Cafe Philosophy began January, 27, 1997, at Bean Around the World. We met there for over two years, and then moved through a couple of other Victoria cafes that no longer exist, till we found our great new home, the Solstice Cafe, where we have been for seven years.

Below you can find the list of upcoming topics, as well as a complete Topic History. Click on past seasons (below left) to see what topics we have covered in the past (past topics are sometimes linked to a page of quotations on that topic).

The Resources column below (to the right of the upcoming topics and questions), you will find a link to a page that gathers information pertinent to particular Cafe Philosophy sessions.

History

Season	Topic	Resources
2009 Summer 2009 Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Summer 2008 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Summer 2007 Spring 2006 Fall 2006 Summer 2006 Spring 2005 Fall 2005 Summer 2005 Spring 2004 Fall 2004 Summer 2004 Spring 2003 Fall 2003 Summer 2003 Spring 2002 Fall 2002 Summer 2002 Spring 2001 Fall 2001 Summer 2001 Spring 2000 Fall 2000 Summer 2000 Spring 1999 Fall 1999 Summer 1999 Spring 1998 Fall 1998 Summer 1998 Spring 1997 Fall 1997 Summer 1997 Spring	Myth-Fact — 30-Apr-08 Are myths naïve beliefs? Are facts just yet-to be-debunked myths? What is the value of myth beyond its factual content? Individual-Collective — 23-Apr-08 Who is the individual without the collective? Where is the collective without the individual? How can the individual and the collective be integrated? Simplicity-Complexity — 16-Apr-08 Is simplicity so simple? Is complexity only baffling? Is there a simplicity beyond complexity? Intuition-Intellect — 09-Apr-08 Can intuition be intellectual? Is intuition more than guesswork? What can the intellect intuit? Creativity-Imitation — 02-Apr-08 Must creativity be original? Can imitation become creative? Can creativity be copied? Truth-Deception — 26-Mar-08 What is the criterion of truth? What are the signs of deception? Can the truth set you free? Can we know truth free from all self-deception? Revenge-Forgiveness — 19-Mar-08 Can forgiveness ever be as sweet as revenge? If there is a cycle of revenge, can there be a cycle of forgiveness? What justifies revenge? Apathy-Responsibility — 12-Mar-08 What causes failure of responsibility? How can apathy be overcome? Why should anyone give a damn? Freedom-Constraint — 05-Mar-08 Can there be freedom without constraint? Is freedom a choice? When does constraint become productive? Surrender-Control — 27-Feb-08 When is control excessive? When is surrender wise? Can surrender ever enhance control? Love-Duty — 20-Feb-08 What makes love and duty collide? Can you love out of duty/obligation? Can there be love for duty’s sake? Can there be duty for love’s sake? Masculine-Feminine — 13-Feb-08 What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to be a woman? Do men have a feminine side? Do women have a masculine side? Friends-Lovers — 06-Feb-08 What is the difference between friends and lovers? What makes friends into lovers? Can ex-lovers still be friends? Authenticity-Pretense — 30-Jan-08 What does it mean to be authentic? How can you tell when someone is faking it? When is pretense necessary? Conscious-Unconscious — 23-Jan-08 What does your conscious mind know about your unconscious mind? How can you access your unconscious motivations? Is your unconscious mind any wiser than you are? Mind / Matter — 16-Jan-08 How do mind and matter differ? What is mind made of? Would mind mind if it were matter? Ignorance / Enlightenment — 09-Jan-08 What causes ignorance? What is enlightenment? Is enlightenment possible? (or is ignorance necessary)?