【Philosopher Café】Belongingness and Attachment
【Philosopher Café】Belongingness and Attachment
（2010/08/28）
Philosopher Café held the second session of discussion dialogue on August 28th. The discussion topic is “Belongingness and Attachment”. Philosopher Café originated from France. Through discussion dialogue, it promotes rational thinking, explores different views on issues, and provides solutions to the issues.
Professor Gu began the dialogue by elaborating the mission and meaning of the discussion dialogue. Then, he explained how the dialogue will proceed and the required manners of the listeners and speakers. For example, how the speaker should maintain the attitude of openness and acceptance, and how one should listen with empathy. At the same time, the speaker should seek opportunity and bravely express his or her own opinions. Also, the speaker should focus on the discussion topics, avoid stray from the topics and lengthy speech.
The dialog began with a participant who indicated that she searched the meaning of the topic on the internet and could not find satisfactory answer. What is in fact the meaning of “Belongingness and Attachment”?
During the dialog, someone tried to define “Belongingness and Attachment” from his personal experiences and further shared his opinions. At the same time, someone tried to define the meaning through one’s knowledge and conceptual understanding.
Under the guidance of Professor Gu, through sharing ideas, responses and discussion, all participants investigated the meaning of “Belongingness and Attachment”, reflected their own lives and experiences, and explored their feelings and values – “When we associate the sense of Belongingness and Attachment to the sense of security, it reminds me the feeling of need and being needed…”, “The sense of Belongingness is from the sense existence when one is in a group. When the situation changes, one’s feeling towards the group will transform from sense of belongingness to sense of attachment…”, “There are culture differences between the East and the West. Chinese tends to care and emphasize relationship, and seeks for sense of belonging from the relationship…”
During the discussion, the host, Professional Gu, helped in summarizing the speakers’ views. Also, through coordinating the discussion and asking key questions, Professor Gu helped the participants to think in-depth and rationally, and initiated diversed and omnibus discussions.
For some participants, this was the first time they attended meetings in this format. However, through three hours of dialogue, although they did not speak in the meeting, they had acquired a lot of knowledge and different views from just listening.
Under comfortable atmosphere and rich discussion, all participants spent a wonderful weekend afternoon together and look forward to the next meeting. Through this kind of discussion dialogue, different generations and genders come together to explore the same issues of life.