Philosophy Café

Held online via Zoom. Facilitated by Peter Whitfield

Next Philosophy Café is on Friday 10 October 2025.

Register to take part and receive information about upcoming topics.


 

 

 

 

 

A weekly get together of like minded people, who want to engage or recharge their interest in the practical benefits of studying philosophy.

Free drop-in sessions on Zoom, no need to attend every week. You will need to register, please click here to register. 

  • Weekly topics taken from the philosophy courses with a focus on Practical Philosophy, and what works in ‘my’ life.

  • Breakout rooms are allocated to allow time to meet and discuss ideas in smaller groups

  • Participants are encouraged neither to accept nor reject ideas, but to keep an open mind to discover what might be useful. 

  • We will use the four principles of platonic dialogue.

Platonic dialogue

  1. Truth is the goal
  2. Be willing to be refuted
  3. Listen with full attention; give space to the other person, don’t monopolize the stage – everyone’s voice is important
  4. Ask questions
Peter Whitfield

Peter Whitfield has been teaching the introductory courses in Philosophy for over 30 years. His love of great stories and belief in an eternal wisdom that provides practical help to live life fully, truly and happily has helped thousands of students.

The Introductory Philosophy course has transformed so many lives and the Philosophy Café  is an opportunity for anyone, current students, past students, family or friends to come along and be inspired. 

With Peter’s facilitation, the Friday night Philosophy café promises to be a new, flourishing event. Come along, be a participant and Find Yourself, in good company.

Session Times:

7pm London (Friday)
7pm Sydney (Friday) / 9am London

*please note that due to daylight saving time in Australia, 7pm Sydney is now 9am Friday morning UK.

This week's topics - Friday 10 October: 

Can Sound Heal? - with Warwick Jessup - 7pm UK

Miracles - with Peter Whitfield - 7pm Sydney time (9am UK) 

London Session - Can Sound Heal? - with Warwick Jessup 
Warwick returns this week to explore the healing power of sound. He’ll consider the controversial story of Ajamila, who - on his deathbed - is freed from worldly attachments through the power of sound. 

Can sacred sound truly transform our consciousness?

Sydney Session - Miracles - with Peter Whitfield
Although Warwick very generously offers to present each term, his work commitments prevent him from joining the Sydney timezone this week. Instead, we’ll turn our attention to miracles - those mysterious events that defy ordinary explanation.

Anandamayi Ma, sitting in meditation as flames swept through her hut, remained untouched, smiling softly: “Fire too is God’s form - why should it burn me?” 

Ram Dass told how his guru Neem Karoli Baba once took a few rupee notes and, placing them in a fire, drew them out unburned - saying, “When faith is pure, even fire cannot harm.”

In Autobiography of a Yogi, Yogananda describes meeting a saint who levitated above the ground while lost in divine absorption. 

So what about miracles today? We’ve heard in the Bible that a lame person is made to walk -but is it any less of a miracle when someone walks again after reconstructed knee surgery?

Is the greatest miracle of all : when a grumpy, miserable soul is transformed into a being of light and joy!

Well worth attending both sessions if you can!