| 2022 | NEW YEAR 2022 - Meetings on the 2nd Monday of the month | MEETING LOCATION |
| 10th January | The Philosophy of AI with reference to the 'Reith Lectures' | Zoom at 4pm |
| 14th February | THE CONCEPT OF SELF PART 1 – The issue of personal identity; questions such as "Who am I ?" "Am I the same person in different circumstances and over time?" Reference to Aristotle's notions of character and unity. (Presentation/discussion led by Pam) | St Michael’s at 2pm unless otherwise advised. |
| 14th March | THE CONCEPT OF SELF PART 2 – The focus will be on such questions as "Where does the essence of self lie?" "Is there such a thing as a soul?" "Is my identity a construct defined by myself and the response of others to me?” (Presentation/discussion led by Pam) | St Michael’s at 2pm unless otherwise advised. |
| 11th April | THE CONCEPT OF SELF PART 3 – The focus will be on such questions as "The problems of the Self". (Presentation/discussion led by Pam) | St Michael’s at 2pm unless otherwise advised. |
| 9th May | NO MEETING. |
| 13th June | Review by emails. | No meeting |
| 25th July - 4th Mon not 2nd | Special General Meeting to discuss options/future topics | St Michael’s at 2pm unless otherwise advised. |
| 8th August | NO MEETING – SUMMER BREAK |
| 12th September | Review of the first chapter of "The Ethics of Climate Change" by James Garvey. | St Michael’s at 2pm |
| 10th October | NO MEETING. | . |
| 14th November | Review of Chapter 2 of "The Ethics of Climate Change" | St Michael’s at 2pm |
| 12th December | Xmas review and meeting. | Member’s house at 2.30pm |
| 2021 | NEW YEAR 2021 |
| . | PHILOSOPHY – DURING COVID normally 2nd and 4th Mondays at 4pm by ZOOM unless otherwise stated |
| 11th January | NO MEETING |
| 25th January | Introducing Friedrich Nietzsche (Presentation/discussion led by Pam) | ZOOM |
| 8th February | Friedrich Nietzsche continued (Presentation/discussion led by Pam) | ZOOM |
| 22nd February | Friedrich Nietzsche continued (Presentation/discussion led by Pam) | ZOOM |
| 8th March | Happiness (5min presentations by each member) | ZOOM |
| 22nd March | Jeremy Bentham - an introduction (Research by members - Presentation/discussion led by Pam) | ZOOM |
| 12th April | More on Bentham leading to John Stuart Mill (Presentation/discussion led by Pam) | ZOOM |
| 26th April | John Stuart Mill (Presentation/discussion led by Pam) | ZOOM |
| 10th May | Thomas Pain(e) (Presentation/discussion led by Anne) | ZOOM |
| 24th May | Is 'Free Will' an illusion? (Presentation/discussion led by Bryn) |
| 14th June | 'Is there a dichotomy between Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence?' (Presentation/discussion led by John) | ZOOM |
| 28th June | 'A debate: MOTION: PHILOSOPHY HAS NO VALUE' (Proposed: Bryn, Seconded:Anne. Opposed: Pam, Seconded:John) | ZOOM |
| 12th July | NO MEETING |
| 26th July | Meeting to discuss possible topics going forward - VENUE AGREED SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION | LIVE MEETING and lunch 12:30pm |
| AUGUST | NO MEETING |
| . | MEETINGS NOW TO CONTINUE JUST ON 2nd Monday of the Month | 4th Mondays discontinued |
| 13th September | Discussion on 'Approaches to Philosophy' | Zoom at 4pm |
| 11th October | CANCELLED | . |
| 8th November | Philosophy of 'The Arts'. | Zoom at 4pm |
| 13th December | Philosophy of Wine, Venue may change - check with Group Coordinator | A member's home 2.00pm to 4pm |
| Date | PROGRAMME 2020 |
| 13th January: | No meeting |
| 27th January: | Hegel - history as an account of reality and search for truth. See Notes: Hegel. |
| 10th February: | Capitalist society and the alienation of man. A consideration of Marxist philosophy - prior to meeting, listen to: BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time 'Marx'. |
| 24th February: | Is Marx still relevant today in the age of globalisation? Looking at the Communist Manifesto. Read: Marx & Engels Communist Manifesto |
| 9th March: | MODERN PHILOSPOPHY: Famine, affluence and morality. Considering the work of Peter Singer with regard to applied ethics i.e. Charity and Giving. Pre-meeting Notes: Contemporary Philosophy: SessionOne |
