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The group which has been in existence for over five years  is limited to twelve in number and we currently ( summer 2005) have nine members   of whom  around   seven or so  attend   regularly. This size of group allows vigorous and  enthusiastic  discussion in the monthly meetings.  We meet  in the convenor’s house on the third Thursday  of each month at 2.15 pm. 

Philosophy as a field of  study is not  easy to define or describe but whatever else it is, it requires discussion among informed  persons who are willing and able to ask questions and demand answers  of the other participants. Clearly some members are better informed and more experienced than others   and due allowance is  made for  those starting their study. But  all participants are expected to have a basic understanding of  each topic and to engage in discussion. To this end the group is organised as follows:

1.      a topic is agreed in advance by the group

2.      a particular book on the topic is agreed to be the basis of discussion

3.      no book is allowed to spread over more than six  sessions

4.      most books take three-four sessions ( monthly meetings)

5.      all participants are expected to have read the months chapter(s)

6.      everyone  joins in the debate

7.      the convenor usually  circulates some notes on the topic

8.      members are  encouraged to write their comments and circulate them

 What topics do we study?  We  address  some of the  central  issues in philosophy and we rarely stray into ‘applied’ or ‘ social’  concerns.  So, we have studied the question of ‘How can I  know  x ,  what  does it mean to ‘know’ x , and  can I know x for certain?’  Epistemology or the theory of  Knowledge is one of the central areas of philosophy.   We have also looked at another central topic- Ethics – how should I live?  What criterion (ia)  should be the basis of  moral standards?. And we have considered both the history of philosophical thought from the Greeks to modern philosophy and  worked our way through  some introductions to modern philosophy. Other topics include:

 1.      political philosophy

2.      the problem of freewill

3.      ancient philosophy

4.      Bertrand Russell

 No doubt we shall attempt the mind-body problem;  mind and consciousness;  the problem of causation;  philosophy of  language ; and  some accounts of individual philosophers such as Kant and Hume over the next few years.

 For further information  please contact the current convenor