Dallas Philosopher’s Forum offers up deep thoughts, good conversation

by Joan Arbery of Renegade Bus

DALLAS — Philosophers’ salons in 18th century Paris were all perukes, powdered noses, and languid mistresses, a few bon mots mixed in with Hennessy and bonbons. Voltaire, Diderot, and Rousseau might have scratched their noggins now and then, but often enough, they were just as au fait with couture and cuisine as they were with contemplation. Where there were fine thoughts to be had, there were always fine wines and fancy meals. But that was Paris.

By contrast, today’s philosopher probably sprouts unkempt whiskers or unshaved legs, forgets to tie his or her shoelaces, wanders about dazed and confused, and drinks copious amounts of coffee while chain-smoking. That might be true of some English dons, but I know no philosophers who fit that type, and it’s certainly not the case with the Dallas Philosophers Forum. This year at the DPF, lectures on love, science, water, mythology, and postmodernism are served up with tapas at Chic from Barcelona on Preston Road.

The Dallas Philosopher's Forum began in 1987, and in that time it’s had almost as many locations as it’s had years. Dr. Fred Grinnell, a professor at UT Southwestern, became a long-time devotee of the DPF after he heard about it from a flier in 1988. Throughout the course of those years, Dr. Grinnell has probably presented five or six times, and this Tuesday, September 22, he’ll speak on his recent publication, Everyday Practice of Science, and how scientists approach their work.

Since the late 80s, Dr. Grinnell has seen DPF meetings move from various Denny’s across the Metroplex, as well as to Greek and Italian restaurants and other joints. He says the Forum often moved because the restaurants would get tired of hosting them or the restaurants would go out of business. Sometimes, though, the Forum members just wanted a change of scene. Whatever the case, the Forum’s nomadic dining spices up the conversations. People order dinner prior to the lecture, finishing their meals and continuing to drink as the lecturer begins. Lectures last for about an hour, with questions directly following the lecture. The cost of attendance: a mere $4.

What sorts of things are discussed? Anything from free will, to Taoism, to femininity, to mathematics, to globalization, to religion, to contemporary psycho-analysis, to environmentalism, to aesthetics. The list goes on and on. Yet, says Dr. Grinnell, very few professional philosophers attend the group or speak to it. For the most part, speakers can pursue various ideas philosophically even if philosophy is, strictly-speaking, not their discipline. Likewise, attendees aren’t there to hear the latest thoughts on the continental vs. analytical divide. Instead, they’re there to engage in “the love of wisdom.”

Two weeks ago, I attended the opening lecture by Jim Dolan. While the room was full, the crowd was considerably middle-aged. By no means were the attendees fuddy-duddies. But there’s nothing middle-aged about philosophy. Socrates pulled all those hot-blooded Athenian youths into dialogue by drinking wine with them, carrying on conversations in a somewhat erotic fashion. His audience was young, sprightly, poised to take Athens’ future on. That ought to be the role of the Forum. As Dr. Grinnell remarks, it may just be that older people tend to think more philosophically. Yet hopefully the new venue can draw a greater mix of old and young into the room.

Nevertheless, the room fills up quickly at Chic from Barcelona, and with all that good food and wine, the draw is just as much for good dining as for opining. What’s nice about the DPF is its demystification of philosophy at the same time as it elevates it, providing a tasteful space. Having grace in good measure has never harmed the pursuit of wisdom, and in a city like Dallas, pensées with pâté can go hand in hand. Taking the high-minded seriously does not occlude being Chic.