Food for Thought…

You are cordially invited to attend an evening dinner extension of the Café Philosophique. If you, like myself and many others I have spoken to, leave the Saturday discussions with a very real appetite, both physical and mental, then this is the perfect opportunity to satisfy both.

The enriching experience of the café philosophique, in the context of a large group, is the broad diversity of views and ideas exposed during those sessions. However, it is difficult to achieve continuity and focus within that large open forum and this is the reason the dinner has been arranged.

With a smaller group there is the opportunity to get a closer look at particular aspects of a subject in much greater depth. Gale proposes the following subjects for the next two upcoming dinners:

In light of the many different types of human relationships, the one we seem to uphold as sacred is "friendship". Some even say, if couple relationships are to work it’s best to be friends with your partner as well as lovers. When life becomes difficult at times, we seem to know who are our real friends. What is this special relationship we call "friendship"? Is friendship the basis for love? In what sense?

In many philosophical discussions the question of the purpose in life often comes up. Greek philosophy, vocalized by Plato’s ideal society illustrated in The Republic and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, give blueprints for the "good life". The Epicureans and their Stoic critiques also had versions of the "good life" to offer. Are there common elements in all and applicable to modern life as well? Is the "good life" based on material gain and comfort or is it a moral and/or spiritual basis? What’s its relationship to happiness?

For those wishing to attend, a participation fee of £15 will be payable in advance or upon your arrival to cover the cost of fees and expenses. Food and drinks will be at one’s own discretion, from the restaurant’s main evening menu at standard prices.

Places will be strictly restricted to 25, and dealt with on a first come first served basis, so do please complete the reservation form and either send or fax your reservations to Gale Prawda.