The SFCP aims to promote the Critical Philosophy through the linked activities of education and scholarship.

Charity No

313712

Bulletin Number 5

Introduction

With Bulletin No 4 we circulated a provisional or working statement on the Critical Philosophy, inviting comments. We received some valuable feedback and are preparing a revision for further circulation. Meanwhile we are considering the longer-term implications of a 'Framework for Development' for the Society, written by our Professional Adviser, Dr Pat Shipley, which included an invitation to the Trustees to re-visit the aims of the Society as specified in our Trust Deed. One outcome is a further statement. This summarizes the Central Aims and Purposes of the Society. With the presentation of the Development Framework, Dr Shipley's one-year assignment on behalf of SFCP has been completed, but she has agreed to remain as our Honorary Professional Adviser for a further year to assist the Trustees with its implementation.

Third International Conference

A conference tradition has been established. In 1996 the first international conference was held in Britain and in 1998 the second one in the Netherlands. Socratic Dialogue has been central in these conferences. Now it is the turn of our German colleagues to organise the third one. A meeting in Cologne of the Philosophical-Political Academy (our sister organisation in Germany) in March 1999, attended by Dr Saran and Dr Shipley, discussed the link between Ethics and Socratic Dialogue.

The Philosophisch-Politische Akademie (PPA - Philosophical-Political Academy) and its subsidiary Gesellschaft für Sokratisches Philosophieren (Society of Socratic Facilitators) have set up a small conference planning group, on which SFCP and the 'Dutch Socratics' are represented. In addition, a small international committee of researchers will organise pilot observations of the work of Socratic Dialogue (SD) groups during the conference so that results can be considered during workshops in the second half of the week. This will lay the basis for future SD investigations.
Plans for the conference are well advanced.

The first half of the week (Monday to Wednesday) will be devoted to work in Socratic groups on ethical topics; the second half (Wednesday to Saturday) to workshops and a lecture programme. Participants may enroll for the whole week, or for the first or second part only. Anyone interested in further details should contact: Dieter Krohn, An den Papenstiicken 21, 30455 Hannover, Germany; Fax: 0049-(0)511-471700.

Socratic Activities

Half-day, weekend and week-long Socratic groups facilitated by Rene  Saran were:

1. A small group of friends (organised by Angella Hodgson), 21-22 November 1998, on "How can I resolve a conflict between myself and the wider family?"

2. PPA GSP, 26 March - 1 April 1999, Würzburg, Germany, on "Disciplining oneself, disciplining others?"

3. Hampstead Comprehensive School, 10 June 1999, for students of the Schools' Council, on the topic "Equal rights for girls and boys?"

4. British Educational Administration & Management Society, S-E Branch, 26 June 1999, on "What role does personal integrity play in the management of educational institutions?"

Occasional Papers Vol. 2

Ethics in Practice in the 21st Century

Link Site:

http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/projects/ptpdlp/
Sheffield University Society Site.

"Ethics in Practice in the 21st Century:" SFCP is holding a Conference for invited delegates on this topic in October 1999, at a venue near Oxford. It will provide an opportunity to address some of the ethical challenges we will face in the next century and enable us to focus on common ethical values and develop our networking activities between different disciplines and areas of activity. We will report on the event in the next Bulletin.

Presentations

Finally