dining arts business ___ NORTH. SHORE [FE __ NEWS pivoto Terry Peters PETER Raabe dishes Truth, Goodness and Life with Joanne !.eomon, who, with Cheryl Arnold, owns Pages, a@ second-hand bookshop and coffee house in Deep Cove. Raabe teads a philosophical discussion there the fags second Wednesday of every month. inquiring minds in Cove By Layne Christensen aun News Reporter mee, layne@nsnews.com PETER Raabe doesn’t like an Philosophy Slam, a title the m owners of Pages have tagged to his Wednesday evening discus- a sion groups at the Deep Cove i bookstore. He prefers “community of inguiry.” - The description more aptly fits the Baim of the evening sessions the 48-year- meer old philosopher and Lynn Valley resi- ident leads the second Wednesday of mevery month in the new bookstore and mea cofice shop. - That goal? Let’s get critical. “In our society it seems thinking for yourself is somehow feared and some- iow considered to be a bad thing or TONE thing to do,” says Raabe, who th teaches an undergraduate course in crit- ical thinking to second-year agriculture students at UBC. “That's a throwback to the Medieval times ... to the days when the authori- ties in church said ‘we'll tell you the right thing to think, you just do the work in the | fields and don’t ask stupid questions.’ In North America, he says, few peo- ple think for themselves. “I they do try to think for themselves they have a very hard time doing it because we're not trained to think for ourselves.” Philosophy has been given a bad rap in North America. But things are differ- ent overseas, says Raabe. In France or Holland, for example, you can overhear people having philosophical discussions. “They’re not talking abour cars or hockey games. They're talking, about the meaning of life and how to live your life ... about Truth and Goodness.” Pretentious? Raabe thinks not. “We're not out to solve the world’s problems,” he says. The role of a philosopher is to say: “Let’s look at the question.” At a Wednesday evening ses- sion, that question may be: “Can money bey you happiness?” or “Will humans ever live in harmony with nature?” This is not a therapy session, though Raabe is currently pursuing his PhD at UBC in the field of philosophical coun- selling and runs a private practice on the side. When Wednesday’s discussion group participants hit the couch in Pages’ front room, they’re there not for analysis but for intellectual discussion. “Ir’s meant for a good time, not to solve anybody’s personal problems,” says Raabe. The next Philosophy Slam ts Wednesday, Nov. 12, 7 ta 9 p.m. at Pages, 43918 Gallant Ave. Call 924-1668. HALF PRICE ‘THURSDAY | “(except pink; tags) | plus Other in-store specials ~The value of your donations: is < A > measure in more an st dollars. i) Vary among the 13 Lower Mainland locations, including: The Salvation Army Thrift Stores (7 241 Lonsdale, North Van. 980-4413 2714 W. Broadway, Van. 261 E. 734-1821 12th Ave., Van. 874-4721 alloween October 31/97 Join us for a | special | party! Only $999 day | FREE Treat bag for kids § FREE face painting 3pm to 4pm Mr. _ Snappy will be leading a special Halloween Parade f The Gator Pit Park Royal: South (upstairs) | 25-0707: “STOOPY” invites you to meet RUBIN CHANDOCK son of Pat Chandock creator of the “World d of erystoniae “Stoopy” the 1997 event piece $45.00 So come and meet Rubin Chandock who is involved with the creation of the figurines & story lines. He will be happy to sign all Krystonia figurines purchased during the event. Rubin will be in 2 of our stores for the 1997 marc singer Oaksidge Centre: Thursday Oct 30 11-1, 1:30-4:30, 5:30-8pm Pacific Centre: Fri Oct 31. 11-2, 3-7pm Enter a free draw to win the Keystonia figurine “Off We Go”. Value $110 Wednesday, October 29, 1997 - North Shore News — 15 | REFORE You SHOP THE LLS | news hk new sales three times a week