Guidelines for Reading Group Opening Posts?

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Reading groups:
informal, easy-reading (articles) and formal classics (academic) texts. Different reading styles: open and exploratory or close and analytical. To name a few.

Would be helpful to add more information to the description? For example, how to start and maintain a reading group?

As in the forum guidelines, would it be useful to provide examples, like this:
[Jamal’s Reading Group OP] (Reading group: Negative Dialectics by Theodor Adorno)

I ask because of valuable but frustrating experiences of some TPF reading groups.
Is it best for any discussion to be based on an accessible and clear pdf? And how best to keep the continuity using links?
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@Jamal has developed an interesting new way of linking posts to the original pdf text. See his edited OP and latest post. Reading group: Negative Dialectics by Theodor Adorno - #15 by Amity
Not sure if this can be done without the expertise of admin or mods?

What do others think?
How to read philosophy…

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Thanks for this Amity. Do you think this topic might be better in the reading groups category?

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Yes, perhaps. I just wanted it out there to reach as many potential writers/readers as possible.
Wherever… shrugs

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It’ll be equally as visible in either case. I’ll leave it in Feedback for a while, and later maybe I could add it to Reading Groups and pin it to the top of that category. Up to you really.

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I will take your advice on this.
Thanks :slightly_smiling_face:

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Turning to the substance of the OP now, what I did for Negative Dialectics could, with case-by-case adjustments to the conversion code, potentially be applied to any PDF in the public domain. (Note that this wouldn’t cover any recent translations of, e.g., Plato, published through the usual channels.)

With the help of AI this is quite achievable now even for non-programmers.

The next step would be to publish this on the internet somewhere. In my case I bought negativedialectics.org and put it there. Or if there was enough interest I could make a space under our domain, e.g.:

www.thephilosophyforum.com/readinggroups/plato-republic

But my feeling is that reading groups are difficult to standardize. In some groups, individuals often have their preferred translations, or they may wish to avoid having to use a website to consult the text.

I’d be interested to know more about your frustrating experiences.

Generally, I love the way you’re thinking: the idea of setting up a reading group system appeals to me very much, and I’ve considered building a dedicated app and web application. But here on TPF, I don’t know if there’s enough interest or how much of the work will be down to me to carry out.

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Thanks for further explanation as to your publishing process and options. I think it is something worthwhile to consider but not generally feasible. Probably.

I agree with your thoughts on standardisation of reading groups. I don’t think anyone wants strict rules.

Understandably, there are clear preferences for what, who and how to read.

As a reader, some of my previous frustration lies in some dogmatism and antagonism shown to others. However, the new flag system might better deal with that.

More personally, it is in time and energy limits. Sometimes, I miss windows of opportunity when the discussion has moved on. Also, it can be difficult when others join in half-way through; they may wish to add points outwith the current position.
However, AI summaries could help here? Also, use of links giving clear direction.

Overall, it is helpful for the OP to clarify intention and method. As in @Jamal 's example, reading Adorno’s Dialectics seems to be a useful blueprint:
Beginning with a clear structure and process. Which translation to be used and why. A hope to post weekly, waiting for others to post before moving on.

I think this encourages posters who want to read the texts but enjoy guidance. Momentum is maintained, thoughtfully.

Also, it makes sense to give beginners time to read some intro material for context. Even a revision for others.

It really is up to the OP and posters - if and how a reading could be of benefit. Should distinctions or descriptions be made in terms of difficulty levels? Easy, intermediate or expert?

I’d like to hear of others’ experiences in reading groups. As someone starting a specific discussion, or a reader/writer.
What helps or hinders? Examples?

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Reading Group Blueprints offers a set of resources divided by topic and arranged into a consistent narrative, each accompanied by a list of questions to help guide your discussion.

Reading Group Blueprints – Diversity Reading List
Worth a scroll down, I found two of some interest:
Chinese-Philosophy-of-Mind-DRL-Blueprint.pdf
And
Sex-What-Is-It-Good-For-DRL-Reading-Group-Blueprint.pdf
With intros and questions in a weekly structure.

For example, in the latter, find ‘Sex, Desire and Love’ (Week 4).

I’ve often thought it would be quite something to read Proust’s ‘In Search of Lost Time’.

Here, we find references to Vol 5 - the Captive - and a Read Free copy pdf.
Read In Search of Lost Time, Volume 5: The Captive, the Fugitive In Search of Lost Time online free book by Marcel Proust
…

Recently, I became interested in the Chinese Philosophy of Mind. Again, even if only in part, the blueprint might prove useful.
Example: Week 7. Neo-Confucianism Part 2 - Moral Psychology. Zhu Xi and concepts of Li and Qui. Chinese-Philosophy-of-Mind-DRL-Blueprint.pdf

Just one way of how to learn and discuss philosophy. By self or in groups. Happy Reading!

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I’m glad you think it worked. Since I had absolutely no thoughts about the reading schedule, at the time I worried that the structure was too vague. But I like how it’s progressed, although more participants would be nice.

