Which road do I take?

This is a report of the philosophy cafe session on 19 March 2008. We again use the Instrument.

1. What do we wish to do? We wish to address a question.
2. Write down our question in under 10 words. Which road do I take?
3. Does our question assume anything doubtful or include anything vague? Yes.
4. Write down our new question in under 10 words. What are the roads?
5. Does our question assume anything doubtful or include anything vague? Yes.
6. Write down our new question in under 10 words. What is meant by roads?
7. Does our question assume anything doubtful or include anything vague? No.
8. Do we have an answer? No.
9. What is our question form? What is P?
10. Define P lexically, stipulatively, ostensively, or denotatively. We do not understand.
11. Find the word in a good dictionary. Does the definition suit our needs? No.
12. Can we just say what P shall mean? Yes.
13. Define P to suit our purpose. "Roads" is "a series of life choices".

1. What do we wish to do? We wish to address a question.
2. Write down our question in under 10 words. Which life choice do I take?
3. Does our question assume anything doubtful or include anything vague? Yes.
4. Write down our question in under 10 words. What are the life choices?
5. Does our question assume anything doubtful or include anything vague? No.
6. Do we have an answer? Yes.
7. Write down our answer, and reasons, using "therefore" and "because".
Therefore: Advance in my career.
Because: I'm afraid of having no income later in life.
8. Identify key words and phrases. Advance, career, afraid, no income, later in life.
9. List any repeated word or phrase. None.
10. Shall we test for informal fallacies? No, go directly to rigorous test.
11. Recall our answer. Let this be Q. Q = Advance in my career.
Recall also our reason. Fear of no income later in life.
12. What is our argument type? We do not know.
13. Does our answer involve Q and an alternative P? Yes.
14. An argument involving alternatives is a disjunctive argument. The alternatives are disjuncts.
15. Let P represent the other disjunct. P = No income later in life.
16. Do Q and P have undesirable consequences? Yes.
17. This is a dilemma.
18. Can we prevent, reverse or remedy the undesirable consequence of one disjunct?
Yes: No income later in life.
19. Choose that option. Our question is answered.


Reflection
The Instrument continues to function well, but it offers little entertainment value and hence will not be conducive to greater attendance. We may have to revert to a more free for all approach -- and offer only sporadic guidance on the techniques of clear thought.

Philosophy cafe is held every third Wednesday of the month at Gone Fishing Cafe, 15 Chu Lin Road, Singapore, 8-10pm. No prerequisites. All welcome.