Philosophy

the word philosophy on a page of a dictionary

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 on Friday and Philosophy on Saturday workshops offer fascinating discussions on exploring moral dilemmas, the philosophy of punishment, or maybe the nature of love, suffering, liberty and freedom of speech.

Courses 2024/25

Introduction to Philosophy Part 1 (S10P)

Description: An introduction to Philosophy for beginners. Stimulating discussion about the meaning of life, the fundamental building blocks of the universe, Ethics, Epistemology. Can we know anything at all? Do we live in a Matrix? Does it matter?

Tutor: Leo Chaligha Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 19 Sep 2024 (Autumn) Times: Thu 19:00-21:00 Duration: 12 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £192 (Concession: £116)

Introduction to Philosophy Part 5 A (S16P)

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: 19 Sep 2024 (Autumn) Times: Thu 10:00-12:00 Duration: 12 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £192 (Concession: £116)

Introduction to Philosophy Part 4 A (S13P)

Description: Join the debate about our existential being in the world, its meaning and how these ideas have captured intellectual imagination and shaped human lives across the globe. This Part 4 A Philosophy course will explore further influential philosophical conceptions.

Tutor: Leo Chaligha Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 20 Sep 2024 (Autumn) Times: Fri 10:00-12:00 Duration: 12 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £192 (Concession: £116)

Philosophy on Saturdays - What counts as a meaningful life? (S19P)

Description: What different philosophers including Socrates, Kierkegaard, Camus and Susan Woolf say about what constitutes a meaningful life.

Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 12 Oct 2024 (Autumn) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Philosophy on Saturdays - The Philosophy of Happiness (S20P)

Description: In this workshop we will explore the views of Epicurus, Aristotle and Nozick on happiness and wellbeing. We will discuss the difference between pleasure and fulfilment and the limits of hedonism. We will examine the relationship between happiness, character and self -control

Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 09 Nov 2024 (Autumn) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Philosophy on Saturdays Exploring Justice: The Philosophy of Punishment (S21P)

Description: In this workshop we will examine the concepts of deterrence, retribution and restorative justice as well as exploring the concept of obedience

Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 23 Nov 2024 (Autumn) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Philosophy on Saturdays - What should I do? Exploring moral dilemmas using different approaches. (S22P)

Description: In this workshop we will explore two competing ethical principles that help us consider moral dilemmas. We will examine a famous thought experiment designed by Phillipa Foot and Judith Thompson and apply these principles to them.

Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 07 Dec 2024 (Autumn) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Introduction to Philosophy Part 2 (S11P)

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: 09 Jan 2025 (Spring) Times: Thu 19:00-21:00 Duration: 12 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £192 (Concession: £116)

Introduction to Philosophy Part 5 B (S17P)

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 2025 (Spring) Times: Thu 10:00-12:00 Duration: 12 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £192 (Concession: £116)

Introduction to Philosophy Part 4 B (S14P)

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: 10 Jan 2025 (Spring) Times: Fri 10:00-12:00 Duration: 12 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £192 (Concession: £116)

Philosophy on Saturdays - The Philosophy of Love (S23P)

Description: In this workshop we will examine some different perspectives on the nature of love. We will explore various 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: 08 Feb 2025 (Spring) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Philosophy on Saturdays - The Philosophy of Suffering (S24P)

Description: In this workshop we will explore what different Philosophers, including Camus, The Buddha, Schopenhauer and the Stoics, say about suffering and its relationship to meaning and happiness.

Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 22 Mar 2025 (Spring) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Introduction to Philosophy Part 3 (S12P)

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: 24 Apr 2025 (Summer) Times: Thu 19:00-21:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £160 (Concession: £96)

Introduction to Philosophy Part 5 C (S18P)

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 2025 (Summer) Times: Thu 10:00-12:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £160 (Concession: £96)

Introduction to Philosophy Part 4 C (S15P)

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: 25 Apr 2025 (Summer) Times: Fri 10:00-12:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £160 (Concession: £96)

Philosophy on Fridays Freedom: Is John Stuart Mill’s book ‘On Liberty’ still relevant today? (S25P)

Description: In this workshop we will explore the main principles of the book ‘On Liberty’. We will discuss how relevant Mill’s views of freedom of speech, action and character are in the social media-dominated world of today.

Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 25 Apr 2025 (Summer) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Philosophy on Fridays - What we can learn from Ancient Greek philosophers about self-control? (S26P)

Description: This workshop will explore what we can learn from Plato and Aristotle about self- control and self-discipline. We will discuss their ethical ideas and what these philosophers can tell us about harmony, purpose and self-improvement.

Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 09 May 2025 (Summer) Times: Fri 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Philosophy on Saturdays - Exploring Philosophical ‘thought experiments (S27P)

Description: In this interactive workshop we will discuss some well-known philosophical ’thought experiments’. These dilemmas and problems, which come from both Ancient and Modern Philosophy, will prompt you to examine carefully, think critically and explain your ideas.

Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 17 May 2025 (Summer) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

Philosophy on Saturdays - What does it mean to be selfish? (S28P)

Description: In this workshop we will explore the meaning of selfishness, hedonism, altruism and many other concepts. We will also discuss some of the themes of Iris Murdoch’s book, ‘The Sovereignty of Good’, and examine their relevance to our lives today.

Tutor: Jim Mepham Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 14 Jun 2025 (Summer) Times: Sat 10:00-15:00 Duration: 1 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £40 (Concession: £24)

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