Philosophical Practices

Philosophy is not just an abstract pursuit - it is a way of living.

Modern analytical philosophy often focuses solely on theories about reality, morality, and culture. Even “practical philosophy” spends more time on theory than the actual practices of our lives. Ancient philosophers, however, understood philosophy as a practice for life itself. They saw philosophers as therapists, doctors, or guides. Socrates likened himself to a “midwife”, practicing particular skills in order to help others give birth to wisdom and a deeper understanding of themselves. For them, philosophy was about transformation.

Philosophical Practices are about bringing philosophy to life, developing skills that are both enjoyable and transformational. These sessions combine ancient traditions of meditation and the socratic method with modern practices such as authentic relating. They will also feature talks that share the philosophy and science supporting these arts. Each activity is designed to cultivate skills that enhance clarity and connectivity with the world, ourselves, and each other - making us better people and better philosophers.

Course dates and location

The sessions will take place across four Tuesday evenings in May and June. All sessions will be held in person at The Birmingham and Midland Institute.

1. What is Practice? - Tuesday 20 May, 6.30 - 9.30 pm
2. Philia: Authentic Relating - Tuesday 27 May, 6.30 - 9.30 pm
3. Sophia: Collective Wisdom - Tuesday 10 June, 6.30 - 9.30 pm
4. Philosophy: Bringing It Together - Tuesday 17 June, 6.30 - 9.30 pm

Ticketing

Where possible, we would encourage participants to attend all four sessions to build your knowledge and experience in engaging with the full range of transformative practices. The cost of attending all four sessions is £40.

To register for the full course, please purchase the 'full course' option for the session on 20th May, and we will register you for all following sessions. Alternatively, single sessions can be attended at a cost of £15 per event.

Find out more about The Philosophers's Yard or about our other philosophy events on our website.