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在线翻译:
szdaily -> Culture -> 
More Philosophy Clubs are needed in our day and age
    2020-09-01  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

Daniel Otero

3531189352@qq.com

A POTPOURRI of ideas swung from left to right, back and forth; it was active indeed! Chinese and foreigners sitting peacefully between acquaintances, colleagues and friends, exchanged in an overflow of creativeness on how to bring the world together. Friends came to socialize away from the daily burdens of life and tackle problems with a little philosophy, possibly to better themselves in the process, to be surrounded in a gorgeous environment at the center of Shenzhen. This is for all intents and purposes, the Philosophy Club at the Brew bar in Shenzhen.

Once it blossomed, individuals from all corners of the city began to gather. This started in April, after what has recently happened with the social distancing and pandemic around the world. The group is composed of a dozen people. It is an attraction for other Chinese and foreigners alike to be drawn into.

As this young group of professionals came just to talk at the Brew bar, others began to slowly be drawn in like a magnet of desire for wisdom. Then, a round of drinks poured and food came to the table in this wonderful atmosphere of conversation. Every Saturday it is a place ripe for beautiful ideas to bring all those closer without any animosity.

As this place opens-up for business, young intellectuals with the older types sit to discuss this week’s assigned topic. Usually, the person leading the theme will offer a disclaimer to avoid any misunderstandings. These concepts are without prejudice or without any negative emotion, avoiding the sensitive issues of politics, religion and any sort of overtly or undertones of racism.

The topics previously discussed ranged from the philosophical perspectives of Laozi, Mencius, Confucius, Socrates, Stoicism, is technology good or bad, who was the first communist — Thomas More or Karl Marx, values, conservatism, to liberalism and so forth. What wasn’t completed for most of the club members on the floor of academia comes to be resolved here. For these two-magical hours on a lazy Saturday, it is a place to learn and dispense wisdom between 2 to 4 p.m. in a happy-hour vibe.

The group at any given moment can contain a multicultural gathering of Chinese, British, American, Jamaican, Serbian, Indian, Russian, Ukrainian, Dutch, Muslim, Jew, African and Caucasian. All people with different views present their respective ideas to captivate the mind. Social topics are to be discussed in a justified way, and on how it benefits objectively in the betterment of society. The pleasure is to know something which wasn’t known before and to be able to step into this “small university” of brilliant minds offering enlightenment.

This is the answer to the world’s problems and its solutions, philosophy. Because while people are talking and not fighting, there will be hope for the future. The same is true, while people are talking there is further understanding of different concepts, deeper knowledge, ethnic backgrounds and without prejudice of skin color. It doesn’t mean that at times there aren’t disagreements. However, this group taps into the consciousness without hate. It is just a way to “agree to disagree,” without the conflicts and in perfect cohesion with the acceptance of others’ points of view. Now, the question is to the reader, why not come and join?

(The author is originally from New York City working as a teacher at the Shenzhen Guangming Foreign Languages School.)

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