Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Ben Franklin's Conversation Club

While reading my New Yorker this week I was reminded of Ben Franklin's conversation club called Junto.  Early on, Ben was concerned about civility in conversation so his solution was structured chitchat.  He met with like minded friends at a Philadelphia ale house.

The concept was simple:  You gather a small group to talk about big ideas.  Of course, Ben wasn't the first person to do this.  Since the beginning of time, people (mostly men) were sitting around camp fires discussing big ideas.

The difference is, Ben's Conversation Club is still going strong.  You can look up Ben Franklin's Circles and either join a group or start your own, using his 13 Virtues as discussion topics.

A few times in my life I have started my own small group of people who want to gather and talk about big ideas.  It needs to be a small group so that every person can participate and it always is a small group because not many people want to stick to discussing big ideas in a positive way.

But when we do, good things happen!

I've not been able to convene this group in a while due to life getting in the way - but I miss it. When we do meet again maybe we can use some of Ben Franklin's 13 Virtues as discussion starters.   Here are some samples:

Silence - Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself.

Justice - Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting benefits that are your duty.  

Tranquility - Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. 

Humility - Imitate Jesus and Socrates


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