Seminar: Practical Philosophy for Navigating Difficult Times

This is a ticketed event, advance tickets can be purchased via eventbrite here.

When we are faced with rapid changes, uncertainty and great challenges, the pursuit of philosophy can feel like a luxury we don't have time for. But it is precisely in difficult times that philosophy rises to its oldest purpose/function - as the art of living wisely amid hardship. Humanity has passed through many times of hardship and accumulated an enormous treasure of wisdom along the way. The comparative study of Eastern and Western philosophies enables us to extract the timeless wisdom that can help us make wise choices, act with integrity and find sustainable solutions to our current problems.

For this seminar, we have distilled some key concepts of the philosophies of East and West into the three 'paths' of the hero, the citizen and the sage. These three archetypes are three models for living well and each archetype provides a crucial lens through which to face both personal and collective difficulties.

• The Inner Hero embodies the courage needed for action.
• The Inner Citizen represents our responsibility to the community.
• The Inner Sage offers the wisdom to gain perspective.

Practical philosophy acts like a bridge, connecting these three archetypes with the topics of ethics, sociopolitics and philosophy of history. By integrating these three roles, we can become more resilient, responsible and wise.

Admission: £35 (£20 concessions), light refreshments included