COMMENSAL ISSUE 100

Well, this is the 100^th issue of Commensal - maybe we should be celebrating ! I’ve only been editor since issue 84, and as a SIG member for a few issues before that. Can anyone enlighten us on the full history of the SIG, and how you think it’s faring given its initial aims ? Normally I have a small swarm of new members to announce, but this time we have only one. I hope this doesn’t indicate an impending crisis. Anyway, a very special welcome to Neil McAlister, who has instantly become active on PDGList.

1. PDGList
2. PDG Conference 2000
3. Philosophy for All - PFA
4. Date of Next Issue (Commensal 102)

PDGList

Talking of which, we now have 38 members. Discussions continue to be brisk and entertaining. There does seem to have been something of a quietening down from those of you who are not on-line. Apart from the irrepressible Albert Dean, nothing has appeared from those of you who were wont to contribute. Where are you ?

As a reminder, to join PDGList you need first of all to log on to http://www.onelist.com and sign up to Onelist. Then you need to apply to join PDGList itself. You can do this by initially doing a search on "pdglist" and then following instructions. Alternatively, and quicker (though you will thereby miss out on all the wonders of Onelist !), you can go directly to http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/pdglist - again, you will need to join Onelist first (it will prompt you). Either way, I then need to accept your application. Once accepted, whenever anyone posts anything to the list, you will automatically receive an emailed copy of the posting. To post something yourself, just email to pdglist@onelist.com and everyone on the list will receive a copy. Why not give it a go ?

Incidentally, I’ve posted the back issues of Commensal (since issue 84) to the PDG Onelist site :-

http://www.onelist.com/files/pdglist/Commensal

Roger Farnworth has kindly volunteered to organise the 2^nd PDG conference at Braziers Park. It is from Friday 5^th - Sunday 7^th May 2000. I would encourage as many of you as possible to attend. Last year’s conference was enjoyable for all who attended and we want to build on that foundation.

The principles are the same as last year. The conference should be highly participatory, with a good number of attendees willing to present a paper. Don’t be frightened by this - we’re a small, friendly crowd (the maximum capacity is of the order of 20 - 30) and non-speakers are as welcome as the more voluble, though, clearly, if no-one has anything to say, nothing will be said. While bookings should be made directly with the conference centre (see details below) as we’re short of time, if you do want to speak, or have views on what should be spoken about, please phone Roger on 01208 821 544 or phone or write to me.

Roger’s proposals are that, as last year, we start on the Friday night with a fairly light-hearted debate. His first thoughts were to debate "What is Philosophy ?" - with me as one of the protagonists and someone else as the other - this is fine by me - anyone want to volunteer. Alternatively, we could try to debate the thesis "Does Science Tell The Truth ?", which was the subject of a recent and very stimulating debate I attended at King’s College Cambridge. I’d be quite interested to take either side in a debate on the question "Is the Truth Out There ?". Any sparring partner want to volunteer ?

Roger suggests that Saturday should be devoted to the core subject of Ethics. He will start us off with a paper entitled "what is man for ?", in which he will touch on both Kant and Mill, and on Absolute Values and Aristotle’s ideas of virtue. Roger is then hopeful that Leslie Haddow will be able to treat us to a further instalment of his question of "what are people for ?" - which turns out to be quite a different debate about the assumptions that lie behind public policy when decisions about whole populations or sectors of society have to be made. Finally, we look to a volunteer to round off the morning with a practical ethical question, a real problem that needs resolving.

Saturday afternoon affords us the opportunity to explore the countryside around Braziers Park, weather permitting, or otherwise enjoy informal conversation. In the late afternoon we hope to further discuss the issues that have, or ought to have, come up in Commensal or on PDGList - so, if there’s anything you’d like to follow up on - especially those of you who don’t feel comfortable giving a formal talk - here’s the opportunity to raise the issues. We’ll discuss them "in the round" with a chairperson to break up the fights. Roger suggests such topics as the interface of science, society and our ability or inability to select from future development scenarios. We could discuss genetic engineering, medical ethics and cloning on the one hand, and participatory democracy and the internet on the other.

We propose to continue the discussions in the evening in a less formal way by setting up an impromptu Philosophy Cafe. So, bring a bottle (or a crate).

Sunday morning was to have been devoted to a guest speaker, and Roger had been in contact with Philosophy For All (PFA - see adverts later in this issue) and had received some good leads. However, we have agreed that we are too late in the organisation this year and that we’ll postpone this until next year (when I hope to have more contacts in the philosophical world - but more on this another time).

However, we have had other volunteers - and yet more are welcome. Frank Luger, if he can make it, has threatened to update us on his researches, including the notorious "single valued logic". Alan Edmonds - in his own words "would like most (as someone who while always a critic of IQ, joined Mensa originally about 40 years ago) to talk for a while in an historical way about the circumstances of my joining, the Mensa personalities like Victor, Clive and Madsen Pirie and possibly a mention of the HIQ topic". The latter refers to some debates on PDGList (and also see Alan’s articles in this and previous editions of Commensal) that IQ testing, at least at the extreme high end, is bunk.

The provisional schedule therefore looks something like this, though we have great flexibility provided we stick to the proposed meal-times:-

The conference is to be held at Braziers College, Ipsden, Wallingford, Oxon., OX10 6AN, over Friday - Sunday, 5^th-7^th May 2000.

Braziers College was founded in 1950 as the Braziers School of Integrated Social Research to study practical ways of living in a group. It now operates partly as a community and partly as an adult education college. It has a country-house atmosphere, and is situated in its own attractive grounds in the Chiltern countryside.

