4^th International Conference

Outline Programme

Fees and booking form
(at the SFCP-
website)

Introducing Ourselves

Partnerships:

Society for the Furtherance of Critical Philosophy

Dutch Network of Socratic Facilitators

Ethics and Socratic Dialogue
in Civic Society

Convened by:
the Society for the Furtherance of the Critical Philosophy (SFCP–UK); the Philosophical-Political Academy (PPA–Germany) and the Society of Socratic Facilitators (GSP–Germany)
in cooperation with the Dutch Network of Socratic Facilitators

Civic and community life (the 'third sector' of society) is distinguished from central politics and the state sector on the one hand and from the commercial market or business world on the other, although there are overlaps. Public services, such as community policing, for example, are also of relevance. The 'third sector' embraces informal community and grassroots activities as well as more formal institutions such as non-governmental organisations, voluntary bodies and recognised charities. The activities of much contemporary civic and 'third sector' life relate to the growth of globalization. This development raises the possibility of the emergence of a global civic society that cuts across nation-state borders as well as a growth in 'localization' (local initiatives) within countries and closer ties between them.

The general theme of the conference will include reflection on: recent discourse concerning the 'democratic deficit' and political effectiveness of the state, in the face of the power of global corporations for example; and the search by many people, disillusioned with and disempowered by politics and political centralisation combined with bureaucracy, for a different approach to both local and global ('glocal') problems.

The overall aim of the conference is to contribute to the enhancement of public and private debate with special reference to ethical issues arising in Civic Society, and to the role of dialogue, Socratic Dialogue in particular.

The conference will appeal to a wide diversity of people from different walks of life and disciplines.

It is also intended to be a participative conference, with active involvement at all levels. This will be achieved by some combination of a few keynote speakers and commentaries on those speeches, small chaired discussion groups and/or practical workshops, and poster discussions.

Keynote speakers will include:

Thomas Meyer (Chair of PPA), Professor of Politics at the University of Dortmund, Germany, and chair of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, widely known for its work in political education and the funding of students in Germany and the Developing World;

Fernando Leal (Fellow of SFCP), Professor of Social Science at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico.

There will also be opportunities for actual group experience in contemporary Socratic Dialogue based on questions and topics relevant to civic life, alongside case material and papers on Socratic Dialogue. Both theoretical and practical contributions to the conference are welcomed.

The approach is intended to be broad enough to include the following:

• The place of values in the debate ;
• The notion of 'philosophy as a way of life' ;
• The strengths and limits of Socratic Dialogue in theory & practice ;
• Other forms of dialogue and their value for civic life in theory and practice.

The 'third sector' has its own share of confusion about ethical problems. The range of activities at this conference is expected to contribute to:

• raising awareness and a better understanding of these ethical problems and dilemmas in the 'third sector';
• encouraging debate and critical reflection on how people in the third sector actually address the ethical dimension and how this relates to individual ethical behaviour;
• recognising how dialogue (Socratic Dialogue in particular) could be used as a tool to gain insights and understanding as the basis for decision-making in 'third sector' organisations.

About the Convenors of the Conference

The Society for the Furtherance of Critical Philosophy (SFCP) and the Philosophical-Political Academy (PPA) are registered sister charities in Britain and Germany respectively, committed to advancing critical thinking and rational debate as well as ethical consciousness. Directly linked with PPA is the Society of Socratic Facilitators (GSP) which provides initial and advanced training for Socratic facilitators in Germany. Modern Socratic Dialogue was developed from the classical Socratic Method by the German Kantian philosopher and founder of the PPA, Leonard Nelson (1882-1927) early in the twentieth century. After the second world war, use of the method spread to other countries and a healthy debate developed about the purposes and principles underpinning the method and its essential characteristics.

Financial support from SFCP and PPA will enable students and others on low incomes to participate in this conference at a subsidised fee. The organisers expect most applicants to enrol for the whole conference but it will also be possible to enrol for the first or the second part only.

Please notice the outline Programme!

For more information (fees and booking form) please visit the websites of the

Society for the Furtherance of Critical Philosophy

and take a look at the venue at

Newman College Conference Service