February, 2011 Evening

What responsibilities, if any, does an individual have to improve society and the lives of others?
Money versus barter. Pros and cons.
Capital versus labor. Which is more important?
Capitalism--the root of all evil?
Why do otherwise normal people molest children?
The purpose of an economy is to serve the society.
Is our constitution outdated and if so how can it be fixed other than amendments?

January, 2011 Evening

What is the purpose of society?
What choices do you regard as the hardest to make in life?
Should euthanasia be legalized in this country?
Is there intelligent life elsewhere? If so, have they visited us?
What is justice? Is it important?

November, 2010 Daytime

Should/could journalists be entirely neutral and objective?
Has society become more offensive or more offended?
Is hunting moose and wolves more detestable than hunting deer and fishing trout?
Is there any way to discourage negativity and/or dishonesty in our political ads?
How do you show that you are open minded or closed minded?

September, 2010 Evening

Is conflict inherent to the “human condition”?
Societal contract: does a citizen have personal choice or is it a citizen’s inherent responsibility to participate in this sociological relationship?
What is self esteem; self confidence?
Is loyalty to friends more important than loyalty
to ones country?
If given just this choice, would you rather have free will or ten million dollars in your checking account?
What does it mean to “believe in” something?
What will happen when computers get as smart as humans?

April, 2010 Evening

Is it reasonable or even possible to reduce government
and still have a viable large society?
Is the Illuminati’s mission good or evil?
Is some illusion needed for a happy life?
How would the world be different if fear did not exist?
What effect might technology have on human evolution?
How much, and what, do you expect and not expect from a person who loves you (family member)? When would you feel disappointed or betrayed?

March, 2010 Daytime

Should public opinion influence legislative judgment?
Is it reasonable or even possible to reduce government and still have a viable large society?
Is current television “dumbing us down” or does it just reflect
how “dumb” we are or have become?
In most discussion groups I’ve attended-from book discussion groups to self-help groups-women have far outnumbered men, but in our Socrates group men outnumber women. Why?

January, 2009 Daytime

January, 2009 Daytime
Plato said that if one “knows” what is good, then one will do it. In what sense is Plato’s hypothesis true?
If the Socrates Café attendees were to attempt to have a wider influence in society, what would we do?
Can “steady-state” capitalism exist (i.e. is growth necessary)?
Is privacy a right or a privilege?
What is going to happen to broadcasting or printed news if the economy implodes?

December, 2008 Evening

December, 2008 Evening
What would happen to the information “revolution” if there was a prolonged power failure?
To do more good for society should I join a church or be active in a political party?
Is there a mission in each of our lives?

November, 2008 Daytime

November, 2008 Daytime
Could society develop a moral ethical code without the basis of religion?
Do you think the internet has been a positive or negative experience?
Is there a case for the existence of a God?
Should the government protect us from being “offended” (rebel flags, nooses,
Swastikas, etc.)?
Should I go to a church or political party to act on a sense of moral obligation?

September, 2008 Evening

September, 2008 Evening
Can mankind change “direction” from intelligence rather than catastrophe?
What about the confederate flag? Ok/not ok?
Does privatization work better than government?
Should the Ten Commandments be the basis for our legal system?
Is government necessary to society?

May, 2008 Evening

May, 2008 Evening
Would sharing the world’s resources be effective in a better life for the majority of society?
Is God necessary for justice?
Can you have ego without self confidence?
If humans become happy what happens to conflict?
Will the average American be able to adjust to a less materialistic condition?
Why do they say “Laughter is the best medicine”?
Are we controlled by advertising? How can we prevent being controlled by advertising?

April, 2008 Evening

April, 2008 Evening
Can we control our own happiness?
Does the death penalty have a negative impact on society?
Why is positive change harder than negative change?
Will the human race survive without morality?

March, 2008 Evening

March, 2008 Evening
What would you talk about if you were to give the “last lecture of your life”?
Can a society make adjustments on information or just on crisis?
Do people really want the truth?
Will the human race survive without morality?
Do people have the right to set up roadside memorials for loved ones who have died
(i.e. in an auto accident)?

June, 2007 Daytime

June, 2007 Daytime
Is there any aspect of society not influenced by money?
Can love change any negative into a positive?
What is piety?
How much do you owe to other people (i.e. family, society)?

May, 2007 Daytime

May, 2007 Daytime
Do you believe in a near death experience (i.e. white light)?
How does society control propaganda?
What is a cult?
Why poison for Socrates?

April, 2007 Daytime

April, 2007 Daytime
Does the relentless media coverage of tragic events harden society and make us less
compassionate?
Can we achieve justice without war?
What is courtesy?

April, 2007 Evening

April, 2007 Evening
Is the concept of God fundamentally irrational?
Change tax structure to a more fair system?
How does the morality or lack thereof affect our country’s standard of culture?
What is the most important non-domestic issue facing our nation?
Is civil gone in the civilization of the United States?
What is truth?
What duty does public education have to its students? To society?

March, 2007

March, 2007
Do the media today truly reflect our society?
What obligation do we as individuals have to society?
Is selflessness more admirable than selfishness? Is selflessness inherently better than
selfishness?
How do we define and teach morality?
What is the most important foreign policy issue facing our nation?
Is God necessary for religion?
What is justice in today’s Western society?

November, 2006

November, 2006
(As a non-fundamentalist Christian): How do we define “evil” in the 21st century of psychology and mental health disease awareness?
What is education?
Is contemporary schooling true education that will benefit the advancement of our
society?
What is the just in justice and where did it come from?
What is in store for the university system?