About us
If you're new to the area or are looking to expand your social circle with like minded people who enjoy thinking about life a little more deeply, then this is the group for you.
Each week we choose a topic based on philosophy, psychology or sociology, to informally discuss and debate in a central Cambridge location (in summer by the river, and in winter in a coffee shop or pub). During the summer, the topic and venue are announced on Tues or Weds, once we have an idea of Sunday's weather forecast.
Example areas we discuss include:
How we construct our identity, consumerism, time, what is right or wrong, how to lead a good life, how society forces us to conform and 'fit in'
We're always looking for interesting subjects to discuss, so do make suggestions. You don't have to lead the discussion but you're welcome to if you'd like.
Upcoming events
1
Is there still a role for traditional journalism? (Venue: by the river)
Near The Mill. On the grass by the river with our bovine friends, The Mill, 14 Mill Lane, Cambridge, al, GB(Scroll down for topic intro)
THE VENUE: By the river
Summer weather continues so let's meet outside by the river. You'll find joining instructions below or at: https://rbphilo.com/riverside.html
Etiquette
Our discussions are friendly and open. We are a discussion group, not a for-and-against debating society. But it helps if we try to stay on topic. And we should not talk over others, interrupt them, or try to dominate the conversation.WhatsApp groups
We have two WhatsApp groups. One is to notify events, including extra events such as meeting for a meal or a drink during the week which we don't normally put on the Meetup site. The other is for open discussion of whatever topics occur to people. If you would like to join either or both groups, please send a note of the phone number you would like to use to Richard Baron on: website.audible238@passmail.net. (This is an alias that can be discarded if it attracts spam, hence the odd words.)THE TOPIC: Is there still a role for traditional journalism?
Thank you to Charles for suggesting this week's topic. The title and this introduction has been edited and summarised by Duncan.
Journalism has changed beyond all recognition in the past 10 or 20 years. It was once the case that the “power of the press” belonged to those who owned such a press, but now everybody is a journalist – video, text and you name it – with very few controls.
This has its good aspects – less concentration of power. But an established newspaper (of whatever political persuasion) cares about its reputation in a way some bloggers clearly don’t – so truth may suffer if there is limited accountability.
If a million social media posters say something, does that give it an aura of authenticity (even if not really true). Remember “alternative facts” from Trump’s first term?
With everyone having a “video recorder” in the form of a mobile phone, are people (especially those in public life) scared to do or say anything out of fear of it being captured? What are the dangers in this? Will anyone want to go into public life given this?
What is the role – still – of the “establishment” press such as The Times, The New York Times, Le Monde, etc?
One promise of the early Internet was the democratisation of journalism. Is this what we have now and has it turned out to be a good thing ?
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