What's a good way to guide and promote intellectual conversation?

Make sure they’re interested in whatever it is you want to discuss.

I think a bit part of starting off intellectual conversations is choosing a topic that is interesting to all parties. If something’s not interesting, they probably won’t have much to say about it.

As for keeping people engaged, I believe it’s important to address everyone who wants to participate, or at least give everyone the opportunity for elaboration. A lot of ‘intellectual’ conversation (or any conversation, really) happens because of interaction.

i ask things like, “what is the one thing in your life you’d never give up?”, or “name your top 5 experiences to date”. obviously its contextual and you have to make it sound natural, but generally its a good way to get people to open up and often stimulates interesting convos!

qid pro quo?

tit for tat -

Never let a chance of an interesting observation to go unused. Especially if it’s funny. The tone you set, might be reciprocated. This generally will not work with small animals and cats, it might work with crows, and dolphins.

Eventually you will run into someone else who asks questions that make people nervous.

You also should watch repo man, and give thought to generic food, and a piece of pie.

When trying to engage in intellectual conversation always remember not to hold back. As those questions you so desperately think about, but never address. Be honest tell the person what you think, see what they have to say in return and reciprocate with what comes to mind. A good conversation can only be had if it is open and upfront.

First of all, you have to pay good attention to what the other person is saying. Listen well, and think about the consciousness behind the remarks. Anything can be a springboard to intellectual conversation. Use your gift of insight to go beyond the obvious.

Second, have something to bring to it. Read. Think. Pay attention to the world and what goes on in it. Never let yourself be caught be without an interesting question.

Third, assimilate, correlate, integrate, interpolate, extrapolate. Put what you have together with what others offer you. Make something new.

Don’t think about trying to impress anyone, entertain anyone, or persuade anyone. Just bring out what you have and let it meet what the other person has. Alchemy will do the rest.

I believe that you might actually learn a lot about the answer you seek here. Notice how many responses you have recieved and reflect on that. Was your question all that interesting? What improvements could you have made in asking?

Further, I believe that in starting a good conversation starts with a good observational outlook on a subject so as to embark on a natural flow of conversation.

Also, on the matter of engagement, questions I think should be asked of all parties so the thought processes will not cease.