Welcome, San Francisco Philosophers!

Our Charter: Philosophy fostered plainly and simply as the persistent examination of thought, and hence a basic human art. Conversations are framed to be generally relevant, and open to all who value good reasoning. Requirements of special erudition are consciously avoided, but reasons for viewpoints are requested persistently; such is the nature of philosophy.

The spirit of philosophical conversation fostered here is antithetical to that of debate. While philosophical conversation is collective truth-seeking in which all participants are open to accepting the view with the best reasons, debate attaches views to sides that will "win" or "lose", and hence reasons may be opposed simply due to competitive investment. While debate has its values, it lacks virtue as a mindframe for philosophical conversation. Winning in philosophical conversation is everyone moving closer to the truth, and losing is the conversation degrading into egotistical, or otherwise entrenched, polemics.

In sum, this group is about examining thought on relevant topics where good reasoning and collective truth-seeking are the principal values. It is also a context to develop one's skills and virtues as a philosopher in the truest sense.

In addition to the main meets framed and scheduled on this website, on occasion there will be offshoot meets that are managed by assistant organizer Rodrigo Vanegas. Though topical information about these meets will be posted on this website, details about place and time will be provided only at the main meets. The reason for this is that these offshoot meets are conceived as opportunities to continue the conversations of the main meets. Though continuing the main conversation, these offshoot meets may address more particular questions and readings chosen by Rodrigo or collaboratively.

The organizer, Paul M. Paolini, holds a BA and an MA in philosophy. While in school, Paul chose an analytic orientation and had philosophical logic and political philosophy as prime interests. Paul's philosophy website, which includes essays he has written for this group is at: http://www.pmpaolini.com.