[ about socratic salons ]

Socratic Salons are intimate gatherings where curious minds explore big questions together, reviving the art of real conversation across disciplines, cultures, and ideas. We engage in JEFFERSONIAN CONVERSATION by way of Chatham House rules. In the spirit of open, honest conversation, we apply the Chatham House rules: participants are free to use the information received during a meeting, but they cannot reveal the identity or affiliation of the speaker or any other participant. Find our salon etiquette here.

[ preparation ]

To support a shared context, we ask you to come into the salon having read the following two pieces.

Reading these pieces is required for attendance.

• Deep Time Philanthropy and the Evolution of Consciousness by Julian Norris
• The third wave of American philanthropy by Nan Ransohoff

We recommend the following places on Stella campus for reading:

• The chapel’s upper-level seating by the organ
• The villa outdoor patio on the ground floor
• The lakeside lounge chairs

[ rsvp ]

We will be recording this session for the purposes of producing a Salon Paper (an anonymized artifact, in accordance with Chatham House rules. By accepting this invitation, you consent to being recorded, and abiding by Chatham House rules.

To accept this invitation, please reply with a wish for the future.

If you RSVP but later cannot make it, we request a 500 word apology letter to make amends.