What we’re about
Philosophy Cafe London is a discussion group, open to all, based on the idea that philosophy is about justifying our beliefs through reason, not merely opinions, emotions or appeals to authority.
The ethos:
- Combine a wide range of philosophical conversations and enquiry within an informal setting
- Provide a space where all members have a chance to actively engage in the exchange of ideas and views as part of a social evening.
Upcoming events (4)
See all- Is Reason 'The Slave of the Passions'?The Square Pig, Holborn, London
Western philosophy has long celebrated reason as the highest faculty guiding human thought and action—from Plato’s ideal of the rational soul to Kant’s moral imperatives.
Philosopher David Hume famously challenged this view, claiming that “reason is, and ought only to be, the slave of the passions.”
This meetup invites you to explore and question the primacy of reason: Is reason truly in control, or are we guided by e.g. emotions or intuitions?
Where: Downstairs room, Square Pig, Holborn (private room)
Format: Short intro → vote on questions → small-group discussion → share ideas with the group
Keep in touch: Join our Philosophy Café Discord to continue the conversation anytime → https://discord.gg/Ssh2bjxR - "Love is Evil" - ŽižekThe Square Pig, Holborn, London
It’s no use
Mother dear, I
Can’t finish my
Weaving.
You may
Blame Aphrodite—
Soft as she is,
She has nearly slain me
With longing for my beloved.— Sappho, c. 600 BCE
Love can shatter our routines, our reason, and even our sense of fairness. Philosopher Slavoj Žižek calls it “immoral” — not because it’s bad, but because it breaks the moral rule that we should treat everyone equally.
This week’s theme comes from a short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg7qdowoemo. We’ll ask: does love inevitably pull us away from moral ideals, or is that very partiality what makes it so powerful?
Where: Downstairs room, Square Pig, Holborn (private room)
Format: 10-minute intro talk → vote on questions → small-group discussion → share insights with the whole room
Keep in touch: Join our Philosophy Café Discord to continue the conversation anytime → https://discord.gg/Ssh2bjxR
