Saturday Philosophy- Is there anything more important than pleasure?
This course is available for enrolment.
Course code: SMJ3
In this workshop we will explore the ideas of the Ancient Greek Philosopher-Epicurus. We will discuss what he meant by hedonism and why he thought pleasure should be the guide to living your life.
- when
-
From 21 Nov 2026
Saturday 10:00-15:00 One day- Date
- 21 Nov 2026
- Time
- 10:00 to 15:00
- Tutor
- Jim Mepham
- who
-
Bristol Adult Learning
0117 903 8844
Description
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">In this workshop we will explore the ideas of the Ancient Greek Philosopher-Epicurus We will discuss what he meant by hedonism and why he thought pleasure should be the guide to living your life.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We will seek to apply his ideas to modern day questions like What would Epicurus’s attitude be towards watching the news, smoking pot and the environmental movement?</span></span></p>
What can students expect?
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We will discuss the essential ideas and principles of Epicurus and evaluate both the strengths of his philosophy and the challenges to it.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We will explore some dilemmas within his ideas about happiness and pleasure and discuss whether hedonism is a philosophy that is coherent.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The emphasis in this workshop will be on discussion and collaborative enquiry and the practical application of different ideas to our lives and concerns today. </span></span></span></p>
Previous experience required?
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">No</span></span></p>
What is the progression route?
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Future Philosophy courses at Stoke Lodge.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">A level Philosophy.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">A level Ethics</span></span></span></p>
Are there any extra costs?
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">No</span></span></p>
Work set between sessions?
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">No</span></span></p>
What should students bring?
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Pen or pencil</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Cash for hot drinks</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">A packed lunch</span></span></span></p>
Teaching method/style?
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Highly interactive workshops.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Tutor to provide …..</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">- video stimuli </span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">- background information, summary of key concepts and ideas.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">-facilitated discussion.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">-activities and exercises.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">-opportunities for paired talk</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">- opportunities for co-operative exploration.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">-opportunities for generating questions</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Teaching methods.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Modelling</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Questioning</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Facilitated discussion</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",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:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Mini quizzes</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Exploring resources, extracts, quotes, summaries.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
Course Cancellations and Refunds
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">If we cancel your course</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">You will receive a full refund of course fees.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We are not responsible for any additional costs, such as materials already purchased.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">If you cancel</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">7 days or more before the start date: refund minus a 20% administration fee.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Less than 7 days before the start date or after the course has started: no refund provided.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Enrolments are non-transferable. If you are unable to attend, you will not be able to send another person in your place.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Refund processing</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Refunds for online or telephone enrolments will be made via the original payment method within 14 days of approval. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">If you enrolled in the office, you will need to come in with your payment card to arrange a refund.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Transfers</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">7 days or more before the start date: transfer minus a 10% transfer fee.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Less than 7 days before the start date or after the course has started: no transfer provided.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">All transfers are subject to availability.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Transfers between Language levels may be possible with less than 7 days notice, subject to availability.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Enrolments are non-transferable. If you are unable to attend, you will not be able to send another person in your place.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">If we cancel your course, and you wish to transfer to another course this will be free of charge.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Illness and non-attendance</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We recognise that illness and unforeseen circumstances may arise. However, please note that we are unable to offer refunds, credits, or transfers for missed sessions due to ill health or non-attendance.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>