AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD

Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom

The classical philosophy of the Islamic world is largely an attempt to reconcile the Hellenistic philosophy of Aristotle and Plotinus with the doctrines of the Qur'an. We will trace the evolution of Islamic thought beginning with it's founders, al Kindi and al Farabi, before exploring Ibn Sina and the Mind/Body problem, Ibn Rushd's argument that 

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WRITING FICTION: SETTING AND STRUCTURE

Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom

A residential creative writing course aimed at both beginning and intermediate writers interested in flash fiction, short stories, novellas or the novel. Consisting of lectures, writing exercises and individual tutorials, enjoy uninterrupted writing time in a beautiful rural retreat. In addition to taught sessions on ‘Setting’ and ‘Structure’, Darren will provide you with short stories 

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TALK & TEA: THE PHILOSOPHY OF HAPPINESS

Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom

One in a series of lectures by our Philosophy Tutor Darren for anyone who would like to enrich their lives by hearing a philosophical perspective on various topics. What is happiness?  Is it nothing more than feeling good, which underpins the philosophy of utilitarianism?  Is it merely the temporary cessation of suffering?  Or is it 

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FREEDOM, FRANCHISE AND FEMININITY IN VIRGINIA WOOLF

What is Freedom?  Is Freedom having a ‘room of one’s own’?  Are there several forms of Freedom?  Is ‘Political Freedom’ and franchise the most important?  Using Woolf’s novel Mrs Dalloway, as well as her essay A Room of One’s Own, this course will explore the concepts of Freedom, Franchise and Femininity.   Darren Harper (Cumbria 

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TALK & TEA: THE LAZY PHILOSOPHER’S GUIDE TO SOLITUDE

Another in a series of lectures by our Philosophy Tutor Darren for anyone who would like to enrich their lives by hearing a philosophical perspective on various topics. What is the difference between loneliness and solitude?  Have you ever felt lonely in a crowd? Making reference to Existentialist philosophiser Paul Tillich; being in a body means 

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WRITING FICTION: CHARACTER AND DIALOGUE

Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom

A residential creative writing course aimed at both beginning and intermediate writers interested in flash fiction, short stories, novellas or the novel. Consisting of lectures, writing exercises and individual tutorials, enjoy uninterrupted writing time in a beautiful rural retreat. In addition to taught sessions on ‘Character’ and ‘Dialogue,’ Darren will provide you with short stories 

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A PHILOSOPHER’S GUIDE TO SPIRITUALLY FOR ATHEISTS

Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom

What is spirituality? Can it be secular or must it be sacred? Can it help to fill the god-shaped-hole left by Nietzsche? Using lectures, literature, discussion and meditation, this course will draw upon a variety of global traditions to see if, as atheists or agnostics, we can utilise the wisdom of different cultures to feel 

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TALK & TEA: THE PHILOSOPHY OF MIDLIFE

Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom

Why does midlife often induce incongruous changes in one’s life? Is it that the things we have spent our lives pursuing no longer hold value? Making reference to philosopher Kieran Setiya’s distinction between existential value and ameliorative value, as well as the traditional Hindu stages of life, we will explore the value of life’s goals. 

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A CRASH COURSE IN PHILOSOPHY

Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom

Formerly philosophy was the preserve of PhDs and the intellectually precocious, until now! In this course we will explore some of the key questions of philosophy, such as: “How do we know that we know what we know?” ; “How should we live?”; “What is the best form of society?”; “Why do bad things happen 

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TALK & TEA: A PHILOSOPHER’S GUIDE TO AUTHENTICITY

Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom

What does it mean to be authentic? Just how does one ‘keep it real’? Have ideals of authenticity been corrupted by an excessively individualistic Western culture? In this talk Nietzsche (‘Become who you are’) and Heidegger (‘People are inauthentic because they allow themselves to be moulded by the group’) will help us to explore our 

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