With numbers increasing weekly and possibilities of new branches on the horizon, this provides ample evidence the 'dry sponge' metaphor applies not only to students, but to Hong Kong people in general.

The first philosophy cafe began when a few French philosophers met in Paris one Sunday morning in 1992 and decided to start meeting regularly. A journalist, overhearing their conversation, advertised their intentions in the local press, and the Cafe Philo movement was born.

Philosophy cafes, now cropping up all over the world, were soon integrated into a wider trend encouraging philosophers to serve their communities by bringing philosophy back to where it started, the public square.

More and more academic philosophers are recognising the importance of engaging in various forms of community service. In addition to organising public philosophical discussions in cafe settings, philosophers are offering their services as facilitators of philosophical retreats, mentors training children in the art of thinking, counsellors to troubled individuals, advisers to politicians, and consultants for businesses needing assistance with creative problem-solving.

Proponents of this trend, sometimes called Philosophical Practice, assume philosophy is unique among human disciplines in being equally relevant to every thinking person. Why? Because anyone who makes an effort to examine their life is to that extent practising philosophy.

The age-old maxim 'know thyself', inscribed over the entry of the Temple of Delphi - home of the oracle that first challenged Socrates to devote his life to philosophy - confirms one who takes up this challenge of self-definition is, by that very fact, philosophising.

Philosophy's most distinctive feature is its role as the 'self-defining' discipline. The best philosophers in all eras have recognised philosophy's essentially practical nature, as promoting individual and social self-understanding.

Although it was pushed aside by mainstream academic philosophy throughout most of the 20th century, more and more philosophers during the past decade have been re-awakening to this important truth.

In a recent discussion with students, we concluded Hong Kong is like a person whose outer appearance is money-mindedness but whose deepest heart is driven by philosophical concerns, an inner need for increased self-understanding.

The mass media tends to measure 'success' in economic terms; 'mass' education supports this message by employing strategies that tend to 'kill' students' natural instinct to philosophise; and the typical parent supports all of this in the hope of being supported by well-paid children in retirement.

Significantly, one student insisted the outer image is strongly disliked by most individuals, though few have the courage to speak up. Each person's inner self-understanding cries out for meaningful conversation. A lucky few find it in their employment, but for most, society's outer image overrules.

To compensate, many find partial fulfilment in conversations with friends, family members, or in religious groups. But many are still searching. The philosophy cafe's success demonstrates a widespread, though often unspoken, need for free and open public discussion of issues crucial to our self-definition as individuals and as a society. Each meeting focuses on a previously announced topic, ranging from practical issues like 'When should we trust?' to more abstract ones like 'Can we ever really be free?'.

A typical meeting starts with a brief introduction, followed by questions for clarification. We then split into small groups to encourage participation. The groups reconvene for an open discussion of whatever points surfaced in the small groups as being most significant.

Sometimes we reach clear conclusions and achieve new insight. Other times our attempts leave us more confused. But every time we experience the joy of meaningful conversation.

As more Hong Kong philosophers become aware of the thirst people have for free and open dialogue directed toward increased self-understanding and respond to the need for quality leadership in this area of community service, I believe the philosophy cafe movement will mushroom.

And when this happens, when the core of what makes Hong Kong people tick becomes a matter of public awareness, our society will be more prepared, not less so, to enhance and strengthen its worldwide reputation for economic success, the outer image that most of us merely pretend counts most.

Stephen Palmquist is the founder of the Hong Kong Philosophy Cafe and an associate professor in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Hong Kong Baptist University

Most take up the challenge to think for themselves, many confess it is the first time they have done so