Socrates Café participants ponder life's bigger questions
By Susan Nienow CONTRIBUTING WRITER

What is wisdom? And, does wisdom come with age? Seniors at the Lifelong Learning Institute explore these questions and others during the Socrates Café each month. Toni Hooper often attends classes and activities at the institute.

The Socrates Café is probably one of the only social events at the Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) where small talk isn't allowed. You won't hear anyone complain about the gridlocked traffic on Hull Street Road or comment on the beauty of the fall leaves.

No, the Socrates Café is for life's bigger questions - those that we all ponder in our quiet moments: What's the meaning of life? Why am I here?

Based on the perspectives of various philosophers as well as personal experience, LLI members meet monthly for an ongoing discussion of philosophical ideas during the Socrates Café.

Annebel Lewis is the facilitator, charged with asking the tough questions and keeping the exchange flowing.

"What is wisdom?" asked Lewis as she looked out into the crowd of older faces, who attended the Socrates Café late last month.

"Using the knowledge available at the time to make a decision," replied one audience member. Someone else suggested that it is being happy despite what life brings you. Yet another put forth the theory that if you have someone in your life that you revere, then you will make decisions based on what you believe that person would do.

Lewis started off the discussion by explaining, "Native Americans watch and listen." We need to "let information process us," she said, adding that wisdom is all about patience and waiting.

She also called on excerpts from the writings of Seneca, a stoic philosopher and wise man during his time, to spark the conversation. "To live a good life, look for a person to emulate," she said.

When conversation strayed or lagged, Lewis deftly returned the discussion to the topic of the day. "Do we fail to ask the right question to get the wisdom?" she asked.

Henry Leidheiser wondered if wisdom is really determined after a life experience has already happened while Lewis said, "[You are] often put in a position where you are ashamed to say, 'I don't know.'" She added that the definition of wisdom might depend on your culture.

Lewis asked the group to name some wise people who are living today and received a minimal response. She put forth Joseph Campbell, a mythologist who lectures on PBS. Someone else mentioned Jane Goodall.

Patsy Jewett reflected the age of the group when she said, "I think all old people are wise."

Norma Parker observed that common sense is so uncommon today. One member called it "educated incompetence."

Jim Kelly asked if humility has a part to play in wisdom. Lewis wondered, "When we think we are wise, is [that] when we are not wise?"

Leidheiser simplified the answer by saying a wise person would "always do as if his sister was watching him," jokingly adding that he grew up with a sister.

LLI members who attend the Socrates Café are diverse and rich in life experiences. After coming together to participate in an intellectual exercise, the 14 men and women who attended last month's event left satisfied that they had enjoyed the process even if they didn't settle on an answer to the meaning of wisdom.

Lewis started the Socrates Café at the Senior Center of Chesterfield and continued it when the LLI expanded to include activities and classes from the now defunct senior center.

The question for Nov. 17 is "What is truth?"

Not just for seniors

The concept of the Socrates Café was developed by Chris Phillips, author of the book, "Socrates Café," and co-founder of the Society for Philosophical Inquiry. Designed to bring philosophy back to the everyday individual, Socrates Café discussion groups now meet across the nation, including several in the Richmond metro. For more information, visit www. philosopher.org.