Rationality and Reasoning

A typical Eastside session is structured, challenging, and genuinely fun, with a strong, welcoming community at its core. Every session is expertly coached, with clear guidance on exercise form and technique throughout. Coaches are active and engaged, offering encouragement and adaptations whenever needed, so everyone can train safely and confidently. No one is left behind. Sessions begin with a thorough warm up, followed by a full body workout combining strength, cardio, and functional movement. Exercises are always scalable, ensuring the right challenge for every individual. Each session includes a dedicated anaerobic block where intensity is deliberately increased and heart rate is pushed. This is where you safely push yourself, build fitness and resilience, and realise you are capable of more than you thought. We finish with a short cool down and stretch, with time to ask questions and connect with the group. You will work hard, feel supported, and leave every session feeling stronger, energised, and part of a tight knit community. Here’s a [link to our FAQ’s](https://www.eastside.fit/bootcamp-faqs)

**\*SIGN-UP ON LUMA\*** https://luma.com/u5kxljj6 Join us for a discussion of Rust in the Age of AI, with drinks and brunch! ​Following the [Rust Nation UK conference](https://www.rustnationuk.com/), [Fractile ](https://www.fractile.ai/)and [Red Badger](https://red-badger.com/) are excited to host a brunch discussion exploring how the Rust ecosystem is evolving to respond to rapid developments in Artificial Intelligence. ​We will be hosting a world-class panel discussion, with guest speakers: * ​[Jon Gjengset](https://www.youtube.com/c/JonGjengset) (Helsing) * ​[David Haig](https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-haig-9185957/) (Fractile) * ​[Stuart Harris ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartharris4/)(Red Badger) * ​[Stephen Eckes](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-eckes/) (ai-coustics) ​Afterwards, we will host a networking session with food and drink for attendees. ​**Date and Time:** Friday, February 20th, from 11 AM to 1 PM ​*About Fractile* ​Fractile is building chips, systems and software to radically improve the speed and cost of running frontier AI inference. [They are currently hiring](https://job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/fractile), including for a Senior Rust Software Engineer. ​*About Red Badger* ​Red Badger is the digital product transformation consultancy for blue chips and scale-ups. Location **Red Badger** **2 Old Street Yard, London EC1Y 8AF, UK**

If you are you interested on creating your own comic, but need help to put your vision together or do not know were to start then we may have the solution for you. Come talk shop with fellow creators, share experiences, ideas, techniques and tips to help each other grow and have a chance in the industry.

**This is a ticketed fundraising event! Get your ticket and make whatever donation you can here:** https://www.outsavvy.com/event/33294/aid-for-rojava-fundraising-night-wmovie-music-dancing All across the world, imperialism, neo-fascism and the capitalists that these forces ultimately serve have had a booming few years. From the genocide in Gaza, to Sudan, to Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Greenland and many more, the powers of the world are making moves and burning bodies. It's enough to make your head spin and it's easy to burn out hearing about it all. It's especially discouraging to see what's happening to one of the more celebrated "bright spots" in global geopolitics of the past decade, namely the Rojava Revolution and, apparently, its imminent end under armed aggression by the Turkish military and the US/Israel-backed Al-Qaeda-turned-technocratic liberals of the HTS militia which currently rules Syria. At the start of January, a full-scale invasion of the Rojava region began. As of the 20th, a [shaky ceasefire](https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/syria-kobani-kurds-sdf-aid-convoy-q74640) is in effect. This fragile situation may be our one opportunity to raise vital funds for humanitarian support to the people of northeastern Syria, who desperately need resources for medical care, food, and transportation to safety. That's why LCC will be hosting a mega-night of fun and fundraising in partnership with The Bath House, Hackney Wick this February, raising money for the people of Rojava. There will be a film screening on the struggle between ISIS and the Rojava revolution at the [Battle of Tishrin Dam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tishrin_Dam_offensive), a Q&A with its director, as well as music and dancing with food and drink available at the bar. The ongoing offensive has resulted in significant casualties, including approximately 1,000 people killed, with at least 152 civilians reported dead and 322 injured as of January 18, 2026. The situation remains dire, particularly in the besieged town of Kobani, where ongoing attacks have led to civilian deaths, hunger, and a humanitarian crisis. What is, or was, the Rojava Revolution? Some resources can be found [here](https://riseup4rojava.org/en/rojava-people-in-arms/), but in a nutshell Rojava is an autonomous Kurdish territory in north-eastern Syria where a broad coalition of forces have, since the start of the Syrian Civil War till now, been attempting to practice directly-democratic, libertarian-communist, feminist, ecological emancipatory politics as part of a generations-long struggle for Kurdish national liberation. The leading force in Rojava, the Democratic Union Party and its armed wing the YPG, have in the past made common cause with the US to [defeat shared enemies like the so-called Islamic State](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/29/magazine/a-dream-of-utopia-in-hell.html). Recent events have shown, once again, that the west is always a false friend, with the [US and Israel reportedly having given the go-ahead](https://hannohauenstein.substack.com/p/rojava-is-the-red-line-its-being) to HTS and Turkey to launch their ongoing invasion of Rojava. The collapse of democratic, autonomous administration in Rojava is not the end of their revolution, which was always, from the beginning, internationalist. It demonstrates that, no matter how genuinely inspiring it is to see a small nation, with few resources, take on the world and build something we can barely dream of in the west, it is ultimately up to those of us living within the great imperialist core to take up that inspiration and put its principles into practice here and now, so that the next time the Kurdish people rise up in freedom, they will have friends to back them that are both powerful and true. In the meantime, we owe it to these comrades to give them every aid they need to survive the present danger, prepare for future ones, and make themselves able to fight on. Donations benefiting the Kurdish Red Crescent can be made to our fundraising page here or on the night via cash or card. The most generous donors will get a shout-out from the stage! Capacity is huge, so come one, come all, share this event and bring your friends!

