Two for one

Due to a tie in our final vote, we discussed two questions last night in our September session. The proposed questions are listed below.

• What is the best response the US could make in the Syrian crisis? (selected)
• Should there be a minimum wage? Should it be raised? How high should it be? (selected)
• How should the young be educated?
• Is it sometimes better to give up rather than to never, never give up?
• How do you define war?

Questions From Our August Session

• What are the rights of the majority? (selected)
• Is my God your God?
• The US Constitution makes no mention to a right to privacy.  Should it be ammended to affirm this "right"?
• How much are we, collectively or privately, willing to sacrifice for issues like poverty or the environment?
• What is the best prayer before the US Congress reconvenes?
• Twenty-five years after Obama leaves office, what will be seen as the number one failure or problem of his presidency?

Next session: September 3rd

Questions From Our July Session

• Do political rallies make a difference? (selected)
• How much privacy should we sacrifice for security?
• What is the role of the poor in our society?
• What is our responsibility to our employer and to society?  Can we serve both masters?

Questions From Our June Session

• At what point does assistance become enabling? (selected)
• How effective can a two-party system be in a Federalist system?
• How do you stamp-out poverty when we live in a nation where the average income is nearly $50k per year?
• How do we protect indigenous crafts against global commercialism?
• How should the world be policed with regard to corporate accountability?

Socrates Returns

Reminder... August session of Socrates Café takes place this evening at 6:00pm at Bonfire Grill on Branchview Drive.  Hope to see, and hear, you there!

Sam

Questions From Our May Session

• How much pleasure should be sacrificed for longevity? (selected)
• Is there any such thing as a victim-less crime?
• Is there any knowledge not based on faith?
• Do we really have free will?
• How much personal freedom should we give up for security?

Questions From Our April Session

• How do we need to be protected by the government? (selected)
• What's the best response to the problem of evil in the world?
• Is political compromise a good thing?
• Would a justice system based on restitution be better than one based on punishment?
• Should marijuana be legalized in this country?

Guest Speaker Opportunity

As mentioned by Nathan during our session last night...

You are cordially invited to attend two lectures at Davidson College early next week by Dr. Nigel Biggar, an Oxford University theologian:

“Christian Love and Forgiveness in the Context of Human Conflict”

Monday, April 8, 7:30-9:00 p.m. ~ C. Shaw Smith 900 Room, Alvarez College Union, Davidson College

“The Role of Religious Ethics in Contemporary Liberal Society”

Tuesday, April 9, Common Hour 11:05 a.m.-12:05 p.m. ~ C. Shaw Smith 900 Room, Alvarez College Union, Davidson College

Dr. Biggar is Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology, and Director of the McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Life, University of Oxford, UK.  His visit to Davidson has been generously funded by the Davidson College Religion Department’s Samuel D. Maloney Lecture Series on the Study of Religion and Society, and co-sponsored by the Office of the President and the Vann Center for Ethics.

He’s published several scholarly books and articles, including:  “Melting the Icepacks of Enmity: Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland,” Studies in Christian Ethics, 24/2 (May 2011); Religious Voices in Public Places (Oxford, 2009) (co-ed.); Aiming to Kill: the Ethics of Suicide and Euthanasia (DLT, 2004); Burying the Past: Making Peace and Doing Justice after Civil Conflict(Georgetown UP, 2001, 2003) (co-ed.); and Cities of Gods: Faith, Politics and Pluralism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam(Greenwood, 1986) (co-ed.)  Additional information about Dr. Biggar is available at http://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/college/profile/academics/nigel-biggar.

Both events are FREE and open to the public, and no reservation or ticket required.  I hope you’ll be able to attend his presentations!

Amber MacIntyre

Program Assistant

Vann Center for Ethics

Eumenean Hall

Davidson College

Box 7142, Davidson, NC 28035-7142

704-894-2095

March 2013 Session

• Who should get to determine morality?
• Why do we read what we read?
• Should Americans travel more internationally?
• How far do the rights of the majority extend?
• How can we be more proactive in affecting change in Washington?