| When |
Author |
Topic |
Led By |
Comments |
| 2006 - 2007 |
Hayakawa |
Language in Thought and Action |
Peter Jones |
This stimulating text on semantics was used by Peter to introduce his own slant on Philosophy. |
| 2008 |
Jayne Waterworth |
A Philosophical Analysis of Hope |
Jayne Colvin |
Led by the author! |
| 2008-9 |
Ray Billington |
Living Philosophy |
Peter Stevenson. |
Lively text with ethical slant |
| 2008-9 |
Nigel Warburton |
Philosophy: the Classics |
Peter Stevenson. |
Useful overview of the classic texts |
| 2009-10 |
Gordon Graham |
Eight Theories of Ethics |
Group Effort |
Excellent treatment of Ethics |
| 2010 |
Mary Warnock |
Women Philosophers |
Group Effort |
Earlier extracts were tough but we got a lot out of the book |
| 2011 |
John Hosper |
Introduction to Philosophical Analysis |
Group Effort |
Was our least favourite text until Hartman (below). |
| 2011/12 |
Michael J Sandel |
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? |
Group Effort |
We watched the Harvard lectures from the internet & read the book - highly recommended.
|
| 2011/12 |
Plato |
Republic |
Jayne Colvin |
By a beginners group |
| 2011/12 |
John Stuart Mill |
On Liberty |
Jayne Colvin |
By a beginners group |
| 2011/12 |
Jayne Wateridge |
A Philosophical Analysis of Hope. |
Jayne Colvin |
By a beginners group |
| 2012 |
Johnathan Wolff |
Ethics and Public Policy |
Group Effort |
Good linkeage of philosophy to current politics and ethics |
|
2013
|
Bryan Magee |
Talking Philosophy |
Group Effort |
We watched some programmes of the BBC series Men of Ideas on which the book is based |
| 2013 |
Ronald Dworkin |
Sovereign Virtue |
Group Effort |
We gave up on this - good stuff but too densely written for a group like us |
| 2013/14 |
Scott M James |
An Introduction to Evolutionary Ethics |
Group Effort |
Good beginners guide to the philosopical implications of evolutionary psycholgy |
| 2014 |
Aristotle |
Nichomachean Ethics |
Group Effort |
Surprisingly readable - we recommend Penguin 2nd ed. |
| 2014/5 |
Contemporary Philosophers |
Overview of Individual Authors |
Group Effort |
Stimulating Variety |
| 2015 |
Edward Feser |
Philosophy of Mind |
Group Effort |
Tough going - but we enjoyed it! |
| 2015/6 |
Nicholas Fearn |
Zeno and the Tortoise |
Group Effort |
Lively selection of topics illustrating different philosophical methods |
| 2016 |
Peter Singer (ed.) |
Applied Ethics |
Group Effort |
Stimulating collection of classic articles on Ethics - recommended |
| 2016/17 |
Victoria Harrison |
Eastern Philosophy: the Basics |
Group Efffort |
We enjoyed this excellent introduction to Eastern Philosophy |
| 2017 |
Vicent Geoghan & Rick Wiford (eds.) |
Political Ideologies |
Group Effort |
Good Introduction to the topic. |
| 2016/7 |
Naomi Scheman |
Engenderings |
Jayne Colvin |
We enjoyed discussing feminist philosophy over lunch, but in places knowledge was assumed in the text we did not have. |
| 2017 |
Kwame Anthony Apiah |
Mistaken Identities |
Group Effort |
We listened to, and discussed the 2016 Reith Lectures |
| 2017 |
A H Basson |
David Hume |
Group effort |
We found Hume stimulating but preferred the Stanford Encyclopaedia articles on Hume to Basson's book. |
| 2017/19 |
Stephen Cahn & Christine Vitrano (eds.) |
Happiness: Classic & Contemporary Readings in Philosophy |
Jayne Colvin |
Generating some lively discussions. Recommended. |
| 2017/8 |
Julian Baggini |
Ethics: the Big Questions Paperback Title: Without God Is Everything Permitted?
