Ever since the time of Aristotle, mankind has been asking: "What is the meaning of life?" Now locals can take a stab at answering this age-old question.
The Squamish Philosophers Café invites the community to probe into the subject during their monthly roundtable discussion at the Howe Sound Inn restaurant Sunday (March 7) from 3 to 5 p.m.
Questions about "meaning" or "purpose" are an opportunity to assess how we think and where we place our values.
Many hold that questions about life and existence are answered through their religious beliefs. Others believe that the realization of individual purpose, or self-actualization is the meaning or reason for life. Others believe that there is no meaning or purpose beyond procreation. And still others believe there is no meaning at all and even the question is pointless.
The group's moderator, Jill Fellows, will begin the discussion with a definition of the terms "meaning" and "purpose."
"Does it mean there's just one meaning of life - are there several meanings?"
Take for example Aristotle, who said the reason we're here is to live a good life and be happy, according to Fellows, a visiting Humanities tutor at Quest University who moved to Squamish in August and is working on a PhD in philosophy.
The topic morphs in medieval society when Christianity becomes a way of life with the question becoming "What is God's meaning and purpose for us?"
Then in the existential era of the 1940s and '50s, the question is answered with "There is no meaning to life."
"So now we ask 'Is that depressing or liberating?' And we can talk about that," said Fellows. "But in general I just want to see what people in the community think about this question."
Fellows invites the community to bring their ideas forward during next Sunday's session.
"No formal training in philosophy or any other discipline is required. However, real-life experience and personal opinions are desired."
Fellows said the participation for Squamish Cafés, which launched late last year, has had a regular attendance of around 10 locals ranging in demography from young to not-so young, formally educated to independently educated, and from every sector of the community. The group's success has been very encouraging, she said.
One of the group's missions is "to support and foster new methods of community collaboration, open debate as well as respectful and meaningful dialogue which would engage the general public, the young, the old, the homeless and which bridges socio-economic status, gender, culture and religious affiliation," according the group's Facebook page "Squamish & Whistler Philosophers Café."
"The community participation has been really good, we're very encouraged," said Fellows.
And if you can't make it this Sunday, the group returns on the last Sunday of each month. The next gathering takes place March 28 with visiting Langara College philosophy instructor probing the topic "Is faith a legitimate way of getting to the truth?"