Join us from 6pm-10pm on Friday around the corner from the hub of London Fashion Week to meet and mingle, network with people across the fashion industry, and have the chance to pitch yourself or your business to a group of talented industry professionals. Fancy promoting your skills or business? Buy our business pitch ticket that not only gains you access to the event, but gives you a platform to share your ideas with us and gain invaluable contacts, consumers, or career paths. We hope to see you there! Email: eventslondonorganic@gmail.com Tickets available here: [https://lfwnetworking.eventbrite.co.uk](https://lfwnetworking.eventbrite.co.uk)

Description: Embark on a captivating journey into the depths of the human mind with our enlightening lecture, designed to unravel the mysteries of cognition, perception, and consciousness. In this thought-provoking session, we will delve into the intricacies of how the mind works, exploring the fascinating realm of Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. This lecture aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms that shape our cognitive processes and shape our experiences of the world. During this engaging session, we will cover the following topics: 1. The Foundations of the Mind: What is the mind and what are the different parts of the mind. 2. Perception and Attention: Our perception of the world is a dynamic process influenced by a multitude of factors. We will examine the mechanisms behind perception. 3. Memory and Learning: Memory forms the basis of our knowledge and experiences. We will delve into the intricate workings of memory formation, storage, and retrieval. 4. Emotions and Motivation: Emotions and motivation play a vital role in shaping our behavior and decision-making processes. 5. The Reactive Mind: The single source of stress, unhappiness, insecurity and self doubt and what can be done about it. Through engaging discussions, multimedia presentations, and interactive demonstrations, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the complex workings of the mind. They will leave the lecture with new insights into their own cognitive processes and a heightened appreciation for the wonders of the human mind. Note: This lecture is designed for individuals with a general interest in understanding the inner workings of the mind. No prior knowledge or expertise is required. Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply curious about the mysteries of cognition, this lecture will provide valuable insights and foster a deeper appreciation for the complexities of human thought. Join us to unravel the enigma and gain a deeper understanding of how your mind works.

