FORUM: APRIL - JUNE 2013

We covered a great deal of ground last term - mostly based on Liberty, Freedom of thought and expression.  We looked at John Stuart Mill and related his attitude to happenings in the local and international field.

The core problem is the conflict between entrenched racial ideologies, including religion and the need for free expression.

We discussed the problem of Equality and looked at alternatives in the shape of EQUITABLE.

We shall start next time with a talk by John Davis on The Philosophy of Vegetarianism from his personal position as  a Vegan.

Following that we shall look at testing one's own attitude to morality (BBC),review A C Grayling's book "Against all Gods" and  consider the  Philosophy of Sleep compared with Descartes Cogito ergo sum (do we think when we are asleep ?).

As well we might try to relate Body Modification (beautifying) and enhancement as in Sports and the use of aids to better performance.






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PHILOSOPHY FORUM III - MARCH 6th

OUR THEME FOR THIS SESSION WAS 'FREEDOM' IN THE BROADEST SENSE

Bob H presented a critique and explanation of Juergensmayer's statements on GLOBAL REBELLION in which he expounds the threat to secular societies of the rise of militant religious factions.   This ranged from the relatively minor problem of the legal requirement in Australia to have religious speakers attend State schools to promote their faiths to the wide range of religious ferment across the Middle East and beyond.  We really need Freedom without coercion and violence.

Ron S then looked at Liberty and Freedoms using the text of J Stuart Mill's Essay 'On Liberty' and concentrated on what JSM called the 'HARM' principle when considering any restriction of free speech,

And, finally Laurie K concluded his thoughts on NATURE and NURTURE in the social behaviour of human beings and brought it home by referring to the differences between his own children.  It was a good homely example of how, over time, changes in personality can be clearly observed which brought us to the thoughts of Aristotle.  He reckoned that by using REASON we can achieve a balance between Nature and Nurture. 

NEXT SESSSION IV - March 20th

Our U3A President will introduce us to Logic with special reference to Aristotle - a welcome subject as it has been found difficult to cover this adequately in the past.  He has promised not to get us bogged down in abstruse mathematical matters.

As a follow-up to the theme of the last session, I shall try to cover EQUALITY with the questions of how to define it and whether or not LIBERTY and EQUALITY are compatible.

We shall consider the UK Equality Act of 2010 and then go on to examine CULTURE - how broad is the subject and think about the planned release of the Government's NATIONAL CULTURAL POLICY paper as devised by Minister for the Arts, Simon Crean.

Malcolm Sealy - mallarray@aapt.net.au

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FORUM NO 3 MARCH 6th 2013

AT THE LAST MEETING WE LOOKED HARD AT JUSTICE AS SEEN BY PLATO IN THE LIGHT OF ICAC INVESTIGATIONS AND RELATED IT TO THE LAW AND TRIALS BY JURY.

JAN MARTIN SPOKE COMPREHENSIVELY ABOUT THE FUTURE FOR LIBRARIES AND BOOKS AND IAN McAUSLAND FULFILLED HIS PROMISE TO SUMMARISE SPINOZA'S PHILOSOPHY IN JUST 10 MINUTES.

ON MARCH 6th WE SHALL BE CONSIDERING FREEDOM AND LIBERTY IN VARIOUS FORMS.

BOB HAYWARD WILL BE PRESENTING INFORMATION AND IDEAS ABOUT JUERGENMAYER'S 'GLOBAL REBELLION' FOLLOWED BY RON STEELE DISCUSSING LIBERTY AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH - J STUART MILL AND TWO RECENT CASES IN AUSTRALIA WILL BE RELEVANT TO THIS.

FINALLY, LAURIE KETTLEWELL WILL WIND UP HIS TWO-PART VIEWS OF THE EFFECTS OF NURTURE/NATURE ON HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Malcolm Sealy

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FORUM 2 20th FEBRUARY 2013

The first term session was well-attended, wide-ranging and lively.

Some interesting reactions appeared about the recent arguments about sexism and misogyny.  No definite conclusions were reached but facial expressions were noted and remarked upon - especially those of the Tutor.

Laurie Kettlewell spoke about his view of the influence of NURTURE and upbringing on the behaviour and morality of individuals.  He posed the question of how would we have acted if born in the early 1930s in Germany ?

As a follow-up to this Paul Buckingham spoke about Authority and the Milgram experiments on obedience.  Interesting points arose particularly with regard to the effects of the wearing of uniforms - police, traffic wardens, paramedics etc. 

The next session will cover a summary of Spinoza's philosophy, Justice and Trial by Jury, the future for books and libraries and a view of Plato and the Global Financial Crisis.

PHILOSOPHY 2013 U3A SHOALHAVEN

The first four sessions in February and March will continue the format of topical items and their philosophic relevance, followed by group discussion.

As is normal, we shall probably find that there is more content for consideration than time available.

Amongst the topicals will be 

Sexism and Misogyny; the  Sharemarket Hoax compared with the Hospital hoax; The eye of the Needle - Religious structure and wealth; Freedom of speech/vilification laws; Compulsory voting; Drugs and Sport.

Main subjects:-

• Freewill - from nature or nurture
• The Milgram experiments
• The future for Books and Libraries
• Justice and the Jury System - votes for convicts
• Plato's view of Justice
• The Nuremberg trials
• Spinoza's Philosophy
• Descartes re-visited
• Nietzsche - Eternal recurrence - Sisyphus
• Religious attacks on the Secular State
• Speed of Social Change
• Dennett and Harris

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