30 July 2012

Fwd: from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: Creativity

Dear friends,

This Sunday we are discussing Creativity.

And as you know it will also be our last meeting before the August break. The Centro will be open
again in September, but we need to get the details from Encarna this Sunday. In the meantime we
exercise some creativity on our part to decide where to meet during this recess period.

See you Sunday

Lawrence



PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Centro Segoviano
Alburquerque, 14
28010 Madrid
914457935
Metro: Bilbao

-----------Ignacio------------
Thursday's Open Tertulia in English
Important Notice: From December 1st, the Tertulia will take place at O'Donnells (ex-Moore's) Irish
Pub, c/ Barceló 1 (metro Tribunal)
http://sites.google.com/site/tertuliainenglishmadrid/

----------From Luisa---------
Please not you will have to let her know in advance if you wish to attend, thanks:
Data of language exchange,
Location: Café Comercial
Address: Glorieta de Bilbao, 7
Website location:
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=glorieta+de+Bilbao+en+Madrid&fb=1&hq=glorieta+de+Bilbao&hnear=Madrid,+España&cid=168580715753984644
Dates: on Saturday
Time: from 12:30 to 14:45
Price: 2.50 € (exchange organizing, hiring the top of the cafeteria and coffee, tea, soda, wine or
beer are included).
Luisa - email to confirm please alvarez_luisa@hotmail.com
--------end----




from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: Creativity







.

19 July 2012

from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: The courage we bring to life + news

Dear Friends,

This Sunday's topic is: The courage we bring to life - Is the courage we bring to life the most
important thing?

In the meantime, Miguel has sent me the following message about the next maths tertulia.
------Miguel-----
Estimado tertuliano,

Te invitamos a asistir a la próxima Tertulia de Matemáticas:
https://sites.google.com/site/tertuliadematematicas/21-7-2012

Esperamos contar con tu asistencia, y aprovechamos la ocasión para enviarte un cordial saludo,

Tertulia de Matemáticas


P.S.: Si quieres impartir una conferencia envía un mensaje de correo para tratar los detalles.
Si quieres darte de baja en la lista de correo envía otro con "Baja" en el campo "Asunto" del mensaje.



Best

Lawrence

PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Centro Segoviano
Alburquerque, 14
28010 Madrid
914457935
Metro: Bilbao

-----------Ignacio------------
Thursday's Open Tertulia in English
Important Notice: From December 1st, the Tertulia will take place at O'Donnells (ex-Moore's) Irish
Pub, c/ Barceló 1 (metro Tribunal)
http://sites.google.com/site/tertuliainenglishmadrid/

----------From Luisa---------
Please not you will have to let her know in advance if you wish to attend, thanks:
Data of language exchange,
Location: Café Comercial
Address: Glorieta de Bilbao, 7
Website location:
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=glorieta+de+Bilbao+en+Madrid&fb=1&hq=glorieta+de+Bilbao&hnear=Madrid,+España&cid=168580715753984644

Dates: on Saturday
Time: from 12:30 to 14:45
Price: 2.50 € (exchange organizing, hiring the top of the cafeteria and coffee, tea, soda, wine or
beer are included).
Luisa - email to confirm please alvarez_luisa@hotmail.com
--------end----




from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: The courage we bring to life + news

13 July 2012

from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: Skeptisim + news

Dear friends,

This Sunday we are discussing: Skepticism or scepticism if you like.

It has just occurred to me that there is a bit of a paradox in the subject. If skepticism is true,
then we have to become believers, but if we become believers then skepticism is false. We'll discuss
it on Sunday.

