From
St. Paul Socrates Café in Minnesota
Started March 30th, 2005
4/09/08
Why do I have to go to heaven?
What are the alternative ways to respond to the things that cause wars?
How can we disagree without being disagreeable?
What are the positive aspects of pessimism?
4/02/08
Why is there no concept of chi in western society?
Why, with all we know, can't we have full employment?
How does rhetoric affect consciousness?
What are the success factors?
If war is not the answer, what is?
When is wrong right?
Why do people like big, single ideas?
Name 3 books you have read in the past year and which was your favorite and why?
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3/26/08
Why is there suffering?
What is economy?
Why such big gap between ideals and behavior?
What way is "the other way"?
Why do things go as well as they do?
03/12/08
How would we know our national interest? For example: what should be done about immigration?
Are wars inevitable?
Is recession a bad thing?
Is chaos structure beyond our comprehension?
What would happen if life was not personal?
03/05/08
Why are the strong obligated to to take care of the weak?
Why does our species lie?
Does a strong leader make a weak people?
Do love, chance and logic determine our lives?
What would you do if you won the lottery?
Does luck exist? If so, what is it?
Is your happiness possible living in the future?
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2/27/08
What are the consequences of self interest versus group interest?
What is most important: the first time or the last time?
If we can control our thoughts why can't we control our behavior?
What is our national interest?
Are "artificial" and "natural" flavor despicable ethically?
2/13/08
How does brain science affect our sense of self?
What are the consequences of trying to seem happy?
2/6/08
What is mourning/grief?
Are "artificial" or "natural" flavors despicable ethically?
What are the components of job satisfaction?
Does our desire to seem happy make us miserable?
Why?
Why does fear masquerade as anger?
Why is there chaos?
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1/30/08
Should we be anxious at our dependence on fossil fuels?
Why do idiots tend to rise in management?
What is the best balance between individual rights and the collective good?
Why is positive change harder than negative change?
What does George Kantor mean by different sizes of infinity?
What are the 6 components of happiness?
What is mourning?
Does the death penalty have a negative impact on society?
1/23/08
Compassion vs. Self-Interest?
Do we have control over our happiness?
Should we re-institute the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps?
Who is the best presidential candidate?
Can a society full of labor-saving devices save labor?
Condition or stigma: which is worse?
What are the components of a good idea?
1/16/08
What is freedom?
Can we control our own happiness?
Does the death penalty cause society to have a low regard for life?
Which causes more suffering: a condition or its stigma?
What does "love thine enemy" mean?
What is money?
1/10/08
What motivates artists?
How is chaos a problem?
What if life wasn't personal?
Which causes more suffering: a condition or its stigma?
Is it possible to live in the present?
How do we make our politicians accountable?
1.5 Year gap
9/13/06
Are we worthy of democracy?
What are we entitled?
What does it mean to be successful?
Why do we vote for Am. Idol more than for President?
What is logic and how can it be applied to daily life?
What is the relationship between science and religion?
8/23/06
Does jealousy create loneliness?
What effects does the interaction between marketing and capitalism have?
How do/can we build trust?
How is technology affecting our everyday lives?
Are we a feel good society unable to accept unpleasant realities?
Profiling?
8/16/06
What role does fear play in American culture?
6/28/06
Expectations?
Intelligence?
What's the meaning of money?
Is forgiveness essential for emotional well being?
Do we fear freedom?
What does it take for peace?
6/21/06
What is the difference betwen a child and adult?
What would we do if we didn't work?
What is this "battle of the sexes"?
Are we sacrificing public life for private life?
Is the whole greater than the sum of its parts?
Happiness?
Intelligence?
Can we escape our patterns? (relationships)
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5/24/06
Why are conspiracy theories so popular?
What is the relationship between technophobe and religious extremism
What is transcendence?
What is the difference between a Politician and a Statesman ?
Why does poverty exist?
Is kindness a good place to start in consideration of problems in the world?
5/17/06
Do not have questions for tonight.
5/10/06
How are/will we evolve?
Why?
Why Not?
What is the difference between religion and superstition
Is mental Illness an increasing problem in America
How should we define "real"
5/3/06
What is non-violent warfare?
What is the essence of a moral society?
Should democrats treat republicans like the republicans treat democrats?
Why do we take unnecessary risks?
Is the US on the tipping point of losing it's super power status?
Should the US reestablish the draft?
What does "f*ck" really mean?
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4/26/06
4/19/06
What can we do to prevent bird flu?
Immortality yes or no?
What is best for society vs. what is best for the individual?
Where will in 10 years: energy crisis?