| 23rd March: | MODERN PHILOSPOPHY: Is there a real you, a permanent self? Are you the same person in childhood, middle age and in the third age? Looking at the ideas of Julian Baggini? |
| . | PHILOSOPHY – DURING COVID normally 2nd and 4th Mondays at 4pm by ZOOM unless otherwise stated |
| Thursday 14th May | Bullshit (Presentation by Pam) | ZOOM |
| Thursday 21st May | Aspects of Chinese Philosophy, Part 1 (Presentation by John G) | ZOOM |
| Thursday 28th May | Evil (Presentation by Pam) | ZOOM |
| Monday 8th June | ‘Pornography’ (Presentation by Pam) | ZOOM |
| Monday 22nd June | ‘Beauty’ (Presentation by Pam) | ZOOM |
| Monday 13th July | The Black Swan (Presentation by Pam) – to start at 4:30pm NOT 4pm | ZOOM |
| Monday 27th July | A discussion of Hannah Arendt’s ideas as explained/discussed in Melvyn Bragg’s ‘In Our Time episode entitled – Hannah Arendt’. Hannah Arendt examined totalitarianism and politics when covering the Eichmann trial and explored 'the banality of evil'. Members to listen to the radio programme/podcast in advance of the meeting. Go to : In Our Time – Hannah Arendt. (Presentation by Pat) Presentation Notes: Hannah Arendt Presentation | ZOOM |
| . | AUGUST – NO MEETINGS PLANNED. |
| 14th September | A short presentation on Heiddigger (Arendt's one time lover) and discussion followed by a review of possible future programme. (Pam to present) | ZOOM |
| 28th September | More on Arendt and the nature of Evil (Pam/Pat) | ZOOM |
| 12th October | Buddhism (Presentation by Meryl) | ZOOM |
| 26th October | Chinese Philosophy Part 2 (Presentation by John) | ZOOM |
| 9th November | John-Paul Sartre (Presentation/discussion led by Pam) | ZOOM |
| 23rd November | Albert Camus (Presentation/discussion led by Pam) | ZOOM |
| 14th December | A topic from ‘Philosophy on Tap’ (Presentation/discussion led by Bryn) | ZOOM |
| Date | PROGRAMME 2019 |
| 14th January: | Jean Jacques Rousseau unravelled. A member presentation – followed by discussion. See: Rousseau - pre-meeting notes 06/01/2019 |
| 28th January: | A MATTER OF INTERPRETATION A member presentation – followed by discussion. Click on link for advanced reading. |
| 11th February: | Kant: Is good taste subjective or objective? A member presentation – followed by discussion. See: Taste - pre-meeting notes |
| 25th February: | ‘Aesthetics: Philosophy of the Arts’ A DVD presentation – followed by discussion. |
| 11th March: | General Philosophy – 01. A series of recorded lectures – followed by discussion. |
| 25th March: | Bertrand Russell. A member presentation – followed by discussion. For pre-meeting reading: Russell’s In Praise of Idleness |
| 8th April: | General Philosophy – 02. A series of recorded lectures – followed by discussion. |
| 22nd April: | BANK HOLIDAY – Easter Monday. NO MEETING. |
| 13th May: | MEETING postponed. |
| 27th May: | BANK HOLIDAY – Spring Bank Holiday. NO MEETING. |
| 10th June: | Audio-visual presentation relating to JOHN LOCKE, group members to carry out some pre-meeting investigations to supplement discussion. See: An Introduction to John Locke |
| 24th June: | A 'Listening and Discussion Session' relating to the BBC podcast of "In Our Time" with Melvyn Bragg. The podcast discusses KANT. A brief summary of Kant's work with discussion notes is accessed via the following link. See: KANT - pre-meeting notes |
| 8th July: | Continuation of previous meeting. The BBC podcast of "In Our Time" with Melvyn Bragg. The podcast discusses KANT. A brief summary of Kant's work with discussion notes is accessed via the following link. See: KANT - pre-meeting notes also Kant on Aesthetics |
| 22nd July: | NO MEETING |
| AUGUST: | NO MEETINGS |
| 9th September: | A 'Listening and Discussion Session' relating to the BBC podcast of "In Our time: DAVID HUME ". Some listening in advance could also be useful. Click on this link to access the podcast: In Our Time: DAVID HUME |
| 23rd September: | NO MEETING |
| 30th September: | Continuation of earlier meeting: In Our Time: DAVID HUME. Also read Hume Notes |
| 14th October: | Continuation of earlier meeting: In Our Time: DAVID HUME. Also read Hume Notes and with reference to some introduction to Karl Popper |
