Intellectual Discussions

This **in-person theatre** and **livestream** talk is available online from Gresham College to Basingstoke Science subscribers. **ADVANCE BOOKING AND PAYMENT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TALK.** **More details and booking instructions on the Gresham web site:** **[https://www.gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/pluto-planet](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/pluto-planet)** **SUMMARY** #### Part of: **[The State of Our Universe](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/series/state-universe)** In 2006, the International Astronomical Union adopted a definition of a planet that demoted Pluto to just one of what is likely hundreds of dwarf planets in our Solar System. Exploring the remote Kuiper Belt, this lecture challenges us to think about what kinds of scientific questions are worth our attention, what it means to name something – and why Pluto is worth caring about anyway. **LIVESTREAM TIMING** **The livestream will go live at 6.55pm, and the introduction will begin at 7.00pm. If you register but miss the livestream, the video will be available to you via the same link for two weeks after the event date.** For more information on livestreams, see the information below, or [visit our FAQs page](https://www.rigb.org/whats/faqs-ri-livestreams). Please use the event link you have been provided with. Gresham College has offered an outstanding education to the public free of charge for over 400 years. Today, Gresham College plays an important role in fostering a love of learning and a greater understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Please consider making a donation on their web site to support the work of Gresham College.

We have reserved the Chicester Room in ther pub for us . Please ask for Philosophy cafe at the door and they will direct you . We like to break into small groups and have a healthy discussion about life , philosophy and ideas . We break out into groups of 6 to discuss three questions over 45min to 1 hour; and then spend another 45min feeding back into the main group. The three topics are chosen on the day by vote, and largely derived from suggestions on the day. We welcome new ideas , so please come up with suggestions or topics that you want to talk about . There is no specific topic list and you do not need to read or know anything particular about philosophy . The official time is 7-9: 30 pm , but we usually go into a pub mode after 9:30 pm and continue our discusssions.

The International Cafe is a warm, welcoming space where people from all backgrounds come together to make friends, practice English, and have fun in a relaxed setting. Whether you're new to the area or just looking to connect, it’s a great place to meet people, share cultures, and enjoy conversation, games, and activities. come join our friendly international community!

Our monthly pub evenings are always a great opportunity to meet interesting people, chat, do a little networking, and enjoy a fun evening out. Whether you’re new to Humanism or already a member, this is a fantastic space for anyone who is non-religious, questioning their beliefs, or open-minded and looking to mingle. **Time: From 6pm** Feel free to join us whenever you’re able to – we’re often there until closing time. **Venue: Somers Town Coffee House** A lovely pub, close to Euston & Kings Cross stations. You’ll find us towards the back of the pub, on the left of the bar – look out for the Humanist signs on the tables. **What we talk about:** The conversations are different every time – from current events to humanism and secularism, with plenty of good laughs in between! If there’s something specific you’d like to talk about, we’d love to hear about it. We kindly request a contribution of £3 for our events to help cover our online and general costs. This can be paid by card or cash on the day. Those on low incomes can pay what you can afford. First-timers are welcome to join us for free. We encourage dialogue, debate, and sharing of information at our events but ask people to keep their interactions cordial. Any views expressed are those of the individual sharing them and may not reflect those of CLH. More about the venue: All indoor facilities are wheelchair-friendly/accessible. Free Wi-fi is available. It’s easy to reach – close to Euston and Kings Cross stations, and on 18 different bus routes! View a map [here](https://g.page/Somerstowncoffeehouse?share) More about Humanism: https://www.centrallondonhumanists.org.uk/about-humanism/ We look forward to seeing you!

A laid-back lunchtime of friendly chess - in The Atrium Cafe of The Imperial Hotel across the road, due to rain). Whether you're new in town and looking to meet new people, craving some social games, or live/work/study nearby, all are welcome. Please don't bring outside food/drinks and buy something, so we can use the venue - one coffee would be fine, or anything you like - the food is good. This will be a hosted event - if you're the first to arrive, you'll see your host sitting at one of the chess tables with a chess set. Feel free to write in the event to confirm you're going and encourage others to come along. Most of those attending are from other social media groups, so numbers are usually higher than they appear here. Have fun! :)