In the meantime Natalia would like to rent her flat just in case you can pass her some leads or better:
...Meanwhile I rent my apartment close to Retiro Park for 650 euros in August. One bedroom , living
room, kitchen and bathroom. Well connected by train (atocha) metro (L6 and L1) and bus (C, 152, 14,
26) . There is a supermarket on the corner (mercadona) and the park at the back.
In case you know someone who might be interested I would appreciate if you let me know.
Thanks,
Natalia (nataliagil2004(AT)hotmail.com
PS The address is Plaza de Reyes Magos
Metro conde casal o menendez pelayo



See you Sunday

Lawrence

Lawrence

PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Centro Segoviano
Alburquerque, 14
28010 Madrid
914457935
Metro: Bilbao

-----------Ignacio------------
Thursday's Open Tertulia in English
Important Notice: From December 1st, the Tertulia will take place at O'Donnells (ex-Moore's) Irish
Pub, c/ Barceló 1 (metro Tribunal)
http://sites.google.com/site/tertuliainenglishmadrid/

----------From Luisa---------
Please not you will have to let her know in advance if you wish to attend, thanks:
Data of language exchange,
Location: Café Comercial
Address: Glorieta de Bilbao, 7
Website location:
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=glorieta+de+Bilbao+en+Madrid&fb=1&hq=glorieta+de+Bilbao&hnear=Madrid,+España&cid=168580715753984644

Dates: on Saturday
Time: from 12:30 to 14:45
Price: 2.50 € (exchange organizing, hiring the top of the cafeteria and coffee, tea, soda, wine or
beer are included).
Luisa - email to confirm please alvarez_luisa@hotmail.com
--------end----




from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: Skeptisim + news

06 July 2012

from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: Does the end justify the means?

Dear friends,

This Sunday we are discussing: Does the end justify the means?

This is a very attractive question and consideration. One of the main reasons that we find this
attractive is that we usually persuade ourselves that we are justified in taking this course because
we are pursuing some good.

One of the most spectacular use of this principle is of course the attack on Japan with atomic
bombs. Today, we are also being persuaded to accept the new doctrine of austerity. Apart from the
butchering of the meaning of this concept, once upon a time it was used for natural disasters or
wars, we are led to believe that by using this magic word we can apply the principle of the "end
justifies the end".

But there are some issues regarding the principle of the end justifies the means. The first of these
is that we might interpret a pseudo good as a good. For example the same attack on Japan with atomic
bombs is often argued as the least harmful consequence to the alternative of invading Japan. But the
only effect of this argument is to justify war since are put into a position of having to excuse a
rather nasty weapon; by definition all weapons are nasty. I propose that the pseudo good of atomic
weapon, especially those used on Japan, should be replaced by the real argument. That is, atomic
weapons are a natural consequence of wars and arms races. Hence, the only end that justifies the
means, in such examples, would be not to start wars in the first place.

An inherent issue with the principle is that we have no guarantees that the end would be achieved
even if the means were reasonable. Indeed, if we do have to resort to such drastic philosophy we
probably have no idea what we have to do, but more importantly, we have very little faith that the
end is achievable.

After all is said and done, we also have to ask a relevant question. Does the principle "the end
justifies the means" a principle that leads to applying the best possible means or rather an
unintended invitation to employ destructive means? Could the allies have blockaded Japan to make it
surrender rather than explode atomic bombs over the country. Could it be that the rescue money some
countries are receiving be used for creating real long term growth rather than giving it to clients
and investors of financial institutions who chose not to intervene during the property bubble?

See you Sunday

Lawrence

Lawrence

PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Centro Segoviano
Alburquerque, 14
28010 Madrid
914457935
Metro: Bilbao

-----------Ignacio------------
Thursday's Open Tertulia in English
Important Notice: From December 1st, the Tertulia will take place at O'Donnells (ex-Moore's) Irish
Pub, c/ Barceló 1 (metro Tribunal)
http://sites.google.com/site/tertuliainenglishmadrid/

----------From Luisa---------
Please not you will have to let her know in advance if you wish to attend, thanks:
Data of language exchange,
Location: Café Comercial
Address: Glorieta de Bilbao, 7
Website location:
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=glorieta+de+Bilbao+en+Madrid&fb=1&hq=glorieta+de+Bilbao&hnear=Madrid,+España&cid=168580715753984644

Dates: on Saturday
Time: from 12:30 to 14:45
Price: 2.50 € (exchange organizing, hiring the top of the cafeteria and coffee, tea, soda, wine or
beer are included).
Luisa - email to confirm please alvarez_luisa@hotmail.com
--------end----




from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: Does the end justify the means?