Philosophy courses are stimulating and enjoyable courses covering the major philosophical trends and contributions made by the great minds of our time.
Keep your mind active, challenge your ideas about the world around us and see the meaning of our existence from different perspectives.
As well as our longer philosophy courses we have series of Philosophy for Everyday Life – Saturday workshops which offer fascinating discussions on exploring moral dilemmas, the philosophy of justice, or maybe the nature of love, free will, living better lives and pleasure.
Courses 2025/26
Introduction to Philosophy Part 1 (SLC1)
Description: An introduction to Philosophy for beginners Join us in this fascinating journey through the History of Western Philosophy. Starting with the pre-Socratic period, Classic Greek Philosophy and Christian Philosophy, from Jesus to the Scholastic medieval philosophy of St Thomas Aquinas.
Tutor: Leo Chaligha Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 11 Sep 2025 (Autumn) Times: Thu 10:00-12:00 Duration: 12 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £198 (Concession: £120)
Find Out MoreIntroduction to Philosophy Part 4 A (SLC4A)
Description: This Part 4 A Philosophy course will explore further influential philosophical conceptions such as the Socratic legacy over the centuries, Postmodernism, Individualism in context of Theism and Nihilism.
Tutor: Leo Chaligha Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 11 Sep 2025 (Autumn) Times: Thu 19:00-21:00 Duration: 12 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £198 (Concession: £120)
Find Out MoreIntroduction to Philosophy Part 5 A (SLC5A)
Description: This course will be an Intellectually stimulating journey across various philosophical topics with fascinating discussions about knowledge and the ultimate meaning of life. This Part 5 A Philosophy course will continue to further explore fundamental philosophical concepts and questions.
Tutor: Leo Chaligha Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 12 Sep 2025 (Autumn) Times: Fri 10:00-12:00 Duration: 12 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £198 (Concession: £120)
Find Out MorePhilosophy for everyday life - What counts as a meaningful life? (SJM1)
Description: In this workshop we will explore what different philosophers, including Socrates, Kierkegaard, Camus, and Susan Woolf, say about what constitutes a meaningful life. We will explore the themes of purpose, significance and fulfilment, as well as the idea that there is no inherent meaning in life.
Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 11 Oct 2025 (Autumn) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £42 (Concession: £26)
Find Out MorePhilosophy for everyday life - Do you have free will and does it matter? (SJM2)
Description: In this workshop we will explore whether we have free will and whether it matters. We will discuss the arguments for free will and determinism and look at the issue of free will and responsibility. We will examine the impact of these theories on a range of issues like punishment.
Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 08 Nov 2025 (Autumn) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £42 (Concession: £26)
Find Out MorePhilosophy for everyday life - Is there anything more important than pleasure? – The ideas of Epicurus (SJM3)
Description: In this workshop we will explore the ideas of the Ancient Greek Philosopher-Epicurus. We will discuss what he meant by hedonism and why he thought pleasure should be the guide to living your life.
Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 22 Nov 2025 (Autumn) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £42 (Concession: £26)
Find Out MorePhilosophy for everyday life - What is good and bad, right and wrong? (SJM4)
Description: In this workshop we will explore some different ethical theories which explain ‘good and bad, right and wrong’. We will discuss a range of moral issues and dilemmas and identify some explanations of the basis of morality.
Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 06 Dec 2025 (Autumn) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £42 (Concession: £26)
Find Out MoreIntroduction to Philosophy Part 2 (SLC2)
Description: This is a fantastic course for anyone who would like to learn about the history of philosophy and is interested in critical thinking. This course will follow on from Part 1; students can join without having attended Part 1.