|
Group Effort |
We didn't always agree with Julian but found his essays stimulated some great discussions. |
| 2018 |
Niccolo Machiavelli |
The Prince |
Group Effort |
Still very relevant in the C21st. |
| 2018/9 |
Ralph A Hartman |
Philosophies of Language and Linguistics |
Group Effort |
Interesting topic and discussions but we do not recommend the book. |
| 2019 |
David Benatar |
The Human Predicament |
Group Effort |
A pessimistic look at life which generated very lively discussions. |
| Summer 2019 |
Jonathan Sumption |
2019 Reith Lectures |
Group Effort |
Discussion of the 2019 Reith Lectures on Law, Politics and Constitutions |
| 2019 |
Thomas Hurka |
The Best Things in Life |
Group Effort |
A more optimistic look at some of the basic things in life which contrasted well with Benatar's approach |
| 2019 |
Nigel Warburton |
Free Speech: A Very Short Introduction |
Group Effort |
Thoughtful introduction to a key contemporary issue. |
| 2020 |
Seneca (ed. Campbell) |
Letters From A Stoic |
Group Effort |
Very readable, insight into Roman life & relevant to today |
| 2020 |
Massimo Pugliucci et al. |
How To Live A Good Life: A Guide To Choosing Your Personal Philosophy |
Group Effort |
Practitioners of 13 personal philosophies / religions on what and why they believe. Generated good discussions. A rather American and conservative selection. Little on how to choose, despite sub-title! |
| 2020 |
Voltaire (Francois Marie Arouet) |
Candide or Optimism |
Group Effort |
A brief literary excursion |
| 2020 |
Hubert Drefus & Sean Dorrance Kelly |
All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age |
Group Effort |
A longer literary excursion from Homer to Moby Dick focussing on the alleged Nihilism of modern times |
| 2021 |
Michael Sandel |
The Tyranny of Meritocracy |
Group Effort |
As ever Sandel's writing is clear and raises some basic questions about modern societies. |
| 2021 |
Thomas Nagel |
Mortal Questions |
Group Effort |
A classic, exploring fundamental issues of death, values & life. Generating good discussions but obscure in places. |
| 2021 |
Todd May |
A Decent Life |
Group Effort |
A well written, thoughtful and original approach to Ethics which generated much discussion and was liked by the group. |
| 2022 |
Hannah Arendt |
The Human Condition |
Group Effort |
Most of us found the book confusing and we abandonned our discussions halfway through! |
| 2022 |
Michael Hauskeller |
The Meaning of Life and Death |
Group Effort |
Interesting selection of writers on a meaty topic. Some group members would have liked a conclusion! |
| 2022 |
Julian Baggini |
A Short History of Truth: Consolations for a Post-Truth World |
Group Effort |
As ever we found Baggini readable, relevant and stimulating. |
| 2022 |
Noel Carroll |
Philosophy of Art: A Contemporary Introduction |
Group Effort |
Some of us found the book too academic an approach but the topic generated very lively discusssions. |
| 2023 |
Various |
Articles in Philosophy Now |
Group Effort |
Lively discussions mainly on contemporary issues |
| 2023 |
Ptahhatp |
Teachings |
Steve |
Possibly the first ever Philosopher!* |
| 2023 |
John Stuart Mill |
Essay on Liberty |
Group effort |
An essential classic text |
| 2024 |
Michel Tanner |
Nietzsche: A Very short Introduction |
Group Effort |
Mixed reactions to both Tanner & Nietzsche (some enthusiastic) but, as ever, lively discussions |
| 2024 |
James Miller |
Examined Lives: Twelve Great Thinkers in the Search for Wisdom from Socrates to Nietzche |
Group Effort |
Proved useful for a mixed group with varying previous knowledge. Basic outline of each thinker's thought and biography and an interesting exploration of the purpose of Philosophy over time. |