Philosophy on Saturdays - Exploring Philosophical ‘thought experiments'

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Course code: S27P

In this interactive workshop we will discuss some well-known philosophical ’thought experiments’. These dilemmas and problems, which come from both Ancient and Modern Philosophy, will prompt you to examine carefully, think critically and explain your ideas.

when

From 17 May 2025
Sat 10:00-15:00

One day

Date
17 May 2025
Time
10:00 to 15:00

with Jim Mepham

where

Stoke Lodge 

Stoke Lodge Centre, Shirehampton Road
Stoke Bishop
Bristol
BS9 1BN


fees

full fee for this course: £40.00, concession fee: £24.00.

who

Bristol Adult Learning

stokelodge@bristol.gov.uk

0117 903 8844

Description

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">In this interactive workshop, we will discuss some well-known philosophical ’thought experiments’. These dilemmas and problems, which come from both Ancient and Modern Philosophy, will prompt you to examine carefully, think critically and explain your ideas.</span></span></span></p>

What can students expect?

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">We will explore some thought experiments, some dilemmas and allegories to help us to consider some of these philosophical questions?</span></span></span></p>

<p> </p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">What is Justice? </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">What is identity? </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">What is reality? </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">Would you sacrifice one person to save many people?</span></span></span></p>

<p> </p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">This workshop will encourage discussion, debate and enquiry. Hopefully, we will have some fun as well as expanding our minds!</span></span></span></p>

Previous experience required?

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">No</span></span></p>

What is the progression route?

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">Future Philosophy courses</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">Online Philosophy courses</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">A Level Philosophy</span></span></p>

What should students bring?

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">Pen or pencil</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">A packed lunch</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">Cash for tea, coffee break</span></span></span></p>

Teaching method/style?

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Modelling</span></span></span><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif"> Highly interactive workshops.</span></span></span></p>

<p> </p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><strong><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">Tutor to provide …..</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">-  video stimuli </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">-  background information, summary of key concepts and ideas.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">-  facilitated discussion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">-  activities and exercises.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">-  opportunities for paired talk</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">-  opportunities for co-operative exploration.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">-  opportunities for generating questions</span></span></span></p>

<p> </p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><strong><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">Teaching strategies to include</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Questioning</span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Facilitated discussion</span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Paired, co-operative activity</span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Mini quizzes</span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Exploring resources, extracts, quotes, summaries</span></span></span></span></span></p>

Refunds and cancellations

<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">If we have to cancel your course your fees will be refunded in full. We are unable to reimburse the cost of materials you may have bought for the course.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">If you cancel your course booking a week (7 days) or more before the start date we will refund your fees minus an admin charge of 20%.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">If you cancel with less than a week (7 days) before the start date or after the course has started, we will not be able to refund your fees.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">Transfers will incur a fee of 10% and must be requested 7 days or more before the start of a course unless you are transferring to another course because your original course was cancelled.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">We are not able to offer refunds due to sickness or ill health.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<p style="margin-left:48px"> </p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">If you are due a refund you must contact the office within 3 months of the course to arrange payment as we do not keep card details.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&#34;Times New Roman&#34;,serif"><span style="font-family:&#34;Arial&#34;,sans-serif">When attending an online course, it is a learner’s responsibility to ensure they have adequate internet access before the start of a course. Refunds will not be given for technical failure of a learner’s home computer or their internet access.</span></span></span></p>