Rationality and Reasoning

This week we'll be discussing the talk [In conversation with David Deutsch: musing about statements, propositions, and truth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ-opI-jghs), from the Oxford Karl Popper society. Please watch the talk before attending.

ATTEND IN PERSON OR ON ZOOM (link upon registration) NB **This event will now take place at a different venue: the Café of [St. Hilda's East Community Centre](https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5244243,-0.0746385,17z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D), 18 Club Row, London E2 7EY. The nearest station (just a few minutes walk) is [Shoreditch High Street](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Shoreditch+High+Street/@51.5237626,-0.0741518,16.75z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x48761cb7237e45d3:0x832e68d6f5c3b9b0!8m2!3d51.5232573!4d-0.0754661!16s%2Fg%2F1hhvv83t7?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) (Overground). Apologies for any inconvenience.** This event takes place on Tuesday as Monday is a public holiday in the UK This talk will focus on a single question: ‘Where do you belong?’ The idea of ‘home’ reflects one of the deepest and most universal of human experiences. ‘Homes’ may be physical, emotional, intellectual or cultural – they reflect aspects of life with which we identify, where we feel comfortable (or challenged) and where we belong. They are a defiant response to our awareness of the vastness of space. From Diogenes and Buddha to Nietzsche and Heidegger, we’ll be looking at the experience of belonging, and exploring ways in which it shapes our thinking about the nature of self, ethics and politics. Over the last 50 years, **Mel Thompson** has written more than 40 books on philosophy and religion and is probably best known for the philosophy titles in the long-running ‘Teach Yourself’ series. His website is at [essexthinker.com](http://essexthinker.com/). Event video teaser: [https://youtu.be/CPiG1qCOyqM](https://youtu.be/CPiG1qCOyqM) For the full programme of events pls see [pfalondon.org](http://pfalondon.org) This event is supported by The Royal Institute of Philosophy's [Local Partners Programme](https://royalinstitutephilosophy.org/news/fund-your-event/)

**Message Graig in advance for location, usually a pub or beer garden in new cross** Come along and join some fellow writers. We'll write together and chat together. Take two hours to get creative! All you need is yourself and a pen and paper (or laptop) :) You can either work on your own project, or pick one of the provided prompts to fire your imagination.

🐾 Unleash the Joy: Join Our Doggy Luv and Wellness Club! 🐾 Are you a dog enthusiast yearning for the companionship of these incredible creatures? Do you find solace and joy in the presence of furry friends, even if you don't have one of your own? We invite you to experience an hour of pure canine bliss at our Doggy Luv and Wellness Club! 🌟 What to Expect: A Furry Fiesta! Embark on an adventure into the world of boundless love and joy with our playful pack of dogs, ranging from 1 year and older. **You don't need a dog of your own for this unique experience, as we bring our own family dogs to shower you with unconditional love and therapeutic benefits.** 🐶 Why Attend? For Dog Lovers Without a Dog: If you're a devoted dog lover without a furry friend of your own, this is your golden opportunity to bask in the warmth of canine affection. Missing the Pitter-Patter of doggy Paws: Whether you've heard the pitter-patter of doggy paws in the past or simply miss the experience, our event allows you to reconnect with the healing energy of spending time with dogs. Serotonin Boost Guaranteed: Immerse yourself in an hour of pure joy, as our dogs provide a genuine serotonin boost. Let their love and playfulness elevate your spirits. 🌈 Your Canine Hour Awaits: Activities Galore! Choose your own adventure with our furry companions: Relaxation Station: Unwind after a long day as our dogs instinctively provide the calm and comfort you need. Feel the soothing presence of a canine friend by your side, ready to warm your lap. Playtime Extravaganza: Embrace your inner child and play with our playful dogs. From fetch enthusiasts to those who love a good romp, our pack has it all. 🍬 Sweeten the Experience: Light refreshments will be provided to enhance your time with our canine companions. 🎟️ Limited Spots Available: Reserve Your Canine Hour Now! Entry is priced at £15 per person for an hour of doggy delight. To ensure an intimate experience, we limit each session to only 12 people, preventing overwhelm for our furry friends. 📆 When: Every Wednesday, 7pm to 8pm📍 Where: Herne Hill, SE24 **🐾 Join the Pack: My Dogs, Our Love, One Unforgettable Hour! 🐾** Book your spot now and let the magic of dogs weave its spell on your heart.

Five candidates have accepted the invitation to take part on the panel of the hustings organised by East London Humanists in the run up to the 7 May council elections: * Jo Blackman (Labour) * David Davies (Reform) * Mark Gitsham (Liberal Democrats) * Kabir Ali (Green) * Paul Canal (Conservative) While all participating candidates are from the Wanstead area, the event is a microcosm of the unprecedented five way contest unfolding across London. It should be hugely interesting whether or not you are local. East London Humanists is proud to have organised a similar hustings at each national and local election since 2019. They have been widely regarded as fair, interesting and beneficial to the community. The environment covers many issues of concern to local residents, from potholes, parking and planning to nature and the climate. Questions can be submitted in writing at the event, or in advance to chaireastlondonhumanists@gmail.com. Doors open 19.00. Hustings commence 19.30. Free and open to all. Disabled access. 2 minute walk from Wanstead Station (Central Line). Numerous adjacent buses. Free adjacent parking.