Join us for open minded discussions and the opportunity to learn from other people's perspectives and life experiences. This episode will explore the topic of 'COURAGE' by way of three original thought experiments. This episode's thought experiments are written by TEiP regular, Dipa, and will be posted in the comments below on the day of the event. Hawkins Forge embodies our values: warm, welcoming, convivial, and a home to deep thinkers. The pub has boardgames and cards for the after party, and they’ve also **kindly offered us a deal on their Arrowsmiths Darts experience**: **30 minutes free for anyone who buys a drink after the event**. Spaces are limited, so get your ticket early if you want to be there 😊 **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DapwAXpnOHO5DRYThobpe4)** \- stay in the loop **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs/)** \- see what we look like \(including The People of TEiP project\) **[SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/)** \- sign up for the newsletter and more **The idea:** A chance to meet and talk meaningfully about thought provoking topics. **How we'll do it** (timings approximate): * 7:00pm - Arrive at Hawkins Forge. We'll be in the private dining room - ask at the bar if you can't find us. * Organise ourselves into small groups (3-4) * Have a look at the **thought experiments** (announced on the day of the event) * 7:15 - First rotation begins - Talk about the first thought experiment, but feel free to pursue tangents and anecdotes. * 7:35 - Optional reshuffle: swap groups, move on to the second thought experiment. * 8:00 - Optional reshuffle: swap groups, move on to the third thought experiment. * 8:25pm - Wrap up - hear about upcoming events, feedback/requests for future meetups. * 8:30 Meetup ‘ends’. But feel free to carry on conversations. Usually a lot of us stay until late :-) **Notes on the general atmosphere**: * The vibe is to let conversation flow rather than stick strictly to one topic. * While we'd like to talk about 'meaningful things', we also see the value in lighter topics, so don't worry about not being 'deep' enough! * Feel free to suggest ideas for future Thought Experiments in Pubs meetup groups, both in terms of structure and topics to discuss. **Where we'll meet**: This group will be at Hawkins Forge, 5 minutes walk from Clapham Junction. We'll be in the private dining room - ask at the bar if you can't find us. **Who should come**: Everyone! We believe that the more perspectives, the richer the conversation. This group is not about being experts in Philosophy, it is about *doing* philosophy. That is, bringing our various life experiences and lenses on the world to group discussions about the human experience, the nature of reality... etc.... I'm so looking forward to meeting & talking with you in this beautiful location :-) If you would like to further support these meetups, please [subscribe to the newsletter](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) and [follow us on instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs) :-) Thank you!

Join our fun and challenging **upper intermediate coaching sessions**—perfect for players looking to improve their volleyball skills in a supportive and energetic environment. Each 2-hour session includes a structured warm-up, high-intensity drills, and game play. Participants should be comfortable with the 5-1 rotation, though exceptions may be considered. **Location**: Bacon's College, Canada Water **Time**: Wednesdays, 18:00 – 20:00 **Price**: £13 (Pay As You Go) *Pay by card or tap after the session* **Cancellation Policy**: Cancel by Tuesday at 18:00 We’re proud to be part of the **SQUAD Volleyball** family. These sessions offer players an exciting opportunity to grow, develop their game, and potentially join a SQUAD team competing in the London Volleyball Association leagues.

For most of human history, religion wasn't a lifestyle choice, it was part of life. It told you who you were, why you suffered, what death means, and how to live. Then science explained the sky, the earth, and everything around us, and we told ourselves we'd evolved past all that. But the meaninglessness of life was never explained. Millions of people are still medicated, addicted, and quietly lost, in the most comfortable civilisation that has ever existed. Maybe we just stopped feeding something that was never going to stop being hungry. Can a life be meaningful without believing in anything bigger than yourself? Can science tell you how to live? Are the people replacing religion with politics, wellness culture, or ideology any less religious or just less honest about it? Is dismissing religion a sign of progress, or are we just arrogant enough to think we don't need what every civilisation before us had? Here is a video related to this topic: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DffqK6j-y1U](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DffqK6j-y1U) *Please do your own research and share resources related to this topic in the comments below.* —————————————————————————————————————————————— **💛 Support The Examined Life** Enjoying the discussions? Please consider donating, it keeps us running. 👉 Donate here: [https://examinedlife.uk/donation/](https://examinedlife.uk/donation/) —————————————————————————————————————————————— **Join our Telegram group chat** Stay connected between sessions: [https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk](https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk) —————————————————————————————————————————————— **About the session** The Examined Life "Let's Discuss…" session is an open, welcoming discussion, no prior reading or expertise required. Format: * **13:15** Free-flowing group discussion on the topic * **14:00 (ish)** We split into smaller groups for deeper conversation on what interests you most * **16:00** Official end of the meetup. Most attendees stay on and keep chatting until around 18:00 —————————————————————————————————————————————— **Please RSVP accurately** Please update your RSVP if plans change, it helps us plan and frees up spots for others. —————————————————————————————————————————————— **Artwork:** Interior of a Gothic Cathedral 1612 by Paul Vredeman de Vries

