Events @ TC

Do you believe that progress is still possible? Where does it come from, and how we can help it happen?

Over the past two decades all of the following indices of our social well-being have trended positively: high school dropout rates, college enrollment, SAT scores, juvenile crime, drunk driving, traffic deaths, infant mortality, life expectancy, workplace injuries, air pollution, divorce, male-female wage equality, voter turnout, charitable giving, per capita GNP, and teen pregnancy - according to futurist Steven Johnson in his new book Future Perfect.

Please come to share your perceptions and insights into where we are headed, and how we should respond. Together, we'll take a fresh reconnaissance of our prospects, as individuals and as members of our diverse communities.

Suggested optional reading: Future Perfect: The Case for Progress in a Networked Age, by Steven Johnson. This book makes the case that a new model of political change is on the rise, transforming everything from local governments to classrooms, from protest movements to health care.

Where: Second Floor Salon
Next session: Thursday, 1/31, Topic: TBA

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Inspired by Socrates' famous conversations with his friends in the marketplace of 5th century Athens, we engage in spirited discussions of ideas and issues. Socratic conversations range broadly and probe deeply into the basic challenges of life. They are informed by the latest literature for reference and follow up. While building a sense of community on campus, these meetings enliven the intellectual atmosphere and model dialogue and discussion as modes of inquiry.

These highly-participatory conversations with fellow students are moderated by Ronald Gross, author of Socrates' Way and Co-chair of the University Seminar on Innovation in Education. They are part of a year long series of Socratic Conversations hosted by the Gottesman Libraries.
 

Individuals with disabilities are invited to request reasonable accommodations including, but not limited to sign language interpretation, Braille or large print materials, and a campus map of accessible features. Address these requests to the Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities at (212) 678-3689, keller@tc.edu, or Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services at (212) 678-3853 V/TTY.