IN PERSON SEMINAR - REMEMBER WE HAVE A FUTURE WITH PATRICK DIXON **The talk will address both the more immediate future, that is the dangers of Materialism, and how to strengthen our discrimination, seeing the Materialistic mindset and practices as a necessary stage the Earth must go through, extracting the best it can from it, before it can ascend towards the expanding vistas, of the greatest Paradigm change, since the Turning point - Time.** ***Patrick trained at RADA and is an actor, writer, poet and performer. He lives in London and gives lectures, seminars, one man shows and leads a regular conversation group at Rudolf Steiner House.*** All Welcome, No Need to Book, No Charge. This event will not be recorded. DONATIONS There is no charge for online or face to face events, except for Workshops involving extra cost. Voluntary donations towards our overheads are gratefully received and can be made either by Paypal or by Bank Transfer to a Nationwide account held for this purpose: PAYPAL: to SUE PEAT at suejoanpeat@gmail.com BANK TRANSFER: ACCOUNT NAME: ADRIAN HOTTEN ACCOUNT NO: 31466776 SORT CODE: 07-01-16 Many thanks.

A typical Eastside session is structured, challenging, and genuinely fun, with a strong, welcoming community at its core. Every session is expertly coached, with clear guidance on exercise form and technique throughout. Coaches are active and engaged, offering encouragement and adaptations whenever needed, so everyone can train safely and confidently. No one is left behind. Sessions begin with a thorough warm up, followed by a full body workout combining strength, cardio, and functional movement. Exercises are always scalable, ensuring the right challenge for every individual. Each session includes a dedicated anaerobic block where intensity is deliberately increased and heart rate is pushed. This is where you safely push yourself, build fitness and resilience, and realise you are capable of more than you thought. We finish with a short cool down and stretch, with time to ask questions and connect with the group. You will work hard, feel supported, and leave every session feeling stronger, energised, and part of a tight knit community. Here’s a [link to our FAQ’s](https://www.eastside.fit/bootcamp-faqs)

**This is a ticketed event and purchases can be made via [eventbrite here.](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-role-of-religion-esoteric-philosophy-and-spirituality-in-history-tickets-1982069225409?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1%2A1pqcc35%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2AOTQxMTAzNjU3LjE3Njk3ODM4NTk.%2A_ga_TQVES5V6SH%2AczE3Njk4NTkyNTAkbzMkZzEkdDE3Njk4NTkyNTkkajUxJGwwJGgw)** This seminar will consider the spiritual influences in history from religion to esoteric philosophy and look at their impact on society. What are the driving forces of history? The common view is that history is a product of economic forces, struggles for power or simple egomania. However, without denying the above factors, the thesis for this seminar is that there are also spiritual influences at work, such as religion and esoteric philosophy, whose impact has been generally underestimated. It cannot be denied that religion often has a divisive effect, but it is also interesting to consider its benefits for humanity. Even more so is this the case with esoteric philosophy, whose adherents may have been numerically few but whose ideals and practical schemes for the betterment of humanity have influenced whole societies and epochs. The seminar is based on research into the works of the cultural historian Christopher Dawson, a specialist on the role of religion on history, and Dr. Frances Yates, a lecturer at the Warburg Institute, who illustrated in her many erudite works the important influence of esoteric philosophical thought on the Renaissance in Europe.