There’s a nice new admin feature in Discourse: category templates. On the basis of your posts here I can build a template for the Reading Groups category that appears in the post composer every time someone starts a new topic (i.e., write an OP).

So it could contain:

Tell the group…

  • which translation and why
  • how to refer to specific passages
  • a schedule or a rough expectation of e.g., time per chapter
  • prerequisites, if any
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What a great place this new TPF is turning out to be. Well done you for all the continuing work along with a great team. Still settling in… :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

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Concerning level of interest in starting and maintaining a ‘Reading Group’ on philosophical writing, articles, essays, novels…

What might be the obstacles? Is it a lack of confidence in own knowledge or ability - concerns about numbers of potential reflective readers. Pace, resilience and perhaps patience required? Reading style and ways of expressing ideas, depending on academic or informal texts. Lack of practice?

Where better place to start than here?

Talk about how to read or watch/listen to philosophy. Are all ideas so very tough to chew? Some are.
Particularly in academia. However, there is plenty of online advice. Here’s one I found this morning. Clear and helpful, I think:
Some Suggestions for How to Read a Philosophical Article or Book:

Only 2 pages, it starts with:

Most people find philosophy difficult to read. The reading tends to go slowly, and it
requires a lot of attention to detail. You will also find that to understand philosophy
articles well, you need to read them more than once.

Perhaps off-putting for some but necessary. This is academia and the focus is on argumentative writing. Wonderful 8 bulleted suggestions :slight_smile:
…

Reading philosophical articles or essays can be quickly engaging.

An example today in Philosophy Break (7mins):
How Can We Live When the World Feels Broken? The Stoics: By Carrying On | Philosophy Break

Stoicism is a philosophy that appeals to me. Strange I’d never before heard the term ‘stoic cosmopolitanism’. Ah well, you live and learn.

There are blue underlines taking you to other articles. It mentions - ‘dichotomy of control’, Epictetus, Seneca, an exceptional quote by Toni Morrison, Heidegger, Marcus Aurelius.
Above all, I like this about ‘hope’(sometimes controversial):

Stoic cosmopolitanism operates on the belief – the hope – that a grand collective of such vines will build a better world, a world more aligned to the rational order of the cosmos (logos ).

There’s a quote by 8th-century Irish novelist Maria Edgeworth. Who?
Other questions are posed. What might help calm in the face of catastrophe.
Perhaps, a read, a reflection, a writing…

Other places to visit, include Aeon, IEP, Philosophy Now.
Views from everywhere.
How academic philosophy can become truly diverse and global | Aeon Essays

Enough to think about…

How to approach reading philosophy - groups?
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Thanks for your feedback.
You are right to reflect on the level of interest.
Perhaps, a reading group is all too boring!

A feeling of déjà vu led me to search the Archive. From me, on 4th September, 2022:
Consider a stickie guideline for subforums e.g. reading groups? - The Philosophy Forum Archive

A brief encounter but I did have more to say about reading and writing philosophy. Some of it received more attention and interest. Resulting in a new TPF challenge, last year.
First, the idea and discussion:
TPF Philosophy Competition/Activity 2025 ? - The Philosophy Forum Archive
Then, the Challenge - a first - hosted by @Moliere and self.
Philosophy writing challenge June 2025 announcement - The Philosophy Forum Archive

‘Challenge’ is the right word.

Interest, perseverance, serious play exchanging words, ideas with others. Open to all…

If you build it, they will come?

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Yes, that was a good event. You can do the same here. I made a category for all writing events.

https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/c/the-writing-collective/19

We can change the name if you don’t like it.

EDIT: Currently nobody except mods is allowed to create new topics in that category. I’ll just assign you or whoever to a special role when I’m asked to do so, to allow you to add new topics.

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I’m not sure that all of this is necessary.
I’d been thinking about there being more than a sentence to describe the sub-category ‘Reading groups’. This could be done by admin or any mod covering this category.

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If you give me the text I’ll edit the “About this category” post, and as I say, I can add a template if you want.

Or I could promote you to a power user so you’d be able to implement whatever you have in mind yourself.

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Thank you for all of this.
I’ve been reconsidering any additional need for formality or a template. You have already done so very much in developing this new TPF.

Perhaps… probably… the best way is just for posters to just jump in and do it!

An article and its issues could just as easily be enjoyed under ‘General Discussion’.

I still remember one started by @Banno. From the archives: Philosophical Plumbing — Mary Midgley - The Philosophy Forum Archive

Can hardly believe it was from June 12, 2021. I’m still thinking and talking of Midgley.

@Banno’s discussion attracted so many fascinating viewpoints. Worth a re-read!

Today, I realised that a Reading Group Blueprint featured her and her 3 philo friends. Topic 2 of
The-Wartime-Quartet-DRL-Reading-Group-Blueprint.pdf

There is so much substance to this. And I’m not sure about the time allocated. How is the level of difficulty decided?

I’m also attracted to the writings of Iris Murdoch - novelist and philosopher (topic 4).

I don’t know if, or when, I will get round to actually reading, reflecting and writing.
That’s it, isn’t it…
My words, here, mean nothing without action. Full of intentions…hmm…