| 28th October: | Karl Popper: One of the 20th century's greatest philosophers of science. In Our Time: KARL POPPER. Also read these Karl Popper Notes |
| 11th November: | Max Weber: A member presentation – followed by discussion |
| 25th November: | Anarchy: Dual presentation by members – followed by discussion See: Anarchy - The Presentation |
| 9th December: | Anarchy continued |
| Date | PROGRAMME 2018 |
| 26th February: | Inaugural meeting of group. |
| 12th March: | Focus of group discussion to be ‘Socrates.’ |
| 26th March: | Focus of group discussion - to be Plato but with 'some reference back' to Socrates. Plato was a student of Socrates....& Socrates is usually the main character in many of Plato's writings...... |
| 9th April: | Focus of group discussion - a further insight into Plato with regard to three elements selected from his dialogues: |
| . | 1. Justice: whether an unjust act could be justified. |
| . | 2. Quality: the idea that the user defines the quality not the maker. |
| . | 3. Eros: views on love (the Symposium, the Thaedrus.) |
| 23rd April: | Focus of group discussion - Plato's ideas relating to Eros: views on love (the Symposium, the Phaedrus.) |
| 14th May: | Focus of group discussion – Aristotle - group members where practical to carry out some ‘General Review of Aristotle’ prior to meeting. See links showing on main page, including link to sub-page BACKGROUND INFORMATION & RESOURCES. |
| 28th May: | Bank Holiday - no meeting |
| 11th June: | Focus of group discussion – Aristotle - group members where practical to research any one of Aristotle's wide ranging interests, e.g. nature, politics, and bring some notes relating to this to help further inform the group & format the discussion. It doesn't matter if choices create some duplication. |
| 25th June: | Focus of group discussion – Aristotle’s system (Logic & the Organon) - group members where practical to carry out some research in advance prior to meeting. |
| 9th July: | Focus of group discussion – Members to choose a problem from their own modern day or working experience and relate its analysis to the Organon for discussion by the group. |
| 23rd July: | Focus of group discussion – A further look at Aristotle’s Theory of Knowledge. Also review & decision on topic(s) of future meetings. See notes under link NOTES ON PAST MEETINGS |
| August: | SUMMER BREAK |
| 10th September: | Focus of group discussion – To change from individual Philosophers to Philosophical issues. Discussion on the concept of “Free Will". This subject might take several sessions, but if the group so decide this can be changed. |
| 24th September: | Focus of group discussion – Continuation of previous discussion - 'The notion of Free Will: are we as individuals able to choose how we behave, given outside and individual constraints?' |
| 8th October: | Focus of group discussion – Continuation of previous discussion on the 'The notion of Free Will’ A general introduction is available on the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy website. See link: \'Free Will\', Stanford Encyclopedia. Also see outline notes relating to the same Notes on Free Will |
| 15th October: | Focus of group discussion – Continuation of previous discussion on the 'The notion of Free Will’ |
| 22nd October: | Focus of group discussion – Continuation of previous discussion on the 'The notion of Free Will’.For further background reading....see link: HAND OUTS - GROUP GENERATED NOTES. |
| 12th November: | Focus of group discussion – Continuation of previous discussion on the 'The notion of Free Will’.For further background reading....see link: HAND OUTS - GROUP GENERATED NOTES. |
| 26th November: | Focus of group discussion – Laplace, it is possible to predict the future? A member presentation – followed by discussion. See link Laplace - summary notes, ALSO link Laplace - Presentation Notes 26/11/18 |
| 10th December: | Pooh and the Philosophers. End of year meeting – bring snacks/pies & something you’d like to drink. All current & previous attendees welcome.# See this link for notes: Pooh Bear background notes. |
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