Philosophy Café

Held online via Zoom. Facilitated by Peter Whitfield

Next Philosophy Café is on 16 May 2025

Scroll down for topic information.

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

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

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.

Upcoming Cafés

Date	Presenter	Topic
Friday, 09 May	Warwick Jessup / Peter	Sarasvati – Sound and Flow
Friday, 16 May	Peter	Willing to Be Refuted
Friday, 23 May	Rowan Karer	Philosophy and Masculinity
Friday, 30 May	Peter	TBA
Friday, 06 June	—	Break
Friday, 13 June	Ian Mason	Economics with Justice
Friday, 20 June	James Whiting	TBA
Friday, 27 June	TBA	TBA
Friday, 04 July	TBA	TBA
Friday, 11 July	TBA	TBA

Session Times:

7pm London (Friday)
7pm Sydney (Friday) / 10am London

This week's topic 16 May:

From the very beginning, “willingness to be refuted” has been one of the guiding principles of the Philosophy Café - and a hallmark of the Socratic approach. It’s not so much about wanting to be proved wrong, but about being genuinely open to it.

If you've joined before, you've likely heard me speak about the benefits of this mindset: it brings a beautiful freedom - the freedom from clinging to tightly-held opinions that may not even be true.

I’m reminded of that classic Rowan Atkinson sketch where he plays the Devil - cheerfully guiding new arrivals into Hell. With clipboard in hand, he calls out categories:

“Thieves and pillagers - over there please. Yes, thank you.

Lawyers, you're with them - no surprise there.

Hedge fund managers, down the front.

And atheists... ah yes, you must be feeling like a right bunch of nitwits now, aren’t you?”

This week, we’ll explore that openness in practice. Bring along a topic or belief you’re - possibly not too - passionate about… and consider the real possibility that you might be mistaken.

And because the biggest request I receive is for longer and more frequent breakout rooms, we’ll dive into smaller group sessions to explore together - with like-minded souls from across the globe - all open to being challenged and changed - hopefully.