Sandy Yang: Confucious....
Sun 14th Nov: Mini-Conference: Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre: From 12:30 - 5:30pm. Major Theme - Rationality. Bring a plate/beverage. Cost $5 (includes free teas/coffees, etc.).
Shift to Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre
Sun 12th Dec: Michael von Brasch: Title to be announced (Paper is on the theme of the 'concept' of democracy)
Sun 9th Jan: Confucius - Part II
Sun 13th Feb: Open Forum: If the Contemporary era is, theoretically, an era of pluralism where is the (Australian) world of politics heading? Are we moving into an era of oppositions? Whence the hegemony of the Right?
Sun 13th March: Lindsay Mell: On Values....
Sun 10th April: Open Forum: Now Who Owns the Truth?
