Simulating a Roundtable of Elders

A new way to study, discover, and explore, with your favorite chatbot.

What is a Roundtable Simulation?

What if you could sit at the table with history’s greatest minds... and ask them what they think? That’s the promise of a Roundtable Simulation. It’s not time travel. It’s not a séance. It’s something better.

A Roundtable Simulation is a tool for idea exploration. We gather a cast of thinkers, characters, and icons—living, dead, imagined—and drop them into a living conversation. Shakespeare next to Freud. A modern critic beside an influencer. A NASA engineer across from a poet.

It’s dialogue across time, perspective, and possibility.

We’re not just roleplaying. Each voice is shaped by history, behavior, and context, grounded in biography, sharpened by argument. The result? You don’t just learn about a topic. You see it debated. Challenged. Reframed.

The twist: You’re not just watching. You’re part of it. Ask follow-ups. Bring in new voices. Flip the script. Because sometimes, the fastest way to understand a complex idea is to hear it argued by the people who helped shape it. This isn’t magic. It’s a simulation. It’s storytelling. And it’s one of the most powerful ways to think out loud—with the help of history’s best conversationalists.

Quick side story, while studying Hamlet in high school, we were quizzed on Hecuba. Most of the class provided the Gilligan’s Island definition of Hecuba (which had aired the day before the quiz). I would have appreciated a tool like this in school. There was one curve breaker (literature nerd) in the class who read the footnotes and knew their mythology; the rest of us flunked.

🎯 Why Build a Simulator

The best way to learn isn't always through reading—it's through arguing. Simulators transform studying into sparring. They help you:

  • See a topic from multiple angles.
  • Navigate complex contradictions.
  • Develop our voice.
  • Challenge opposing viewpoints.
  • Extend discussions beyond the textbook.

Here's the best part: We are not just watching. We are part of it. Jump in. Question everything. Challenge ideas. Participate.

🧠 What Is Happening

When you run a simulator prompt, you trigger a roundtable. Here's how it unfolds:

Each character arrives with their worldview. They speak in their authentic voice, drawing from their works, psychology, politics, and experiences.

They talk to each other. They debate, challenge, and build on one another's ideas.

We can join in. Pause the simulation to ask questions, share perspectives, or prompt characters to clarify their thoughts or dig deeper.

We guide the evolution. Want a more philosophical tone? A fierier debate? A new voice at the table? Like a Dungeon Master for the intellect, you can steer the conversation where you wish.

There is no end. As long as the discussion remains engaging, we can keep the simulation alive for hours or days, resuming wherever you left off.

How To Build One

It only takes three parts:

Piece
What It Is
Example
Topic
The core question or scenario you want to explore
“Did Lady Macbeth go mad or fake it?”
Participants
A mix of experts, personas, critics, weirdos
Shakespeare, Freud, Feminist Critic, Gen-Z Student
Goal
What you hope to unpack or uncover
Explore power, madness, and gender roles

Once you’ve got those, you’re ready to generate.

💬 Two Case Study Prompts (Ready to Copy & Paste)

Shakespeare Lit Roundtable

Simulate a roundtable discussion on the topic: "Did Lady Macbeth really go mad, or was she playing the long game?" Participants include:
- William Shakespeare (defends his writing choices)
- Sigmund Freud (psychoanalyzes her behavior)
- A modern feminist critic
- A contemporary theater director
- A snarky Gen-Z English lit student

Have them introduce their views, respond to each other, and occasionally disagree. The tone should shift naturally between academic and conversational. Include quotes from the play when useful. End with a summary and open questions. I may ask follow-up questions—keep the conversation going.

Jury Deliberation on Whistleblower Case

Simulate a jury deliberation in a fictional case:

A whistleblower leaked confidential safety records exposing dangerous product defects. The leak saved lives but broke federal law. The whistleblower now faces trial.

Jurors:
- A retired federal judge
- A corporate compliance officer
- A civil liberties activist
- A small business owner
- A blue-collar worker
- A stay-at-home parent

Each juror should speak based on their background, challenge others, and weigh both legal and moral consequences. Include disagreements and shifts in opinion. Conclude with a final (not necessarily unanimous) verdict. I may ask to pause or add a new juror—be ready to continue.

Pro Tips to Keep the Magic Going

  • Add surprise guests: What if Donald Trump joined the jury? Or if Pope Leo XIV stepped into the roundtable?
  • Change the setting: Move the jury to the year 2124. Set the Shakespeare panel at Musk University on Mars.
  • Loop yourself in and ask: What if...?

Final Word

This isn't about finding "correct" answers—it's about stretching our minds with the unexpected. You don't need to be a scholar. You just need to be curious.

Next time you study, brainstorm, or daydream... Build the room where it happens. Then walk in.

Date
June 13, 2025
Sections
QU Observer
Types
Article