Life drawing, shorter poses, experimental and fun! This session will be run by Freya Tate, a wonderful artist with a sharp eye and a playful line. The session will be life model focused but Freya will introduce chaotic elements to challenge you and move your drawing on to higher levels. You can see more of Freya’s work on Instagram: [@freyatateify](https://www.instagram.com/freyatateify/) Our studio is purpose built, spacious and well equipped with easels, drawing boards, clips and so on. We sell materials at reasonable prices so if you forget anything we should be able to help you out. We have professional lighting for the models and and full spectrum lights for the studio to give you a good experience. £15 to join us in the studio £8 to join us on Zoom. £5 for students in studio, or £12 via Zoom. Drop us an email at info@dulwichartgroup.co.uk and we will send you the discount code. To book, [please click here ](https://www.dulwichartgroup.co.uk/product/tuesday-evening-fast-poses-creative-life-drawing/)

O, wouldst thou have philosophers preach in verse's sweet song, Or speak in plainest terms, with nary a poetic throng? Doth 't lie with he who wouldst learn to unravel the enigma spoke, Or with the wise one, who doth bid thee ponder and invoke? Or shall 't be both, in balance of words both high and low? What profit and loss doth come from times of mystery's dark veil, And times of revelations stark and plain, with room for none to fail? What say you, good scholars, in this tangle of persuasive might?

**Discover what play can create.** Activation Play is rooted in a simple idea: when we play, we open up. Through playful, theatre-inspired activities, we create a space where you can relax, have fun, and explore new ideas and ways of expressing yourself, no experience needed. Whether you are an artist, a creative, or someone who would not usually describe yourself that way, this experience is designed to meet you where you are. Play is not just for performance. It is a powerful tool for everyday life. It can lift your mood, reduce stress, build confidence, and help you think more freely, connect more openly, and respond more creatively to the world around you. As the session unfolds, play becomes the pathway. Ideas start to flow, confidence builds, and expression comes naturally, not forced. You will make, share, and connect with others in a way that feels real, not rehearsed. Come to play. Leave with more energy, a fresh perspective, and new ways to bring creativity and connection into your day-to-day life. To get 25% off of your ticket please click this [Link to our sign up sheet](https://forms.gle/R6MjSSTvTpLUhQpVA "https://forms.gle/R6MjSSTvTpLUhQpVA") before checking out. Discount code will be offered upon completion of the form.

Join at the Well & Bucket in Shoreditch, London for a fun chilled meet-up! Boardgames will be available and you’re welcome to bring games to play too! This event is for Sat 9th May, from 3pm - Whether you’re looking for creative chats or just some time for drinks and laughs, meet new people and have a good time at the vibrant Well & Bucket pub for this creative social meetup. This is a free creative social following a steampunk photography workshop, those who aren’t attending the photography workshop are welcome to join for the social part! Drinks and food can be purchased from the bar on the day. Thanks, @multifacetedcreatives Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1987918848790 Photography workshop Meetup event info: https://meetu.ps/e/PRGhn/HjdNH/i

**🏛️ 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: * 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. 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) 👈

Hi everyone WELCOME TO LATIN KRAZY THURSDAYS MEETUP EVENT Now DOWNSTAIRS @ SWAY BAR , HOLBORN OUR MEETUP MEMBERS HAVE A BOOTH TABLE RESERVED EACH THURSDAY FROM 7PM WHERE YOU CAN MEETUP BEFORE AND AFTER CLASSES TO CHAT AND MAKE FRIENDS ! ( please bring photo ID for club entry ) FREE ENTRY TIL 9PM WE HAVE SALSA AND BACHATA CLASSES FOR JUST £7.00 1 CLASS OR £10.00 X 2 CLASSES A DISCOUNTED PRICE FOR MEMBERS THURSDAY NIGHT DANCE CLASSES TIMETABLE 6.00pm -7.30pm Private Salsa Dance Classes Available, Call 07801305059 to book ! 7.30pm – 8.30pm SALSA ROOM x 3 levels = Beginners / Improver and Intermediate BACHATA ROOM = x 2 levels = Beginners or Intermediate 8.30pm – 9.30pm SALSA ROOM = x 3 levels = Beginners 2 / Improver 2 and Intermediate Cali Style BACHATA ROOM x 2 levels = Beginners or intermediate Teachers SALSA = Sami , Karin ,Nadeem Bachata = Brandy and Aleks Come and buy your ticket on the night, no need for a partner, no need to have danced before. £10.00 1 hour /£12.00 2 hours ) £8.00 /10.00 students and NHS workers. ( must show I.D) INCLUDES CLUB NIGHT ! PLUS Club night to follow, hosted by Miss Latin K and TOP UK DJ Kevin Gato with Dj Mauro Cangri playing all the best in Salsa , Bachata, Merengue, Reggaeton and More Plus Bachata from Dominican Republic in our very own Bachata Room with Dj De La Cruz It's a party night every week.. Latin Krazy the hottest night in the UK. Dress Code Smart casual , no baseball caps, LOOK OUT FOR THE SHOWS, COMPETITIONS AND MORE UK'S NO 1 SALSA / LATIN NIGHT. Salsa dancing in London UK.