**Open debate and discussion in small rotating groups of 3-6 people, based on the existing propositions from the Political Compass Quiz and original propositions submitted by members (Controversy Corner) to be presented in '(strongly) agree/disagree' format** **How the event works:** **Intro:** 0-20 min: **Welcomes and introductions for new members**. We come together in one big group and explain the format/framework for the discussion. A wide-ranging series of propositions will be read out from the political compass quiz, and people will be invited to step up and provide their own controversial statements (Controversy Corner) for debating. People will take a vote on topics of interest and self-organise with assistance from the host into smaller groups for meaningful discussion **Main:** 30mins x 3: **Small group discussions x3** Each group will have a moderator whose job is to control the discussion, ensuring fair participation from all members, and bring the discussion back to the question if it strays excessively Discussion begins with a quick instinctive vote on the proposition; if all members agree can play devil's advocate or pick a new proposition to spark more debate Then the discussion of the proposition and the taking of a vote at the end of the discussion, noting any changes in the proposition **End**: 15 mins: all groups come back together to share interesting insights you heard from OTHER people Feel free to stay after and extend the discussion and enjoy a drink or two but the hosted/organised portion of the event will end here. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Further information about the Political Compass Quiz and Controversy Corner format can be found here: https://luma.com/n2tpm9dr * \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- GENERAL RULES/PRINCIPLES: \- This is meant to be a fun environment\, please put this first before anything else\, bring an open mind and warmth\, the objective here is not to convince anyone of your opinions\, nor intellectual showboating\, but rather state your case freely\, learn new perspectives\, and possibly make new connections with someone with a different worldview and background from yourself \- Opinions and ideologies may be different and even controversial or extreme\, but abuse/harassment or threats against individual members is unacceptable\, and you will be asked to leave IMMEDIATELY\. Keep discussions general\, focused on issues\, not personal differences\. \- Please bring active energy and a willingness to suggest topics or take a clear preference on what to discuss or not to discuss; discourse is better when everyone is invested and contributing \- This group is not free therapy to unload your vexations with the world\, consider that you may be wrong and that other people have opinions that are different to yours :\) \- Invite other people into the discussion if you notice they haven't said anything in a while \- If you don't like your small group discussion\, please feel free to arrange yourself into another group\, or speak to me about any concerns

This is a **theatre** and **livestream** talk from the **Royal Institution of Great Britain.** Join a team of forensic scientists for an immersive, demo-filled event taking us through the process of analysing and solving a crime, plus a look at the new technology changing the way DNA is analysed. **ADVANCE BOOKING AND PAYMENT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TALK.** **More details and booking instructions on the RI web site:** **[https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/forensics-how-solve-crime](https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/forensics-how-solve-crime)** **SUMMARY** We are used to media depictions of forensic science, but what does the real process look like? And how are new technologies changing the face of modern forensics? In this unique event, a team of forensic specialists from around the UK will come together to guide you through a fictional case. Discover how the **SCAnDi** project could revolutionise the world of forensics by allowing scientists to trace DNA from a single cell, and therefore “unmix” the messy DNA profiles of multiple people often found at crime scenes. Scientific investigation of a crime involves a multidisciplinary team, and through the use of intricate recreation crime scenes and demonstrations, this event will explore how these individuals can come together to uncover crucial evidence. Ranging from DNA analysis to soil science, you'll have the chance to discover real forensic science used to solve crimes. **This event will cover sensitive material which some may find upsetting, including physical violence, sexual assault, death and suicide. It is suitable for those aged 16+.** This is a theatre and livestream event for an adult audience, where the speakers and audience in our Theatre are joined by our audience online. **The livestream will go live around 7.25pm, and the talk will begin at 7.30pm. If you register but miss the livestream, the video will be available to you via the same link for two weeks after the event date.** For more information on livestreams, see the information below, or [visit our FAQs page](https://www.rigb.org/whats/faqs-ri-livestreams). Please use the event link you have been provided with. By booking to attend events at the Royal Institution, you confirm that you have read and accept the Ri's [event terms and conditions](https://www.rigb.org/terms-and-conditions). You also agree to abide by [our code of conduct](https://www.rigb.org/about-us/how-were-run/our-code-conduct-ri-visitors), and help to create a great experience for yourself and your fellow participants.

