Thinking

PHILOSOPHY AS THERAPY

We know that philosophy can help us to think better but can it also help us to feel better? In this day long intensive workshop Mark Vernon will be guiding us through some of the life lessons that we can learn from the great philosophers. Showing us how far from being the pursuit of rational thought to its own end, many of the most interesting and challenging philosophical theories are not only relevant to modern life but can also give us guidance on how best to navigate our way through many of our most personal life questions.

The day will be centred on 6 main areas of discussion.

Philosophy of Anxiety and Equanimity

Disquiet and uneasiness are part of the human condition, and have therefore been high on the agenda of many philosophers, seeking steadiness and equanimity. The Stoics aimed at trust. The Epicureans at balance. The modern sense of self adds personal understanding and introspection. We will explore a variety of responses to anxiety and ask what we can hope for and which might suit us best.

Philosophy of Love and Friendship

No-one can say they have lived well without love and friendship, argued Aristotle, and philosophers before and since who have struggled with what it is to be human and live the good life have always placed love and friendship centre stage. They have wondered about the nature of these loves; how they operate; what they offer; where they fall down. We will seek their wisdom and ask how it might be applied.

Philosophy of Happiness and Flourishing

It might seem obvious that human beings desire happiness, and some philosophers in the modern world have placed it at the top of the list. And yet, there is another tradition that proposes not worrying too much about pleasant and elated states, but seeking instead what it is to flourish - a quest that might also involve pain. We will weigh up the pros and cons, and quiz the notion of happiness as a goal.

Philosophy of Spirit and Soul

It is no surprise that an age which knows the value and power of science finds it hard to address questions of spirit. Our lack of balance would have surprised most philosophers in history who viewed the material, embodied world as just one manifestation of a deeper stream or current of life that can be spoken of as soul. We will ask what has been lost and what might be gained by exploring the more implicit dimensions of human experience.

Philosophy of Emptiness and Meaningfulness

Individuals may well first turn to philosophy seeking a sense of meaning, and philosophers have much to say about purposefulness and futility - that they have to do with an educated heart as well as head; that emptiness and meaningfulness are perhaps surprisingly linked. A key thought is that meaning is discovered in the midst of life, arising from your way of life - another part of this evening's reflections.

Philosophy of Belonging and Place

Who I am is the central question for modern individuals. But before autonomy and self-sufficiency were such exclusively prized goals, asking where you are was as crucial. It made sense because human beings knew themselves not as islands but as connected. To be a person and have a place was to be porous to and supported by the processes of life. We will explore these collective dimensions of existence.