| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Coordinator: | |
| Coordinator: | |
| Group email: | Philosophy group |
| When: | Monthly on Wednesday mornings 10:00am-11:30am 1st Wednesday. Refreshments from 09:30. No meeting in August. |
| Venue: | Abbot Hall Social Centre |
| Cost: | £2.00 each meting |
This is a study-group for interested amateurs, or retired professionals. All are welcome.
Our usual format is to have a talk; we then discuss questions related to it in small groups followed by a plenary. We don't usually come to a conclusion but have a lot of fun trying!
Topics range from consideration of the views of individual philosophers, to ethical questions pertinant to today. For example, in September (unusually on the second week to avoid a clash with the open meeting) we''ll be asking 'Why do Philosophers bang on about tables?' - a good introduction.
Image by Top 10 website
Useful books to introduce newcomers
- The Story of Philosophy by Bryan Magee (Dorling Kindersley hardback 1998, softback 2001 and later editions). This is an excellent and readable overview of western philosophy.
- The Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy Ed. Thomas Mautner (Penguin 1997 and later editions). This is a very useful complement to an historical account.
- The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain de Botton (Penguin 2001). In his books and TV programmes,
- Philosophy for Dummies by Tom Morris (Wiley, New York, 1999). This is an engaging account, written with humour and insight, and so complements the other books mentioned.