Philosophy
Co-ordinators: Liz Kelly and Sue Venfield
Meetings: Monthly, 1st Wednesday 10:00-11:30am. Abbot Hall Social Centre
This is a study-group for interested amateurs, or retired professionals. All are welcome.
There is generally a presentation on the topic followed by small group discussions which are then shared. I've never known us reach a conclusion!
Our way of working is to select topics of interest and invite a member (or members) of the group to research the subject and then present with a talk of 20 minutes or so on that subject. The members are then invited to discuss and comment on the topic. As we are all learning to a greater or lesser extent an absence of previous knowledge of a subject is certainly no bar to taking on a presentation!
We encourage contributions from all but equally recognise that some wish just to listen. All views are welcome. Philosophers never expect to end up agreeing on much!
The following books may be useful for newcomers to the subject:
- 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.