Share and discuss music that touches your soul. An hour of eclectic music and stories. Bring a song or music track which inspires you to share with the group, led by Kate and Adam. Heartspaces at Essex Hall is a vibrant and welcoming Unitarian hub in central London, open to spiritual seekers, existing Unitarians and curious newcomers. The Heartspaces programme is a series of weekly spiritual gatherings led by Unitarian ministers and volunteers across London. From regular pagan ceremonies to the spirituality events every Thursday evening, Heartspaces encourages people to gather, share and discover together. Whether you are a seasoned Unitarian, a spiritual searcher or simply curious, find your space to grow.

**Sculpt & Reset is a wellness community designed to bring together movement, nourishment, and connection.** Join us for curated experiences combining Pilates, fresh organic bowls, matcha, and a relaxed social atmosphere in beautiful London settings 🌿 Each session is designed to help you reset your body and mind—whether you're coming solo or with friends. Expect feel-good movement, nourishing food, and a calm, uplifting environment with like-minded people. Perfect for anyone looking to recharge, reconnect, and experience wellness in a more elevated, enjoyable way ✨

Every week is a badminton academy for improver/intermediate/advanced standard. I also run thirteen teams that play in leagues out of the academy. Unfortunately this class does not cater for beginners! Wanting people who wish to enjoy and improve with games and advice with a coach who has played county and national level badminton, and has also played for England. Just come along, bring a racket, very friendly atmosphere! Class from 7.30 - 9.30pm weekly, £14.00 per session or £35.00 for three sessions t be paid up front and must be used within six months, payable by cash only. I have coached players from beginner to international standard. Please message me with any questions. Thanks

**🏛️ WHAT'S PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY ABOUT?** Practical Philosophy is a weekly meet-up that brings critical thinkers together for an opportunity to dive deep on a topic, practice communicating, and building a community. All with no ‘official’ philosophy knowledge required! 😎 Practical Philosophy is based on the idea that philosophy should be accessible to all, and not something reserved only for academics. Each week we choose a topic, and the goal is to use the conversation to develop our critical thinking and communication as we explore that topic. The goal is to help develop our Critical Thinking, Communication, and Community 🙌 📓 **HOW DOES IT WORK?** Each week, we pick one topic and discuss it. The topic for the week is shared, generally in the [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS), along with jump-off points to get the conversation going. When groups get bigger than 7-8 people, it’s important that we break into smaller groups. This way we are able to maintain a conversational flow as opposed to having our meetups feel like a discourse or lecture. **General Meeting Agenda** Each Practical Philosophy meet-up follows this general timeline: * 14:00-14.15 - People arrive and chat, get to know each other before the ‘official' start. * 14:15-14:20 - Meeting introduction, explanation of Practical Philosophy and the topic for the week, read the guidelines and the overview so attendees know what to expect in terms of timelines. * 14:20-15:20 - Break into small groups - introduce yourselves and general thoughts on the topic, open discussion afterwards. At this point the group can review the ‘jump-off’ questions as needed, but they are just there to help guide the conversation. It’s not obligatory to answer them. * 15:20-15:30 - We do a group conclusion of the things we discussed, and then we typically take a photo and go on our way :) If you don't want to be in the group photo, there's no pressure, it's just a way to close out the meeting. We occasionally have an unofficial social so the different groups can mingle afterwards too! **🧧PRICING?** Practical Philosophy Club is FREE to attend, and we operate on donations. If you'd like to donate to support our running costs, that helps keep our group self-sustaining. Donations are 100% voluntary, but your contribution is appreciated! QR codes to donate will be present. Tea’s and coffees and are paid by the individual should they wish to have them. **💛 WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY** 🗣 “I feel like Philosophy Club helps someone build their own belief system through a series of perspectives while not promoting what’s right and wrong” - Ekam 🗣 “I got hooked from day 1 (the topic was authority) and felt it was the right place for me. I feel it is a place where people can go to learn and discuss new perspectives and increase critical thinking and community by interacting with people who might challenge your point of views but at the same time encourage you to have openness and mind flexibility.” - Daniel **🤓 FAQ** * What will we talk about? What's the topic? The topic for the week is shared every week in the Whatsapp group before the session. We try to add the topic to the comment section on this event page as well but if you don’t see it, the topic and the jump-off points will be in our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS). * Do I need to study or read anything to attend? No preparation is necessary. This isn’t a study of other thinkers. We want to know what YOU think about the topic, not what an old philosopher thought. If you have a perspective from a religion or a school of thought to share, throw it on the table and we’ll discuss it, but it's not required. * Is there a specific philosophy that Practical Philosophy is focused on? The goal of our meet-ups is to not have dogmatic discussions, and flex our critical thinking muscles. Because of this, we want to hear from every realm of thought, and don't study a particular school. * Is it mostly men that attend? Surprisingly, no! Although philosophy is seen as a Candelabra affair in a dark room with a bunch of guys, our Practical Philosophy meetups are generally 50/50 between genders, and we don’t meet in any dark rooms. * Can I come alone? Of course you can, we encourage it :) * Can I be late? Please don't be! We do have a 15 minute grace period where we allow people to funnel in while we hang out, but after that if you arrive too late, it disrupts the flow of the conversation. * Where do you meet? The location is posted in Meetup and our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS) group for this location. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you join the Whatsapp group! If you want to know what other cities have a Practical Philosophy Club, you can see our chapters on our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club/practical-philosophy-locations/). 🤝**POLICY** To respect our members privacy, we ask that no one privately message a member without first getting explicit consent. (This looks like speaking in person and being asked to message privately.) Contacting or texting other participants without prior consent is not permitted and may result in removal from the group. Practical Philosophy reserves the right to enforce this policy at its discretion to maintain a safe and respectful environment. **PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY - Making Philosophy Available To All.** ✨ Practical Philosophy hosts weekly, in-person meetups in 25+ countries, including Canada, Spain, Japan, Mexico and many more! 🗺️ \*\*\* Join our [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS) 👈 Follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/practicalphilosophyclub/?hl=en) 👈 Our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club) 👈

