Geneva discussion group explores philosophical topics
Glenn O'Dell's mind is often racing so much with new thoughts and questions after the bimonthly meetings of Socrates Café in Geneva that he has trouble sleeping.
Still, the stimulating discussions keep him coming back for more each month as the group contemplates such weighty topics as, "Does death bring meaning to life?" and "How do we know what we know?"
Socrates Café meets every other Wednesday in the coffee shop of Barnes and Noble in Geneva.
Roger Breisch, who formed the group in 2003 after reading the book "Socrates Café" by Christopher Phillips, explains it simply by saying attendees explore wisdom through discussion.
That discussion takes place largely by asking questions, he added, as the group believes there is more power in questions than in answers.
"Questions open new possibilities. Answers close them off," Breisch said.
When the Socrates Café group first formed, it met for a short while at the Batavia Library, and then 12 years ago moved its meetings to the Geneva Barnes and Noble, which has welcomed it ever since.
O'Dell joined the year it formed.
At 89, he is the oldest member of the Geneva Socrates Café.
He said he first heard about Socrates Café when he was studying philosophy at Waubonsee Community College.
"This seemed a golden opportunity to discuss philosophy with others," O'Dell said.
And he found that it was, and has kept coming back since. O'Dell says since attending his first meeting in 2003, he thinks he's only missed about 10 meetings over the years.
"These meetings are a golden opportunity to discuss in depth many subjects with a special group of people," he said. "Each one adds new insights which set me thinking."
Over the years, Breisch said, there have been more than 100 people who've come and gone from the meetings.
Presently, he said, there are about 20 on his email list, with those names fluctuating over the years, but a steady 20 remaining at any time.
On any given Wednesday, he said, he expects between four and 10 people to show up.
The group begins each session by asking if anyone brought a question.
Several questions may come up. Whoever is there chooses a place to begin and the conversation follows from there, members said.
"We try to reach below the surface of what we say by remaining in the question," Breisch said. "That simply means we are not after answers. We challenge each other to explore our thinking and help each other reflect more deeply about life and world around us.
"I know this sounds very strange in this culture, but there is much wisdom to be gained by listening, asking questions, and leaving many of our declarative statements at home," he said. "We have talked over the past dozen years about everything from what is truth, what do we value and why, are values relative, the meaning of life and many more."
Though they broach many topics, some are not discussed - such as politics and religion. Breisch says those topics tend to generate much debate with many opinions, but very little questions.
Though, he said, they won't shy away from a discussion on what is Democracy.
"Go to any public hearing today and count the number of sincere - those without a hidden agenda - questions that are asked. Listen to our public discourse, especially now. No one is listening. Everyone is just shouting opinions. Until we remember the power and value of remaining in the question, I'm afraid we will never solve the intractable problems we face."
Breisch said the discussions over the years have been enlightening and helped him grow as a person, and he hopes it has done the same for others.
"One of my passions is anything that causes me to think 'If that's true, it changes everything,'" he said.
"I get many of those kinds of insights from our conversations. For example if we conclude that most of what we think is wrong and will change over time, that changes everything about how I am in the world today with the ideas I believe are correct, but very might not be," he said. "Having said that, the other thing I get from this is a wonderful group of thoughtful, caring and generous friends."
Breisch invites anyone who would like to join the discussion to attend a meeting of the Socrates Café.
Anyone who would like to take part is welcome to stop by the Barnes and Noble at 102 Commons Drive at 6:30 p.m. on the first or third Wednesday of the month. The next meeting is Wednesday, June 1.