hearlisten
Philosophy | Dialogue | Community
About
We bring people together to explore the fundamental questions of human existence through the practice of philosophical dialogue.
Approach
Authentic dialogue requires curiosity, presence, and openness. This is developed in our sessions through what we call ‘deep listening’. Philosophical problems are presented and explored each week under the guidance of a facilitator. No previous knowledge of philosophy is required.
Aim
Our aim is to make a space in which the assumptions, contradictions, and complexities in our thinking can be revealed, and multiple perspectives can shed light on difficult problems. Out of a state of uncertainty, a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world can emerge.
Who are we?
Dr. Robert Grant – Co-founder and facilitator
Rob has a PhD in philosophy from Trinity College Dublin, where he was an Irish Research Scholar. After completing his PhD, Rob taught philosophy at TCD and became involved in projects aimed at bringing philosophy into the wider community. He is a founder member of Philosophy Ireland. He wrote, directed, and presented a documentary for RTE television about teaching philosophy in schools and recently published his first book, a children’s novel aimed at bring philosophy to young people. Rob is also an active musician.
Sen. Lynn Ruane – Co-founder
Lynn Ruane is an Irish politician who has served as an independent Senator for the University of Dublin constituency in Seanad Éireann since April 2016. She was the President of the Trinity College Dublin Students' Union from 2015 to 2016. Having studied philosophy in TCD, Lynn is a firm believer in the power of philosophy to empower individuals from all communities to understand and articulate their own position in the world.
Dr. John Bissett – Co-founder and facilitator
John was born in Dolphin House, Rialto, a social housing complex in Dublin and has worked as a community worker and youth worker for over thirty years. He is a graduate of National University of Ireland Maynooth with a degree in Sociology and English. He continued his studies in University College Dublin and was awarded a Masters and Ph.D. in Sociology in 2001. John currently works as a Community Worker for the Canal Communities Regional Addiction Service in Dublin and is publishing on a book on the ontology of public housing.
Aislinn O'Donnell - Project Mentor, Facilitator
Aislinn is Professor of Education in Maynooth University. Aislinn has developed a number of creative research and teaching projects that seek to introduce philosophy to settings like the prison, probation projects, and drug projects. She is a board member of the strategic MJMU (Mountjoy Prison Maynooth University) partnership. She has an ongoing collaborative project in primary schools called Art and Philosophy in the Classroom with gallery educator and curator, Katy Fitzpatrick and was a founding member of Philosophy Ireland.
What participants say
‘I have been enriched. It’s just opened up the possibility of questioning things I believe in, going into the heads and the hearts of others, to try and step in that person’s shoes. It has been so beneficial, and so rich. And I’m really thankful to everyone who organised it, took part in it’ – Kate, Domestic Violence Worker
