London Philosophy Club – Philosophy and Psychology: a new synthesis?

The new synthesis of ancient philosophy with modern empirical psychology raises fascinating questions for philosophers and psychologists alike. Can psychology provide an evidence base for virtue ethics? Can science prove that a certain model (or models) of the good life really do lead to flourishing as the ancients claimed? If so do governments have a role or even an obligation to teach their citizens how to live well? Does philosophy still have a role to play or has psychology taken over its most important function – telling us how to live well? This event brings together a great panel of thinkers who are trying to figure out what philosophy and psychology have to say to each other and how they can work together. Kristjan Kristjansson is professor of philosophy at the University of Iceland and the author of ‘Aristotle education and the emotions’ and several other books and papers looking at ancient philosophy and its place in modern psychology and theories of education. He has a book out later this year looking at Positive Psychology from a philosophical perspective. Donald Robertson is the principal of the UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy and the director of Solutions London Cognitive Therapy Centre. He is the author of The Philosophy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (2010) which looks at the ancient philosophical roots of CBT – the image above comes from his book. Tim LeBon is a cognitive therapist and philosophical counsellor and the author of Wise Therapy: Philosophy for Counsellors (2003). He has organised philosophical workshops within the framework of the NHS. Jules Evans is policy director at the Centre for the History of the Emotions at Queen Mary University of London and the author of Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations out in May 2012 which explores how people use philosophy to cope with life’s challenges. 1900 start £1 entrance fee.