We meet for informal chat about anything you like. Conversation is free flowing and friendly. We always leave knowing something new! So as to find us easily there will be a GREEN BALL on our table.

Join us this Wednesday from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM for **"The Breakdown: Why is Christianity True? Hard Evidences for Faith."** Skeptics are completely welcome! We will be diving into tough topics such as why Christianity stands out among thousands of religions, science in the bible, bible predictions, archeology, the paradox of free will, divine hiddenness and the problem of evil and suffering. For Christians: Can you handle these questions? * How do i know the Bible hasn't been changed? * How do I know Jesus Christ was real? And then how do I know what's written in that book is real versus just some guys thousands of years ago made a book? * Are these people saying that they saw him walk out? Are they saying that they just saw it empty? What is the claims being made about his resurrection from these witnesses? * Who decided that there should be 39 books in the Old Testament? * Should there be more books in the Bible? **Agenda** * **7:00 PM:** The Evidence (Examining the evidences) * **7:35 PM:** Open Q&A **What to Bring** Bring your hardest questions! Any thing we can't answer initially will become a fun research topic! There are no limits for the open Q&A session.

When judging morality, should we prioritize **intentions/duty** or **outcomes/results**? It introduces two influential philosophers as representatives of these approaches. * **Immanuel Kant (deontology):** An action is moral when it is done from **duty** and follows rational, universal principles (the **categorical imperative**). Certain acts—like lying—are wrong regardless of the consequences; you can’t do a wrong thing for a right reason. * **John Stuart Mill (utilitarian consequentialism):** The morality of an action is determined by its **effects**, specifically how much **happiness/well-being** it produces. Mill argues that some pleasures are “higher” than others, and that good intentions don’t redeem harmful outcomes. ## Discussion Questions 1. **The lying dilemma:** A murderer comes to your door and asks if your friend is hiding inside. Kant would say you must not lie. 2. **Can good intentions rescue a bad outcome?** 3. **The organ harvest problem:** A surgeon has five patients dying of organ failure and one healthy patient in for a checkup. Killing the one to harvest organs would save five lives, and the math works out for the utilitarian. Why does this feel so deeply wrong? Is that feeling a point in Kant's favor, or just a bias we should overcome? 4. **Do rules need exceptions?** Kant insists moral rules must be universal, with no exceptions. But most of us can imagine extreme scenarios where any rule seems like it should bend. Does the need for exceptions fatally undermine deontology, or is the strength of the system precisely that it refuses to bend? 5. **Who gets to calculate the consequences?** Utilitarianism asks us to maximize good outcomes, but we're notoriously bad at predicting consequences. If we can't reliably know the results of our actions, is it practical to base our entire moral system on outcomes? Does this uncertainty push us back toward rules and principles? 6. **Everyday morality:** Think about a real moral decision you've made recently, even a small one. Did you reason more like a Kantian (what's the right thing to do in principle?) or more like a utilitarian (what will produce the best result?)? Do most people naturally lean one way? 7. **Justice vs. the greater good:** A town can prevent a deadly plague by sacrificing one innocent person. The greater good is clearly served. But is it just? Can an action be morally right and deeply unjust at the same time? 8. **The big synthesis question:** Are these two systems actually opposed, or do they often arrive at the same answers by different paths? Is it possible that we need both: rules to guide us in the moment and consequences to evaluate systems and policies over time?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Practical AI for Power BI Developers A year ago, “agentic AI” was mostly hype for Power BI teams. Today, it deserves your undivided attention. For Power BI pros, there is now a real opportunity to reduce repetitive development work, accelerate delivery, and help developers do more, but only when strong DataOps practices are in place to make AI workflows effective. This session is a no-nonsense introduction to effective AI patterns for Power BI and Fabric development. Along the way, we will make sense of the growing pile of terminology, including skills, plugins, hooks, and MCP. You will see examples of how modern AI tooling can help with development tasks across Power BI and Fabric, along with the prerequisites, guardrails, and DataOps principles needed to use it responsibly. Whether you're burned out on AI hype or already using Copilot CLI daily, this session will show you the foundations that are finally making AI-assisted development genuinely useful.