Philosophers & Gamblers

Kenneth Smith argues that Christianized culture systematically deprives people of the very concepts needed to recognize how deeply it shapes and biases their thinking, producing both uncritical believers and reflexive anti-religious reactions as forms of ideological conditioning. He contends that true autonomous, critical, and value-literate individuals are extraordinarily rare because Christendom functions as a conformist political system that suppresses genuine reasoning about life’s most important moral and existential questions.

E. Faith Understood as a Vice

https://kennethsmithphilosophy.com/end09.php

Join us for an engaging session on a style of dialogue that strengthens communities, deepens relationships, and opens the door to real problem-solving. This gathering explores the empathic Socratic method—a way of interacting that places curiosity, humility, and genuine listening at the center of every conversation.

Rather than falling into the trap of the “logic hammer”—the instinct to prove someone wrong with rapid-fire arguments—we’ll focus on a more powerful alternative: understanding how someone arrived at their perspective, especially when we disagree with it. We learn far more from uncovering the pathway behind another person’s belief than we ever do by declaring “you’re wrong, I’m right.”

Together, we’ll practice asking clarifying questions, listening for values rather than just conclusions, and responding in ways that increase trust instead of tension. Participants will walk away with practical conversational tools they can use in families, workplaces, and community spaces to reduce conflict and increase connection.

If you’re looking to strengthen your ability to navigate disagreements, build consensus, and create shared understanding—this event was made for you.

A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (http://platerate.com/) is his company. His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (http://freethinkerinstitute.org/), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.

Format: Lecture and discussion

Note: social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.

To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg

After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.

Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.

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