Ready to think clearer, reason better, and express with clarity? Join us for a practical wholesome philosophy practice where we learn essential thinking skills through hands-on group practice. Leave academics and theory at the door— this is a skills-building adventure for everyday life! 🧠✨ This event's focus: **Develop Thinking Habits** 🎯 a part of the Wholesome Philosophy series — that help you build a complete thinking toolkit. **See below** 👇🏽 **Why should you sign up?** ✅ Practical toolkit you can use immediately ✅ Small group practice ✅ Private, quiet venue for focus ✅ Standalone session - Previous parts help, but not required **What is Wholesome Philosophy?** Practical philosophy for everyday life - helping you build useful skills for thinking clearer and communicating better in work, relationships, and daily conversations. You'll learn through pair work, and group practice. 💬 spread across **different sessions:** * **Clear Thinking & Better Arguments** — How to reason * **Develop Thinking Habits** — Spotting biases and fallacies * **The Art of Dialogue** — Having productive disagreements * **Constructing Your Position** — Building solid viewpoints * **Decision-Making Frameworks** — Choosing wisely under uncertainty * **Self-Examination & Growth** — Questioning your own beliefs Each session works standalone — attend one, some, or all. ***Want to join all?*** Speak to the facilitator about discounted pricing for the full (6 parts) series ✅ **Who is it for?** * You want to think clearer and communicate better * You feel frustrated when your point doesn't land * You want to spot weak reasoning (including your own) * You enjoy learning through practice, not just theory * You crave thoughtful conversation with curious people * You want practical tools you can use tomorrow No philosophy background needed — just show up ready to practice. 🎉 **What's in it for you?** * Make your points stick (without fighting) 💡 * Think more clearly about any topic even complex ones 🧠 * Have disagreements that don't turn into arguments 🤝 * Understand the world better 🌍 * Connect with curious, thoughtful people ✨ * Gain confidence in your reasoning abilities 💪 **How does it work?** * Facilitated practice session (2 hours) with structured exercises ⏱ * Small group discussions (4-6 people) 💬 * Pair work for hands-on practice 🤝 * Individual reflection moments 🧘 * Whole group sharing (optional, not required) 🌟 Everything is timed and guided — you'll know exactly what to do at each stage 📝 **What to expect** Collaborative discovery, without competitive learning. Practicing together, without performing for each other. What happens in the room stays in the room. 🔒 * **Depth**: Beyond small talk, but it's not therapy — we're developing thinking skills 🧠 * **Safety**: Wholesome Agreement principles apply — respect, curiosity, no judgment 🤝 * **Practical**: You'll leave with tools, not just concepts — things you can actually use the next day 🛠️ * **Participation**: These are practice sessions — your active participation creates the learning environment 💬 **Ready to upgrade your thinking skills?** 🌊 Join us for a Wholesome Philosophy practice session and walk away with various thinking tools — it's for anyone who wants to navigate life with a sharper, kinder mind. 🌟 We really hope to see you there! 👋 **About Deeper Connections** We have a mission at Deeper Connections to improve the quality of people's lives through conversation. All our events are centred around the concept of connecting deeply, because we believe we all deserve to be seen, felt and understood for who we really are. To have the 'deeper conversation' approach when relating with others can change our lives and can change the world. **Our Values** * **Respect:** Treat everyone with kindness and consideration. ❤️ * **Open-mindedness:** Be open to different perspectives and ideas. 🧠💡 * **Active Participation:** Share your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions. 🗣️💬 **Staying in touch** Interested in finding out about all the events sooner than on Meetup or staying in touch beyond the events, you can join our WhatsApp channel and community using 👉🏽 [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6CBAdIN9ijrEYdv33z) 👉🏽 [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqGsmF3021RKTwBpGcuR80)

Philosophy in the Park is a philosophical discussion group. Open to all. No previous philosophical experience necessary. We will meet in the Barbican Centre on Level Minus 1. Outside The Hall. Here's how it works: * At the start of each hour vote on which questions to discuss. You can vote for more than one question if you'd like. The questions with the most votes are the questions we discuss. * We then break up into groups and each group does a different question. The question is just a starting point and it's cool if you go on tangents and up end talking about different things. You're welcome to join in and participate or if you'd prefer you're welcome to sit back and enjoy the conversation. After an hour we all come back together, take a quick break and then repeat all over again. So in 3 hours we go around 3 times. The aim is to have fun, meet new people, generate interesting and thought-provoking conversations, have your horizons expanded, challenge your preconceptions and who knows - you might even learn something? In order to make the conversations as fun, interesting and productive for everyone as possible please follow these simple guidelines: 1. Keep it Philosophical (No Science, no History, no Evolutionary Psychology, no contestable facts, personal anecdotes etc). 2. Think for Yourself (No phones, no looking up definitions, no name dropping Philosophers / books you've read). 3. Tangents are Cool (Don't worry too much if the subject drifts and you don't answer the question). 4. Keep it Succinct (Like this). 5. Be Excellent to Each Other (But of course). Philosophy is about conceptual analysis. It's thinking about thinking. It's not about empiricism or the real world. It's about abstractions, concepts and ideas. To terms of the right attitude: It's not about debating and trying to win - it's about listening to people and working collaboratively to increase our collective understanding. No homework or prior knowledge or reading is necessary - simply come and enjoy the discussions. After the event finishes we have an area reserved in The Shakespeare pub which is just around the corner from the Barbican. You are very welcome to join us if you'd like. If you would like to submit a question please join the Whatsapp group. Question submissions take place on the Thursday before the meeting. We hope to see you there. Nice one. ... To join the Philosophy in the Park WhatsApp Group please click here: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/CdFaxJHbeOw9UOfuk7spiK](https://chat.whatsapp.com/CdFaxJHbeOw9UOfuk7spiK) (in order to stop spam bots this will take you to a Waiting Room. Once in please write your name and we will join you to the main chat). If the link doesn't work then please send me a message with your phone number and I can add you directly. Meetup charges subscription fees. If you would like to make a donation please click here: [https://paypal.me/philosophycollective](https://paypal.me/philosophycollective)

