Philosophy For All London

This month: A married couple’s decision to separate sets off a chain of events that entangles family duty, truth-telling, class tension, religious conscience, and the fragile trust between strangers. As each person struggles to act rightly within constraints they did not choose, conflicting accounts and partial truths emerge, leaving us unsure not only what happened, but what justice would require. This quietly gripping drama invites us to ask: when responsibilities collide, is there such a thing as a clean moral choice, or only degrees of harm we must learn to live with? Can you guess the film? Or come and find out on the day!

This year’s films all revolve around the theme of “choice” – plenty of opportunity for philosophical exploration!

PFA Film Club hosts free screenings of thought-provoking films, followed by a discussion about the raised philosophical issues, for general public. In 2026 meetings are held every third WEDNESDAY of the month at the Cafe of St. Hilda's East Community Centre, 18 Club Row, London E2 7EY. The nearest station is Shoreditch High Street on the Overground. The screening starts at 6:30 pm (or at 6pm for longer films) and we need to vacate the building by 9:00pm. We offer complimentary light refreshments during the event.

ATTEND IN PERSON OR ON ZOOM
NB This event takes place on Tuesday as Monday is a public holiday in the UK

Enlightened Self-Interest - The Moral Philosophy of Adam Smith

On April 7, meet at Kant's Cave to listen to Sean O'Connor talking about the moral philosophy of Adam Smith. Smith is often portrayed as the philosopher of selfishness and free markets. But was he really? In fact, Smith was first and foremost a moral philosopher, deeply interested in sympathy, human motivation, and how people cooperate in society. Drawing on close observation of human behaviour, his work offers a far richer view of self-interest than the stereotype suggests. In this talk, Sean O’Connor will introduce Smith’s ideas and explores what they reveal about morality, self-interest, and human cooperation today.

Event video teaser: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Mfx-yPp-bD0

Sean O’Connor spent over twenty years as an advertising executive before becoming a serial entrepreneur, assembler of private equity projects, investor and corporate strategist. He has been the Chairman of a number of public and private companies and a director of many others. His acclaimed novel, The Prisoner’s Dilemma, was published in 2013 and his four-volume series, The Secrets of Life: From Big Bang to Trump appeared throughout 2023.

Every first Monday of the month (or Tuesday if Monday falls on a bank holiday in the UK), Philosophy For All invites its members and guests to attend Kant's Cave for a lecture, debate and social evening. This is a free event which takes place at 19:30 in the upstairs bar at the Two Chairmen, 39 Dartmouth Street, SW1H 9BP, London, but could also be joined online via Zoom.

Kant's Cave events are supported by The Royal Institute of Philosophy's Local Partners Programme. More about TRIP: https://royalinstitutephilosophy.org/