The Experience of Socrates

Plato’s Apology presents Socrates as a gadfly to Athens; he questioned its laymen, craftsmen, politicians, and poets about how to live. By doing so, said Socrates, he was improving the health of the Athenians’ souls. Some of Socrates’ contemporaries, however, accused him of busying himself studying things in the sky and below the earth, not believing in the gods of the city, making the worse the stronger argument, and of corrupting the youth. At his trial, Socrates argued, “If they kill me, they will harm themselves more than if they harm me.”

501 Athenians convicted Socrates for corrupting the Athenian youth in ancient Greece, but philosophers since have honored him as the pioneer of Western philosophy. These philosophers treasure some things about Socrates’ activities—some things they deem necessary for exercising philosophy as they do or wish to exercise it.

The Philosophers’ Guild at GSU will host its Oct. Philosophy Thursday event on Socrates. Come discuss the experience of Socrates. Let us explore questions like: Was Socrates just an immature jerk who misplaced philosophy in his understanding of the good life? Did Socrates corrupt the youth? Does the philosophy student, philosophy professor, or philosophical person have to be a contemporary Socrates to be happy? What should one treasure about Socrates’ activities?

The Experience of Socrates

University Center room 480

Thursday Oct. 7, 2010

5pm – 7pm

Free Food Pizza in The Prytaneum 480 University Center!

Philosophy Speed Networking

Every first Thursday of each month we will host a Philosophy Thursday event. We'll kick off our habit of hosting Philosophy Thursday events with PHILOSOPHY SPEED NETWORKING. "It's the Platonic Form of social networking."

PHILOSOPHY SPEED NETWORKING
Thurs. Sept 2, 2010
LUCERNE SUITE - 2nd Floor of Student Center
5pm to 6pm

Similar to speed dating, this philosophy speed networking event provides an opportunity for philosophy students at GSU to meet like-minded or like-interested philosophers. However, this event focuses primarily on socializing with other philosophy students at GSU, not on opportunities for philosophers to date. "It's the Platonic Form of social networking." Attendees will briefly introduce themselves and take turns answering questions like the following:

1. What classes have you taken and what other academic experiences have you had in the GSU philosophy department, in your classes, or elsewhere?
2. What are your research interests or primary philosophical interests?
3. Why Philosophy?

We will have free pizza!

WELCOME

Welcome to the Philosophers' Guild's blog.

The Philosophers' Guild at GSU is an organization or club run by undergraduate philosophy majors for undergraduate philosophy students and other interested students.

The purposes of the Philosophers’ Guild include: (i) encouraging and discussing philosophy as academia or a career path; (ii) discussing philosophical topics; (iii) providing networking opportunities for philosophy majors and minors to share their research interests or their work; (iv) providing opportunities for majors and minors to commune with faculty and staff in the philosophy department; (v) facilitating the philosophy department’s efforts to recruit new philosophy majors and minors.
We place more emphasis on the first four purposes than on the last.

See our Upcoming Events tab for our Fall 2010 event descriptions!