Roots of Democracy
What: A Curious Soul Philosophy workshop
Where: Online via Zoom
When: 3 Saturdays, new dates TBA
What Time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Workshop Description:
Beneath 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 functional, 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 make change. 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, 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!
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 looking for ways to move philosophy beyond academic settings and into the community. She does this by offering workshops, retreats, and individual philosophical counseling through Curious Soul.
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 (the first half of each session) 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 (the second half) we will reflect on the ways in which the theory applies to our own personal and political struggles. We will devise “experiments” for putting key concepts into practice in our lives, and we will discuss with each other how our experiments work out.
Readings:
Readings will be emailed to registrants as pdf files at least a week in advance of our discussion.
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 will send by email to help us focus, and come with some marked passages to talk about.
Cost per person: $175 (for three 2-hour philosophy sessions)
- The workshop has limited space. Register today to save yourself a spot!
- Deadline to register: TBA
- Register by clicking the button below and following instructions to use PayPal. If you do not have a PayPal account, PayPal still allows you to pay using a credit card.
Registration is now closed.