Darren Harper – Philosophy and Creative Writing
TALK & TEA: THE PHILOSOPHY OF HAPPINESS
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomOne 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
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
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
WRITING FICTION: CHARACTER AND DIALOGUE
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomA 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
A PHILOSOPHER’S GUIDE TO SPIRITUALLY FOR ATHEISTS
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomWhat 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
TALK & TEA: THE PHILOSOPHY OF MIDLIFE
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomWhy 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.
A CRASH COURSE IN PHILOSOPHY
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomFormerly 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
TALK & TEA: A PHILOSOPHER’S GUIDE TO AUTHENTICITY
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomWhat 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
THE PHILOSOPHY AND LITERATURE OF HENRIK IBSEN
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom“A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.” (An Enemy of the People) What is the relationship between the community and individual? Is one more important than the other? In this course led by philosophy and literature tutor Darren Harper, we discuss society, ethics, truth and life in the
TALK & TEA: A PHILOSOPHER’S GUIDE TO IDENTITY
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomWho are you? Is the self immutable? Are you still the same person after you retire? In this talk, with the help of philosopher Amartya Sen, we will explore not only the questions above, but also to what degree our identities are plural, while casting a philosophical perspective on the incendiary topic of identity politics. Darren Harper