We are a small and friendly group. We are not
experts: we are exploring and learning together.
Talks and discussions start at about 10.30 am but we get together for coffee or tea at 10.00 am. We finish at 12.00 noon.
Background
When we started, in January 2005, the way we operated was that for each session someone volunteered to
choose and present a topic, which was then followed by some discussion.
In May 2007 we started to use the book
Philosophy - Basic Readings (Second Edition)
edited by Nigel Warburton (Routledge, 2005). This is an anthology
of writings by many different philosophers. We chose a chapter to
read before each meeting, and used this as the basis for our discussion. One of us took
responsibility for structuring the discussion, but there was no need for that person
to prepare a presentation and there was much more time for everyone to have their say
in the meeting.
From June to November 2009, we discussed some topics raised in
the "Grayling's Question" column in Prospect Magazine.
Since December 2009, we have been working through the main philsophers from the pre-Socratics up to the present. As a guide, we are using Philosophy - 100 Essential Thinkers by Philip Stokes (Arcturus, 2004 paperback edition) (available from AbeBooks). A good book to supplement this is History of Western Philosophy, the classic text by Bertrand Russell.
Our current provisional programme is given below.
| 11 Jan 2012 | Hume and God | Bren |
| 25 Jan 2012 | Jean-Jacques Rousseau | Rosemary |
| 8 Feb 2012 | Baron d'Holbach | Mary |
| 22 Feb 2012 | Baron de Montesquieu | Tessa |
| 14 Mar 2012 |
Adam Smith Morality |
Bren |
| 28 Mar 2012 | Jeremy Bentham |
Rosemary Brenda |
| 11 Apr 2012 |
Adam Smith Wealth of Nations |
Eileen Martin |
| 25 Apr 2012 | Richard Price | Hywel |
| 9 May 2012 | Jos. Priestley | Sheila |
| 23 May 2012 | Thomas Paine | John |
| 13 Jun 2012 | Mary Wollstonecraft | Leslie |
| 27 Jun 2012 |
Immanuel Kant Pure Reason |
Derek |
| 11 Jul 2012 |
Immanuel Kant Practical Reason and Judgement |
Derek |