What is wrong with the Atheists?
Expiration date (would you want to know?)
4/12/06
4/5/06
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3/29/06
3/22/06
When is lying better than the truth?
What does it mean to be from a "nice neighborhood"?
Is it ok to say "That's not fair"?
If you've done nothing wrong, what do you have to hide?
At what point do we change our energy policy?
Why is God so important?
3/15/06
What is the relationship between liberty and virtue?
If you’ve done nothing wrong, what do you have to fear?
Is a personal ethic a lost cause?
Why should a secret database exist for bird flu DNA?
Abortion?
Are all our actions predetermined?
Why are there rosy cheeks?
What are heroes for?
3/8/06
Should we impeach Bush?
Isolationism: Should Americans control America?
What is immoral?
What are heroes for?
Principle or party?
3/1/06
Why is our energy policy so outdated?
Who is right?
Immortality: Would you take it and why?
Is there a point to living if you can't live the life you want?
How do we talk about politically charged topics politely?
What is immoral?
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2/22/06
Why is political activism so low and dissatisfaction so high?
2/15/06
Black Dog Cafe was having a special event so Socrates Cafe did not meet today.
2/8/06
How would we live if we couldn't remember?
Do neocons appreciate any distinction between obstacle and limit?
Is global warming a greater threat than Islamist terrorism?
Is civilization taking a back seat to survival as time goes on?
Can we really prove anything?
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2/1/06
Does terrorism justify torture?
1/25/06
Does the golden rule apply to our military?
What is normal?
Are stories more important than reality?
Who determines who can self-govern whom?
Should we care about the Bird Flu?
1/18/06
Why are we so rarely content?
Which is more valuable: safety or freedom?
Should parenting be a part of public education?
Why is political activism so low and political distaste so high?
Should there be a maximum wage and/or net worth imposed?
1/4/06
Will the Middle East ever stabilize?
What is progress and what are its downsides?
Who should monitor the safety conditions of industry?
Creeping moral acceptability?
These days, what is the good life?
1/28/05
At what point does intellect become self-destructive?
12/14/05
What is Christmas for?
Does public assistance define civilized society?
Why do people kill each other?
Should we make abnormal normal?
What is freedom?
Why cherish someone who is learning?
What is the difference between subjective and objective?
12/7/05
Why are love and hate so close?
Why do we label everyone?
Capital Punishment?
Why do people kill each other?
Is there an actual difference between perception and reality?
What is the difference between guilt and shame?
What is the most efficient way to change someone’s opinion?
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11/30/05
Why are so many Christians cranky?
What are the pros and cons of technology today?
Why is rigorous honesty hard?
Should Bush be impeached?
11/23/05
What has a greater impact on your life, fate or planning?
Why does nudity get an “R” rating faster than violence?
What would a satisfactory moral theory look like?
Why are only negative events news worthy?
11/16/05
What is upset for?
Abortion?
Fidelity vs. Loyalty?
What is loyalty?
What is neutrality?
What is the difference between surrender and acceptance?
Why is what we do here so hard to do elsewhere?
Does money have us or do we have money?
11/9/05
How do we do charity?
What is trust?
What is belief?
What is so wrong about being wrong?
How do we find meaning in our lives?
Should we import prescription drugs?
11/2/05
Are life forms "machines"?
Since when is truth fair?
What's wrong with being wrong? Why is it hard to admit?
Should the U.S. import prescription drugs from other countries?
What did Socrates talk about?
Should a just society provide health care?
Why is privacy important?
If George W. Bush had any part in the "cover-up" should we impeach him?
How do we make taxes fair?
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10/26/05
Why is death scary?
What is a representative democracy?
When is religion a crutch?
Why am I still here?
Why is privacy important?
If philosophy has an agenda, what is it?
Why is it hard to discuss hot topics anywhere else?
10/19/05
Why be good?
10/12/05
Why be upset?
Is the American Penal System effective?
Do we need fair and balanced news?
Are upper/middle class Americans blind to the poor/indigent?
What/Where is the self?
What is space?
10/6/05
Why is death scary?
What is loyalty?
Why do men earn more than women?
Are we too Pro-American?
What or where is self?
Is money more important than people?
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9/28/05
Are Americans too Pro-American?
What value can be derived from rebuilding something that was destroyed?
What would happen if the world spun in the opposite direction?
What is the meaning of aesthetics?
The reality of death: do we fear it and why?
9/21/05
What is Karma?
Why do we need to rebuild the Gulf with continuing hurricanes?
Where does the idea of Logic come from and how do we use it?
Are people primarily good or primarily evil?