Tutor: Leo Chaligha Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 08 Jan 2026 (Spring) Times: Thu 10:00-12:00 Duration: 12 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £198 (Concession: £120)
Find Out MoreIntroduction to Philosophy Part 4 B (SLC4B)
Description: We will continue our fascinating discussion about human knowledge, its value and the meaning and position our human life in the universe. This Part 4 B Philosophy course will explore further influential philosophical conceptions
Tutor: Leo Chaligha Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 08 Jan 2026 (Spring) Times: Thu 19:00-21:00 Duration: 12 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £198 (Concession: £120)
Find Out MoreIntroduction to Philosophy Part 5 B (SLC5B)
Description: This course will be an Intellectually stimulating journey across various philosophical topics with fascinating discussions about knowledge and the ultimate meaning of life. This Part 5 B Philosophy course will continue to further explore fundamental philosophical concepts and questions.
Tutor: Leo Chaligha Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 09 Jan 2026 (Spring) Times: Fri 10:00-12:00 Duration: 11 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £182 (Concession: £116)
Find Out MorePhilosophy for everyday life - What is love? (SJM5)
Description: In this workshop we will examine some different perspectives on the nature of love. We will explore a range of forms of love discussed by Philosophers such as Erich Fromm, Plato and Simone de Beauvoir and consider how these can enrich and deepen our understanding.
Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 07 Feb 2026 (Spring) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £42 (Concession: £26)
Find Out MorePhilosophy for everyday life - What is justice? (SJM6)
Description: We will examine some different perspectives on the nature of Justice, consider what it means to be just and explore some challenging ethical dilemmas. There will be an opportunity to discuss the ideas of Plato and Socrates as well as exploring the theories of utilitarianism and deontology.
Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 07 Mar 2026 (Spring) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £42 (Concession: £26)
Find Out MorePhilosoph for everyday life- How we know what is real? (SJM7)
Description: "In this workshop we will explore the question- How do we know what is real? This is an important question in a world where misinformation, ‘fake news’ and relativism seem prominent. This workshop will explore the concepts of reality, knowledge and doubt."
Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 21 Mar 2026 (Spring) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £42 (Concession: £26)
Find Out MoreIntroduction to Philosophy Part 3 (SLC3)
Description: Political philosophy and the challenges of Democracy, Installation theory, Philosophical feminism, behavioural philosophy, Consciousness and Ethics, and many other critical thinking topics. This course will follow on from Part 2; students can join without having attended Part 1 and 2.
Tutor: Leo Chaligha Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 23 Apr 2026 (Summer) Times: Thu 10:00-12:00 Duration: 10 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)
Find Out MoreIntroduction to Philosophy Part 4 C (SLC4C)
Description: We will continue our fascinating discussion about human knowledge, its value and the meaning and position our human life in the universe. This Part 4 C Philosophy course will explore further influential philosophical conceptions
Tutor: Leo Chaligha Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 23 Apr 2026 (Summer) Times: Thu 19:00-21:00 Duration: 10 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)
Find Out MoreIntroduction to Philosophy Part 5 C (SLC5C)
Description: This course will be an Intellectually stimulating journey across various philosophical topics with fascinating discussions about knowledge and the ultimate meaning of life. This Part 5 C Philosophy course will continue to further explore fundamental philosophical concepts and questions.
Tutor: Leo Chaligha Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 24 Apr 2026 (Summer) Times: Fri 10:00-12:00 Duration: 10 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)
Find Out MorePhilosophy for everyday life - Why are so few famous Philosophers women? (SJM8)
Description: We will explore the ideas of some key women philosophers including Hannah Arendt, Simone De Beauvoir, Phillippa Foot and Martha Nussbaum. Their ideas will relate to ethics, authority, politics and relationships.
Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 16 May 2026 (Summer) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £42 (Concession: £26)
Find Out MorePhilosophy for everyday life - How can we live better lives? (SJM9)
Description: We will explore some of the key ideas of Aristotle, Sartre, Nietzsche and some modern thinkers who give us an idea of what constitutes human flourishing.
Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)
Start Date: 13 Jun 2026 (Summer) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)
Availability: Places available Fee: £42 (Concession: £26)
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