PHILOSOPHY 1
If you wish to join a group always supply your membership number. If you are not a member please remember to include your telephone number.
Philosophy - 1
To message the Leader click Philosophy 1 . If you are not a member please remember to include your telephone number.
10.00 - 12.00 alternate Tuesdays. We link current moral dilemmas to the writings of key philosophers.
We meet at the group leaders house in Claygate
The Leaders say:
"We currently have 12 on our register, average turnout around 9 or 10, which is ideal for the sort of discussion we have. Consequently, we cannot take new members, but there is a waiting list.
The group was formed almost ten years ago after the Leaders had completed a post retirement degree in Philosophy at Birkbeck College, and found that the Elmbridge U3A Philosophy group at the time was full.Over time we have covered most areas of philosophy, including ethics, epistemology/ nature and sources of knowledge, logic, perception, political philosophy, aesthetics and Greek philosophy.
Group leaders give an overview of a topic to begin the meeting then facilitate discussion. We focus most on aspects of philosophy that have the greatest relevance for how we can best live our lives today; this has meant placing more emphasis on ethics than on other areas of philosophy.
In advance of each meeting group leaders email the group with suggested reading and often a relevant podcast so members have researched a topic and come to the meeting ready to share thoughts and ideas. Examples of moral dilemmas covered range from the need or otherwise to limit research into, and development of, artificial intelligence, the issue of voluntary euthanasia and whether advertising should be more strictly regulated.
But rest assured, however serious the topic might sound there’s always lots of laughter to be heard in group meetings. And the more laughter there is, the more relaxed people are, and the better the ideas and insights generated!
The way we investigate and discuss philosophical issues will undoubtedly continue to evolve, based on the preferences and needs of group members.