WHERE IS THE LUDLOW PHILOSOPHY CAFÉ?
Ludlow Methodist Church
52 Broad St,
Ludlow SY8 1NH
WHEN DOES IT MEET?
There will be a £1 taster session on Wednesday, 8th October 1.30-3.30pm.
The sessions will then take place every Wednesday 1.30-3.30pm.
HOW DO I BOOK A PLACE?
Email
bHVkbG93cGhpbG9zb3BoeWNhZmUgfCBnbWFpbCAhIGNvbQ==
CAN I GET SOMETHING TO EAT AND DRINK AT THE LUDLOW PHILOSOPHY CAFÉ?
Yes, you can. Not all philosophy cafés are actually in cafés, but ours does have a café attached where you can enjoy delicious home-cooked meals and fair trade drinks before the session starts. The café is called Wesley’s and it is on the ground floor.
ARE THE CAFÉ AND VENUE FULLY ACCESSIBLE?
Yes. There are ramps where needed and a lift to take you between floors.
WHAT IS A PHILOSOPHY CAFÉ?
A philosophy café is a place for people to meet, make friends, and discuss ideas and contemporary issues in a relaxed, mutually respectful way. Its aim is to take philosophy out of the academy and put it back into communities, making it accessible to all.
ARE THERE OTHER PHILOSOPHY CAFÉS?
The first philosophy café started in Paris in 1992. Philosophy cafés have since appeared elsewhere. Two of the earliest examples were Café Philo at the French Institute in Kensington and the Enfield Philosophy Café at the Dugdale Arts Centre in North London.
WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE?
Most philosophy cafés are fairly informal gatherings allowing people to chat about ideas over a cup of tea or coffee. The Ludlow Philosophy Café does this too, but it also offers people the chance to learn about the subject from an experienced university lecturer.
Each session will start with a short introductory talk on a key idea or debate in philosophy and will be followed by a lively and fun discussion about how these philosophical concepts can help us understand a contemporary issue. The sessions last about two hours, with a short break in the middle.
HOW WILL IT DIFFER FROM ATTENDING A CLASS OR READING A BOOK ON THE SUBJECT?
Most introductory classes and texts focus on the questions addressed by the great thinkers of the past. The Ludlow Philosophy Café will also consider these questions, but the emphasis will be on more recent developments in philosophy and the problems that face us today – many of which, like artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, our ancestors could not have imagined.
More importantly, perhaps, what makes the Ludlow Philosophy Café different is that you will be learning about philosophy in the best way possible – by discussing it with others in a friendly and supportive environment.
WILL I NEED TO HAVE STUDIED PHILOSOPHY?
No previous knowledge of philosophy is required. The introductory talks will tell you everything you need to know in clear, jargon-free language.
WHAT KINDS OF TOPICS WILL BE DISCUSSED?
Here is small selection of the topics to be covered:
*What is freedom? *The nature of desire: why do I want what I want? *Do we live in a surveillance society? *Social media and its critics *Can machines think? *The ethics of artificial Intelligence *Knowledge in a post-truth world *Is Democracy worth fighting for? *Faith and the limits of reason *Do we have free will? *Civil disobedience: Do we have an obligation to obey the law? *Morality and free markets *Libertarianism *Personal identity – what is it that makes me what I am? *Sartre and Existentialism *Violence and the Social Order *Animal ethics *Environmental Ethics *Gender *Conspiracy Theories *Cognitive Biases, and many more.
WHY STUDY PHILOSOPHY?
1. Because it is endlessly fascinating. For the student of philosophy, everything is a source of wonder and intellectual delight. You will never meet a bored philosopher.
2. Whenever you are forced to question your assumptions or deal with an ethical dilemma, you are engaging in philosophical thought. So, since you can’t avoid doing philosophy, you may as well learn to do it well.
3. Philosophy makes you smarter. By showing you how to find the flaws in an argument and how to construct better arguments of your own, philosophy provides you with the critical tools you need to engage intelligently with the complex problems presented by modern life.
4. We live in a world of conspiracy theories and misinformation. Philosophy, which is based on logic and reason, will help you to distinguish between valid and invalid arguments.
5. Philosophy is good for your brain. It offers the kind of mental workout that few other activities provide. Unlike doing crossword or Sudoku puzzles, philosophy exercises the whole brain, making use of memory, experience, imagination, reasoning, and language skills. So, if you’re worried that your brain isn’t as good as it used to be, there is no better way to increase your intellectual fitness.
6. Philosophy is a social activity. Getting together with others to discuss ideas is not just good for your brain. It’s a great way to meet people and expand your horizons.
WHO HOSTS THE SESSIONS?
The sessions are hosted by author and former philosophy lecturer, Alan Murray. Alan has taught undergraduate and post-graduate students at several universities, including the University of London and Middlesex University. He has written numerous papers and reviews for philosophy journals and is the author of Michel Serres: A Brief Introduction, a student’s guide to the work of an important French philosopher. In a lighter vein, he has also written a tongue-in-cheek self-help book called The Little Book of Pessimism. In 2013, Acumen published a volume of his philosophy-inspired poetry called Perhaps. He is currently working on a book about the French theorist, René Girard.
ARE THERE ANY RULES?
There is only one rule. Listen respectfully and patiently to what others have to say, even if you strongly disagree with them. Never interrupt or talk over someone else. Engaging in a philosophical debate is not at all like appearing on Question Time. It should not be combative or adversarial. The aim is not to ‘win’ the argument, but to work towards the truth together. There is only one enemy in philosophy and that is error. The only ‘loser’ in a philosophical debate is the one that emerges from it with exactly the same views they had when they entered it.
HOW MUCH DO THE SESSIONS COST?
There is a £1 taster session on Wednesday 8th October 2025.
Sessions thereafter are £7
HOW DO I PAY?
You can pay on the day in cash and will be given a receipt.
Other payment methods may be available in future.
DO I NEED TO RESERVE A PLACE?
Places for the £1 taster session are limited, so if you would like to attend, you will need to reserve your place by emailing
bHVkbG93cGhpbG9zb3BoeWNhZmUgfCBnbWFpbCAhIGNvbQ== You will then be sent an email with all the information you will need on finding the room etc.
WHAT IF I HAVE A QUESTION THAT HASN’T BEEN ANSWERED HERE?
Just email
bHVkbG93cGhpbG9zb3BoeWNhZmUgfCBnbWFpbCAhIGNvbQ== for a swift response to your query.
Also check out other Arts events in Ludlow, Literary Art events in Ludlow, Workshops in Ludlow.
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