Philosophy

Group details

“Philosophy begins with a sense of wonder” as Plato said many centuries ago. How right he was! Our philosophy group has been enjoying the wonders of the mind, exploring the ideas of Socrates, Democritus, Plato, St Augustine, Aquinas and many other great men. At the same time, we are finding out about their life and times, giving real insights into the history of Western civilisation.

During 2023, we took on the subject of Ethics – that great question of “How should we live?”  We ranged from the clear moral instruction of Aristotle, through Jewish & Christian ways of thinking, to the modern approach arising from Hume, Kant, Mill and other Enlightenment philosophers.  This year, our main subject is Plato, his life and philosophy as expressed in the Socratic dialogues.  Although written 2,400 years ago, their vitality and depth of understanding of the human condition still resonate today.

You don’t need to have studied the subject before to join us. You just need an enquiring mind, and a desire to understand the things of life a little more deeply. The tradition of philosophy we are studying is rich and rewarding indeed. New members welcome – please contact Gary Chamberlin for further details.