**🏛️ 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/Ja2H9lXYtWX8RdCKHw6qNK), 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: * 13:45-14:00 - People arrive and chat, get to know each other before the ‘official' start. * 14:00-14:05 - 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. * 14:05-14:45 - 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. * 14:45 - 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. You are free to walk around Calthorpe's Community Gardens afterwards. **🧧PRICING?** Practical Philosophy Club is FREE to attend, and we operate on donations. Calthorpe Cabin costs £40 per hour to rent. If you'd like to donate to support the cost of the location, that helps keep our group self-sustaining. Donations are 100% voluntary, but your contribution is appreciated! QR codes to donate and a donation jar will be present. Calthorpe charges £4 per person for 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 Sunday in the Whatsapp group. 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/Ja2H9lXYtWX8RdCKHw6qNK). * 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/Ja2H9lXYtWX8RdCKHw6qNK) 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/Ja2H9lXYtWX8RdCKHw6qNK) 👈 Follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/practicalphilosophyclub/?hl=en) 👈 Our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club) 👈

Do you have spare books lying around your home? Do you want to read new interesting books for free while socializing with interesting people? This is the event for you. We will enjoy nice drinks and snacks together at a beautiful lounge bar in London. You can bring your books and exchange them with whoever has the books you want to read. Since this is a Science and Philosophy book club, it would be great for you to bring non-fiction books that are insightful and thought-provoking. If you want to bring fiction books that are scientifically or philosophically insightful, feel free to bring those as well. Since it is a social event, I encourage everyone to make deep meaningful conversations and make new friends. You can come alone or bring your friends with you. If you come alone, there is no need to be shy or scared. I will welcome you and introduce you to cool interesting people to speak with. Also feel free to come even if you forget to bring any books.

**Battersea Park – plus Power and Pumps** This walk is presented by Central London Humanists and led by Robert Hall. Humanists believe we have just one life to be lived rationally and well, with compassion for others. This event is a guided walk of +/- 2.25 hours pointing out places of interest. We will be walking 4 Km / 2.4 miles. As befits a walk in winter it will be walked at a moderate pace. Whilst the grand power station still dominates the landscape it has competition from the new-build flats which have transformed the appearance of the area. However the walk is primarily based on Battersea park which was one of the main locations for the Festival of Britain in 1951 and still has features from that event. The large pagoda is a major surprise as are the many sculptures including one that is deliberately away from the main paths. Plus the Victorians certainly knew how to design elegant pumphouses! **Date:** Saturday 21st February 2026 **Time:** 2 pm with a prompt departure at 2.15 pm **Place:** Meet at exit of Battersea Power Station **underground station** at the top level. (**NOT** at Battersea Power Station building.) **Turn left after the ticket barriers.** It is strongly suggested you find us using: [https://what3words.com/cure.bench.junior](https://what3words.com/cure.bench.junior) \- or the What3Words app\. The nearest toilets are in the Duchess Belle, 101 Battersea Park Road SW8 4DS (across the main road) or in the Battersea Power Station building. There will be a very brief toilet stop on the walk. **Finishes:** About 4.30 pm at Battersea Power Station underground station or join us for refreshments at the Duchess Belle, 101 Battersea Park Road SW8 4DS. The walk is led by Robert – 07981963681. He can be contacted for further information but please note he won’t be able to respond to messages or calls after the walk has started. **The formal bit:** These walks are not suitable for dogs, sorry. CLH events are 18+ unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. If you have signed up but find you can't attend, please change your RSVP on Meetup (it’s very easy to do) as soon as possible so that an accurate numbers of attenders can be estimated. You are responsible for your own actions and safety; there is no liability on the walk leader or CLH for anything that may happen on the walk. You must be able to keep up with the walk leader at 4 Km/h (2.5 mph) for 5 Km (3 miles). It is participants' responsibility to safely cross roads. Where appropriate, pedestrian controlled lights will be used and obeyed unless it is obvious that the whole group can cross safely. When the group stops at a point of interest, please be mindful not to block pavements so members of the public can pass by safely. Don’t forget this is the UK and it may rain at any time! The walk will go ahead whatever the weather unless conditions are dangerous so please bring clothing for all seasons. **A donation of £3 to Central London Humanists would be appreciated.** The majority of Central London Humanists events are free, but we welcome a £3 contribution per head. This helps towards the running and organising of events, as well as various admin expenses. If you can't attend and would still like to contribute, or would prefer to pay online, please **[click here](https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML71XMH66FX5E/checkout/ALWCDLQ3S7AVPLFZ62PZGXLU)**. We encourage dialogue, debate, and sharing of information, but ask people to keep their comments cordial. Any individual's views expressed (most definitely including the walk leader!) do not necessarily reflect the views of the group at large.

