Thursday 17 May 2007

Introduction

Hi,

My name is Lau Kwong Fook. I am a Singapore philosopher. I have decided to dedicate the rest of my life to promoting clear thought, and teaching people to think clearly. This is not as ridiculous as it sounds. Chess has rules, dressing has rules, mathematics has rules, music has rules. In fact, everything in life has rules. Then why is it everyone thinks thinking can be done intuitively, without reference to any rules? Clear thought is governed by rules, but these are never taught in schools. That is why everyone thinks thought is intuitive, and so they think muddle-headedly while imagining they think clearly. I have had the good fortune to have studied philosophy, and specifically logic, so I am acquainted with the rules of clear thought. I have crystallised these rules into a course entitled "NOUS: A Practical Guide to Clear Thought". A course outline can be found at this website: http://philocafesg.tripod.com/.

I host Singapore's first (and so far only) philosophy cafe. It is held on every third Wednesday of the month, at Gone Fishing Cafe, 15 Chu Lin Rd, Singapore, from 8-10pm. It's free, and all are welcome. You can find reports of the proceedings on this blog from time to time, and you are welcome to post comments.

I also create philochart puzzles. These are graphical "puzzle" representations of famous arguments by famous philosophers. Solving the puzzle will yield the argument. Almost all introductions to philosophy focus on the philosopher's position, that is, his conclusion -- and neglect his argument. This is wrong. The argument is the key. If the argument is not sound, the conclusion cannot follow, however attractive it may be. These puzzles focus on the argument, and only finally reveal the conclusion or position. It's a new way to learn philosophy.

There is one more thing I do, but it is still too early to reveal it yet. So be patient. All will be revealed shortly.

What else can be found on this blog? Why, anything else I care to put up, of course.

Hope you enjoy dipping into this blog occasionally.

See you soon.

Kwong Fook