I have been studying the question of "self" online with Prof. Ellie Anderson and so I thought a prompt on the "self" might be interesting. Full confession: I had Claude create this prompt and I like it, so here goes: Imagine a thought experiment that merges two classic puzzles: > You undergo a procedure, performed neuron by neuron, in which every biological component of your brain is replaced with a functionally identical synthetic substitute. At each step, your behavior, memories, and personality remain unchanged. When the last neuron is swapped, is the consciousness experiencing the world still you? And — more pressingly — was there ever a continuous "you" to begin with? ### Questions to Wrestle With * If consciousness is purely physical, does the *gradual* nature of the replacement matter, or is it equivalent to being destroyed and rebuilt? * Could there be a "self" without continuity of experience — even moment to moment, while you sleep? On a more practical level, consider the simpler case first: **hemispherectomy** patients — people who have had an entire cerebral hemisphere surgically removed — often retain a strong sense of personal identity and continuity. This suggests "you" are not rigidly tied to specific physical material. But does that vindicate the synthetic neuron case, or merely show that identity is more *flexible* than we thought — not that it can survive *complete* substrate replacement? I used Claude so I could get this out today and let everyone have some time to consider it. Hope to see you at the Oracle. Sorry about the location change two weeks ago. That's what I get for trusting local weather predictions!

Let’s meet and share discussion of the James Baldwin short story collection, Going to Meet The Man.

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

We may pick a specific topic and post in advance or may discuss current events and various ad hoc topics . We would love to spend time hanging out and getting to know one another. Atheist, agnostics, other non-theists, and atheist-friendly people are welcome to join us. Note: COUNT operates a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions (http://www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions/) to promote discussions among members and visitors.

Let's stroll the artists' booths and enjoy some of the festival's opening day! The Columbus Art Festival features a wide and vibrant range of visual art from local and national exhibitors, plus, live music, and all kinds of food and refreshments, along the waterfront downtown. (The featured painting is by Columbus Art Festival exhibitor, Joe Engel - joe-engelart.com)

If you are interested in selecting investment choices for your 401(k) or other workplace savings plan, minimizing your income tax liability, or identifying the most effective investments for your brokerage account, we are the group for you. We are a local chapter of Bogleheads, whose investment strategy can be found here: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Bogleheads%C2%AE_investment_philosophy Or you can peruse the Boglehead forum here: https://www.bogleheads.org/index.php I look forward to seeing you there. Mark Vonder Haar