How should we rebuild the gulf and why do we have a say in it?
9/14/05
What if the Hokey-Pokey is what it's all about?
Where do morals come from?
Should Judge Judy be the next Supreme Court Justice?
What is the relative importance of people/money in our society?
What does it mean to be independent?
Should New Orleans be rebuilt?
9/7/05
Why take risks?
Should New Orleans be rebuilt?
What are they (Camp Ripley) only taking new ___?
Why do ___ three questions suck?
Do Democrats care more about people than Republicans?
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8/31/05
Is Wal-Mart a metaphor for what's wrong with America?
8/24/05
What is karma?
What is the difference between a revolutionist and a terrorist?
Why are we on earth?
How do we understand or relate to others?
What is a myth?
"Reality": noun or verb?
8/17/05
Is George W. Bush a good leader?
Why is George W. Bush so intimidated by Ms. Sheehan?
Are good deeds always good?
Do Democrats care more about people than Republicans?
Can belief or faith in an idea make is come true?
Should the government be regulating polygamy?
What makes a job worth doing?
What are the limits of freedom?
8/10/05
Why be upset?
What makes a job worth doing?
Do we have money or does money have us?
How can we practice detached attachment?
Why do anti-war Democrats support Hillary Clinton?
What is real in an information overloaded society?
Where do morals come from and how does it affect politics?
Is there value in extremism?
Is it possible to be religious and not believe in god?
8/3/05
Why are there questions?
"He is a very religious man who doesn't believe in God." What does this mean?
How do we combat fear?
Does everything boil down to love or fear?
What is the purpose of the beggar in our society?
Do Democrats care more about people than Republicans?
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7/27/05
When is it okay to give up?
What qualities engage a person in the workplace?
What is a friend?
What is an enemy?
Are unions good for the U.S.?
Why is it that people with the least evidence are the most convinced?
7/20/05
What characteristics are inherent to all people?
Why is it that we need to have a war on terrorism?
What qualities engage people in the workplace?
Why is rich good and poor bad?
What is it to be moderate in the United States?
7/13/05
What is doing the right thing?
What's more important, duty or love?
What's more important, cooperation or competition?
7/6/05
Is correct spelling important?
Is religion inherently intolerant?
What's more important: my family, my country or my world?
What's the point of having a point?
Does causality imply determinism?
Which is correct: evolution or intelligent design?
Why is everyone trying to protect me?
top
6/29/05
What is virtue?
Does criticism of the American war effort cost American lives?
Is automated policing fair?
What are the limits of government?
6/22/05
Is there a purpose in life or is it just chaos?
Why are we always in such a hurry?
Will the nation-state system survive and is it helpful?
What does it mean to be yourself?
6/15/05
What is the role of government?
What should we do about foreign oil dependence and greenhouse gas problems?
What is freedom?
What is God?
6/8/05
What's more important; faith or doubt?
6/1/05
Senate filibuster fight – significant political battle or minor skirmish?
Does causality imply determinism?
What do we do if Iraq votes us out?
Are anonymous sources essential to a free press?
Is it better for Americans to have a United Europe?
Why do the greedy and vain people who cause us to form a state always end up in control anyway?
Is there a difference between intuition and instinct?
top
5/25/05
What is family?
Can you separate the intent from the act?
Must empire be evil?
What is art?
What is common courtesy?
5/18/05
Is Sincerity “bullshit”
When is compassion difficult?
Why do we under value teachers?
What is art?
What’s the difference between fidelity and loyalty?
What is the purpose of Déjà vu?
5/11/05
Should anyone be above the law?
Why are some Christians so stubborn?
Are lies always bad?
Is philosophical inquiry useful?
How is it legal (for companies) to eliminate their pensions?
5/4/05
What is revenge for?
Does the needs of individuals outweigh the needs of society?
Why is terrorism such an issue now?
Dealing with doubt?
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4/27/05
What’s the difference between a man and a boy?
4/20/2005
What motivates our actions most: love, fear, greed or something else?
How much is enough?
What’s the difference between a man and a boy?
What does this Pope mean?
Is it bad to want more than we have?
4/13/2005
What is a fair share of suffering?
Are bad thoughts bad for us?
Can individual outlook transcend social mood?
Can we judge ourselves at all?
What is the point of asking questions that appear to have no answers?
4/6/2005
Which is more difficult, doing good or doing bad?
What is art?
What should society do with jerks?
Should government be able to decide for the individual?
3/30/2005 - initial meeting - 11 people at Black Dog Coffee
House
Can good people do evil things
What is Art?
Are we doomed?
What is a friend?
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