As you may or may not know--I didn't until late last year--Aristotle wrote extensively on "friendship" in the Nicomachean Ethics. After 69 years the concept of friendship still creates questions and uncertainty. I had close friends in high school and for a few years after high school but our interests diverged and people moved all over the country so it was hard to maintain connections. * So if I/you haven't talked with a friend for several years, are you still friends? Are we friends who meet at Drunken Philosophy or Omnipresent Atheists? * Can you be friends with someone with whom you have virulently divergent political views? Sartre and Camus could not. * Aristotle regarded friendship as essential to a good life, not merely an added "bonus." Do you agree? * In the Nicomachean Ethics (Books VIII and IX), he claims that wealth and power are meaningless without friends. Trump has wealth and power but seems to have no real friends, but wealth and power seem meaningful to him in perverted ways. Can you have meaning in your life without friends? * Do men and women view and maintain friendships in different ways? * Aristotle categorizes friendship into three types, based on what forms the bond: * **Utility**: Based on mutual benefit, but this type is fragile and ends when the usefulness ceases. * **Pleasure**: Based on shared enjoyment (e.g., humor, hobbies). Common among youth but fades as interests change. * **Virtue (The "Complete" Friendship)**: Based on mutual respect for each other's character and goodness. You wish good for the other for their sake, not yours. * **Key Principles of "True" (Virtuous) Friendship:** * **Permanence**: Virtuous friendships last a lifetime whereas those based on utility and pleasure are fleeting. * **Reciprocity**: Requires mutual goodwill; secret or unreciprocated affection does not qualify. * **The "Second Self"**: A true friend is "another self"—their virtue helps you understand and improve yourself. * **Time and Intimacy**: Deep ("complete") friendships are few, built on time and shared experiences. * **Self-Love and Friendship:** * Good friendship starts with being a friend to yourself. * They distinguish shallow egoism (chasing honors) from real self-love (pursuing virtue). * A virtuous person’s pleasant self-company allows them to be a stable, good friend to others. * Aristotle argues that one's social circle ultimately reflects one's character—a view with striking relevance today. Well--the Drunken Philosophy social circle certainly reflects good character!

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

ASH is Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists of First Unitarian Universalists of Columbus Ohio TBD Snacks are usually available, and you are welcome to bringing something to share!

Attend a free seminar on how to have successful and lasting relationships. At this seminar you will learn: How to spot and handle negative and toxic relationships. How to get through the "rough patches" in a relationship. How to choose the right people to work with. The three things that make or break any relationship. How to make a good relationship great. All are welcome. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. Hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

This is an in-person meeting. Did you know that unwanted emotions like loneliness, sadness, hopelessness, anger, fear, anxiety, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not chemical imbalance in your brain due to some nebulous chemical reactions by chance. Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. For instance, let's say you are already carrying a huge load on your back, then you cannot take on much more, but, let's say something else happens to you, such as the difficulties from the Pandemic, then the resultant combined weight on you can take you over the edge, kind of like the straw that break the camel's back. When this happens, people's attention usually goes to the straw that was added, but actually the majority of the weight had come from the huge load that were already there, holding a person down and causing a person issues. So how do you remove the huge load that was already there? How do you lighten them up? Is it possible to get rid of them? That is what this meeting will be all about. Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

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.