Courses
From January 2012, Conway Hall is running the following evening classes which have been specially developed for a general audience by members of the Humanist philosophers’ group Dr Brendan Larvor, Dr Peter Cave and Professor Richard Norman:
- Exploring Humanism: a 6 week basic introduction to what Humanism is and what Humanists believe and do
- Aspects of Humanism: 8 session, 16 hour in-depth course on the history and philosophy behind Humanist beliefs
-Applied Ethics: a 5 part look at differing approaches to moral thinking and action throughout history
- Death and Dying: 4 sessions exploring the significance of death, from murder and suicide to terminal illness, the meaning of life and immortality
Examples of the kind of questions the courses will be explore are:
- What is Humanism really all about?
- How do we decide what are right and wrong actions or good and bad ways of living?
- What did some of history’s greatest thinkers believe about living a good life?
- Are our intentions more important than the consequences of our actions?
- What exactly is Utilitarianism? And what has it got to do with Humanism, if anything?!
- Can there ever be such things as universal moral standards? If so, how do we decide what they are?
- What is more important for human flourishing: concern for the welfare of others or living a free and autonomous life?
- What is the significance of death or the value of life when we consider human pain and suffering?
To make a booking or for more details on the course content please email programme@ethicalsoc.org.uk or call 0207 061 6744.
Timetable
Spring Timetable - all sessions 7pm to 9pm
Exploring Humanism Tuesday 24 January – Tuesday 28 February (FULLY BOOKED)
Aspects of Humanism Tuesday 24 January – Tuesday 13 March
Death and Dying Tuesday 6 March – Tuesday 27 March
Applied Ethics Thursday 23 February – Thursday 22 March
Summer Timetable - all sessions 7pm to 9pm
Exploring Humanism Tuesday 1 May – Tuesday 5 June
Aspects of Humanism Tuesday 1 May – Tuesday 19 June
Death and Dying Tuesday 24 April – Tuesday 15 May
Applied Ethics Tuesday 22 May – Tuesday 19 June
Prices and Booking
Each session will be priced at £10, but we are offering a discounted rate of £7 a session two whole courses are booked at once.
To make a booking or for more details on the course content please email programme@ethicalsoc.org.uk or call 0207 061 6744.
Tutors
Conway Hall is delighted to be working with the following tutors from the London School of Philosophy who will be teaching our courses:
Shahrar Ali studied biochemical engineering (BEng) and philosophy (BA, MPhil, PhD) at the University of London. His research is in moral philosophy and his PhD was on Intentional Deception and Lying. He has taught at Hertfordshire, Anglia Ruskin, City Lit, WEA and currently teaches at Birkbeck College and the London School of Philosophy.
Sam Fremantle studied philosophy and economics at the University of Bristol followed by an MA in political philosophy (the idea of toleration) at the University of York. He has taught at Morley College, Lambeth and teaches at Birkbeck College and the London School of Philosophy.
Mark Fielding has taught at UCL, Birkbeck, Open University, and Greenwich and currently teaches at the London School of Philosophy. He holds degrees from Manchester and UCL. His principal interests are in the areas of philosophy and film, contemporary political thought, 20th Century French and German philosophy, and philosophy and biology.
Meade McCloughan studied philosophy and literature at the University of Warwick and philosophy at the University of London, first at Birkbeck College, then UCL (PhD thesis: Kant’s theory of progress). His interests are in modern European philosophy from the Enlightenment onwards, in particular Kant, Hegel and Marx.
Jane O’Grady studied English (BEd) at Cambridge and philosophy at UCL (BA). She teaches at City University and the London School of Philosophy and is philosophy obituarist for the Guardian. She is currently writing a book on being in love, which embraces philosophy, psychology, anthropology and literature.