Roots of Democracy
Ancient Athenian secret ballots
Where:
World Cup Coffee, 1740 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR (side room).
When:
Saturdays, March 30, April 6, April 13, 2019, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Description:
At the bottom of our attempts to think, create, improve, (and sometimes save) democracy lie some pretty big, tangled philosophical questions: What do freedom and equality even mean? What are the benefits and dangers of “rule by the people”? Who should be a member of the civic body, and how should they participate? What should be the limit of political authority? What should be the scope of individual liberty? How exactly does “consent” work in communal self-government? What does it mean to operate under a “general will”? What does functioning, open debate really look like, and why is it important that we do it well?
As we confront the perennial crises of democracy, we are thrown back on these questions again and again. In this workshop we will examine some of our most dearly-held democratic ideals and the recurring threats they face by drawing on influential philosophers in the history of democratic thinking: Plato, Aristotle, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and John Stuart Mill.
The historical-philosophical approach of the workshop should help us to gain some perspective on the way certain hopes, fears, dangers, and remedies surrounding democracy repeat over time. It should also create a springboard for thinking about whether the groups in which we each participate (big and small) should be made more democratic, what that would mean, and how we could help. For those in to political theory, the workshop will be a great primer for understanding contemporary political theorists who apply and/or critique the canon.
World Cup Coffee, 1740 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR (side room).
When:
Saturdays, March 30, April 6, April 13, 2019, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Description:
At the bottom of our attempts to think, create, improve, (and sometimes save) democracy lie some pretty big, tangled philosophical questions: What do freedom and equality even mean? What are the benefits and dangers of “rule by the people”? Who should be a member of the civic body, and how should they participate? What should be the limit of political authority? What should be the scope of individual liberty? How exactly does “consent” work in communal self-government? What does it mean to operate under a “general will”? What does functioning, open debate really look like, and why is it important that we do it well?
As we confront the perennial crises of democracy, we are thrown back on these questions again and again. In this workshop we will examine some of our most dearly-held democratic ideals and the recurring threats they face by drawing on influential philosophers in the history of democratic thinking: Plato, Aristotle, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and John Stuart Mill.
The historical-philosophical approach of the workshop should help us to gain some perspective on the way certain hopes, fears, dangers, and remedies surrounding democracy repeat over time. It should also create a springboard for thinking about whether the groups in which we each participate (big and small) should be made more democratic, what that would mean, and how we could help. For those in to political theory, the workshop will be a great primer for understanding contemporary political theorists who apply and/or critique the canon.
About Philosophy Workshops:
Philosophy Workshops emphasize discussion, life experience, self-examination, and practical application. They are led by philosophy professors committed to accessible language and open conversation. No prior philosophical training is necessary . . . just an open mind, a respectful approach to others, and a sense of humor!
The Theory and the Lab:
There are two portions of this discussion-based workshop: 1) the Theory, and 2) the Lab.
In the Theory portion of the workshop (from 1:00-2:30) we’ll work to understand key concepts from our reading for the day and from supplementary mini-lectures given by the workshop leader. In the Lab portion of the workshop (from 2:45- 3:30) we will reflect on the ways in which the theory applies to our own time period and our own (small and large scale) political struggles. We will devise “experiments” for putting key democratic concepts into practice in our lives, and we will discuss with each other how our experiments work out.
If this is your first philosophy workshop, you can learn more about what to expect here.
Philosophy Workshops emphasize discussion, life experience, self-examination, and practical application. They are led by philosophy professors committed to accessible language and open conversation. No prior philosophical training is necessary . . . just an open mind, a respectful approach to others, and a sense of humor!
The Theory and the Lab:
There are two portions of this discussion-based workshop: 1) the Theory, and 2) the Lab.
In the Theory portion of the workshop (from 1:00-2:30) we’ll work to understand key concepts from our reading for the day and from supplementary mini-lectures given by the workshop leader. In the Lab portion of the workshop (from 2:45- 3:30) we will reflect on the ways in which the theory applies to our own time period and our own (small and large scale) political struggles. We will devise “experiments” for putting key democratic concepts into practice in our lives, and we will discuss with each other how our experiments work out.
If this is your first philosophy workshop, you can learn more about what to expect here.
About Your Workshop Leader:
Monica Vilhauer, Ph.D. is a former professor of philosophy and the founder of Curious Soul Philosophy. She's committed to the practical value of philosophy for everyday life, and she's always excited to move philosophy beyond academic settings into the local community. She does this by offering workshops, retreats, and individual philosophical counseling through Curious Soul. She also collaborates with Portland organizations like Literary Arts and Oregon Humanities.
Monica Vilhauer, Ph.D. is a former professor of philosophy and the founder of Curious Soul Philosophy. She's committed to the practical value of philosophy for everyday life, and she's always excited to move philosophy beyond academic settings into the local community. She does this by offering workshops, retreats, and individual philosophical counseling through Curious Soul. She also collaborates with Portland organizations like Literary Arts and Oregon Humanities.
Readings:
Readings for this workshop will be emailed to you as pdf files a week in advance of the session we discuss them.
Calendar:
Week 1: Mini-lecture on Plato and Aristotle. Reading selections from Plato's Republic on democracy and its slide into tyranny.
Week 2: Mini-lecture on social contract theorists Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. Reading selections from Rousseau's Of the Social Contract on the general will.
Week 3: Reading selection from John Stuart Mill's On Liberty on the scope of individual liberty, the importance of free debate, and experiments in living.
Preparation:
For each meeting, participants should read in advance the selection of text we'll be discussing, consider some questions Monica sends by email to help us focus, and come with some marked passages to talk about.
Rates:
At Curious Soul, we try hard to support teachers in their efforts to make a living wage. 75% of the workshop proceeds go directly to the teacher.
Readings for this workshop will be emailed to you as pdf files a week in advance of the session we discuss them.
Calendar:
Week 1: Mini-lecture on Plato and Aristotle. Reading selections from Plato's Republic on democracy and its slide into tyranny.
Week 2: Mini-lecture on social contract theorists Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. Reading selections from Rousseau's Of the Social Contract on the general will.
Week 3: Reading selection from John Stuart Mill's On Liberty on the scope of individual liberty, the importance of free debate, and experiments in living.
Preparation:
For each meeting, participants should read in advance the selection of text we'll be discussing, consider some questions Monica sends by email to help us focus, and come with some marked passages to talk about.
Rates:
At Curious Soul, we try hard to support teachers in their efforts to make a living wage. 75% of the workshop proceeds go directly to the teacher.
- Regular Rate: $199 for three afternoon philosophy sessions (7.5 hours total)
- Friends Rate: $150 Are you signing up to take the workshop with a friend? Click on the "Friends Rate" button for a significant discount.
- Underemployed Rate: We understand the hardship of being underemployed. If you would like to join the workshop, but find the rates prohibitive due to underemployment, please contact us (click contact in the website menu) and we can discuss a sliding scale.
- The workshop has limited space. Please register soon to save yourself a spot!
- Registration closes on Saturday, March 23, 2019.
- Register by clicking the appropriate button below and following instructions to use PayPal. Thanks!
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