The all-inclusive fee, ie. including accommodation and meals, is £95, and early booking is advisable. For the fiscally challenged, or those who don’t wish to attend for the whole weekend, other options are available. Camping is a snip at £5 / night inclusive of breakfast (but you have to bring your own tent). Saturday attendance is £5 with meals extra. Meals are £7.50 each for mid-day & evening.

Apply for further details to the College at the above address (Tel: 01491 680221). A deposit of £20 is payable. Please book directly with the College - I will keep in touch with them periodically to see how things are going. Partners, whether Mensans or not, are welcome.

While investigating the possibility of a Guest Speaker for the PDG Conference, Roger came across the following advertising material from PFA. I have just signed up, but have as yet not had the opportunity to attend any meetings.

I will let you know how I get on.

The material below is (intended to be) verbatim from the advertising blurb.

Note : the PFA Icon is, I’m reliably
informed, an owl. So, now you know.

Please note that PFA has no affiliation with Mensa or with PDG, but looks interesting for those living near London.

Who are we ?

The PFA is an association open to everyone interested in philosophy.

Our objectives are :-

• to encourage philosophical debate between professional and non-professional philosophers in a non-technical way.
• to provide a forum for an active exchange of ideas and information. to promote cross-cultural philosophising.
• to give guidance and information concerning courses as well as relevant literature in philosophy.
• to inspire those interested in philosophy to develop their interest further.

We take an active interest in philosophical education on all levels, including adult education.

The PFA is an independent non-profit organisation.

What do we do?

The PFA offers :-

• once-monthly meetings at "Kant’s Cave", including a lecture and social evening. philosophical walks.
• courses, workshops and debates.
• information on philosophy courses in adult education.
• reading-lists of introductory literature to philosophy in general as well as to individual philosophical fields (logic, aesthetics, etc.).
• reviews of recent publications in philosophy.

The PFA publishes a regular free bulletin, including an update on our current activities, book reviews and other information on what is going on in philosophy.

For more information on our activities and membership details please phone or fax us on: 0181 675 5539 or e-mail us at our NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: secretary@pfalondon.freeserve.co.uk. Visit our NEW PFA website: http://www.pfalondon.freeserve.co.uk. Mailing address: 73 Southey Rd., South Tottenham, London N15 SRL

PFA - Membership 2000: Annual PFA membership: £10.

Free copies of Reasons, a book containing six recent debates between great philosophers of our time, including Richard Sorabji, Mary Warnock, Simon Blackburn, Ronald Dworkin, and Ted Honderich, will be given away to PFA membership subscribers for 2000 (as long as stocks last).

Editorial Note : A slight exaggeration ! The little book is produced by Anglia TV & hails from a series of televised debates delivered in 1986. They were presented by one Paul Sieghart, who seems to have been the Jeremy Paxman of the day. Topics covered are “What’s the use of thinking?”, “Why be good ?”, “Should we obey all laws ?”, “Are we free to choose ?”, “Whom can we trust with power ?” and “Should we believe the scientists ?” ... all live issues !

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KANT’S CAVE

On every first Wednesday of the month, from 7pm (lecture at 7.30 pm ) PHILOSOPHY FOR ALL meets at "Kant's Cave" for a lecture, debate and social evening. We are happy to announce that Kant's Cave has now moved to a fabulous new venue : Kant's Cave meetings are now held at the cellar bar of The Penderel’s Oak, 283-288 High Holborn (3 mins walk from Holborn tube station). Door-charge: £1 (free for PFA members)

UPCOMING KANT'S CAVE LECTURES

5 April 2000	Jererny Weate (author of The Young Person's Guide to Philosophy). Seeing and Being Seen: Thinking Race
3 May 2000	Ralph Blumenau (University of the Third Age): Freedom and Determinism
7 June 2000	Dr. Patricia White (Institute of Education): Gratitude and Civilisation
5 July 2000	Chris Perry: Deductive Arguments
2 August 2000	Gary Retallick (WEA): A Little non-Local Difficulty: the Implications of Quantum Mechanics for our Concept of the "Real"

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PHILOSOPHY FOR ALL and PHILOSOPHY NOW

Present

SCIENCE vs PHILOSOPHY ?

A Round table Discussion

Prof. Raymond Tallis (University of Manchester) Dr. Mary Midgley
Prof. Lewis Walpert (University College London)
Prof. David Papineau (King’s College London)
Chair : Anja Steinbauer (PFA)

Wednesday 22 March 7.30 pm

At the new Waterstone’s Bookstore Picadilly, London WC1 (6^th Floor)

Admission £2 tickets can be booked at Waterstone’s or by calling 0207 851 2400

Free for PFA-members: please apply to PFA to book your free tickets !!!!

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PHILOSOPHY FOR ALL and PHILOSOPHY NOW

Present

What is Consciousness ?

A Debate between Philosophers

Professor David Papineau (King’s College London)
Professor Ted Honderich (University College London)

Thursday 13 April 6.30 pm

Border’s Bookshop, Oxford Street, London WC1

Admission free

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Next Issue of Commensal

The next edition of Commensal (C101) will appear in early April. It will be a brief issue with a focus on the Conference. So, if you want to have your say on anything appearing in Commensal 100, you’d either better get in quick (by 26^th March) or wait until the June edition (C102), for which the closing date will be 22^nd May 2000. The reminder dates for April & June appears on the bottom of each page.

Best wishes !

Theo

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