Where people come together in community venues... and share ideas about life's big questions... in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Schedule

Here are all the up and coming enquiry topics and events.

Topic Venue Presenter Date Time
Common Sense? The Black Toad (Hoylake) The group 08/01/2026 14:00
What is common sense - who gets to decide what it is? The U.K. government in 2023 appointed a new cabinet position, widely referred to as the minister for 'common sense'. But what common sense is, is widely disputed, not just among philosophers but in everyday life. Using the rhetoric of common sense is in fact often used to present controversial claims as obvious, and conceal ideological commitments, argues Peter West. See link: https://iai.tv/articles/the-common-sense-myth-peter-west-auid-2670
The Cosmic Joke ... Bacchus Bar (Birmingham) Chris B 08/01/2026 19:30
What happens when you combine Alan Watts’ playful Zen humour with Osho’s rebellious refusal to behave? Somewhere between a cosmic joke and a polite riot. Watts tells us life is a dance we’re taking far too seriously. Osho tells us society depends on us staying afraid, obedient, and confused. Together, they ask an unsettling question: what if fr......... We meet on the first Thursday of every month, at the Bacchus Bar, Burlington Arcade, New St, Birmingham B2 4JH. All welcome.
Democracy and Populism? The Vernon Arms (City Group) Robert 12/01/2026 13:00
The Vernon Arms: Laid-back traditional alehouse featuring a selection of beers & plentiful comfort food plates. 69 Dale Street, City Centre, Liverpool, L2 2HJ
If Not Philosophy, What? Flanagan's Irish Pub Tom L 13/01/2026 18:30
Flanagan's Irish Pub is in Church Road, Waterloo. Turn left out of Waterloo railway station and walk down in the direction of river until you come to the Church Road on your left. Walk down Church Road and the pub is on your right about half way down. All welcome!
Instinct + Moral Reasoning? Keith's Wine Bar (L'pool South) Open forum 13/01/2026 19:00
Does our moral sensibility develop out of instinct? 107 Lark Lane, Aigburth, Liverpool, L17 8UR
Chosen on the evening! Paris Philo Cafe (Online English) Michael M 14/01/2026 17:00
6pm here (7pm in Paris) .. Every Wednesday of the month. This is the online offspring of the monthly Paris Café Philo (in person) which exists since 1997...... Link: (Copy + Paste) https://www.meetup.com/english-cafe-philo-in-paris
Materialism v Idealism The Vernon Arms (City Group) Evan 19/01/2026 13:00
The Vernon Arms: Laid-back traditional alehouse featuring a selection of beers & plentiful comfort food plates. 69 Dale Street, City Centre, Liverpool, L2 2HJ
Two Sci-fi classics The Vernon (LIPs) Jim 19/01/2026 18:30
Two sci-fi classics: 1) flowersforalgernon.pdf - and 2) sound_of_thunder_full_text.pdf - Literature in Pubs every 3rd Monday of the month - 69 Dale St, Liverpool City Centre, L2 2HJ
What do we owe future generations? Keith's Wine Bar (L'pool South) Martin 20/01/2026 19:00
Keith's Wine Bar: 107 Lark Lane, Aigburth, Liverpool, L17 8UR
Moral Relativism The Rose & Crown (Bebington) Open forum 21/01/2026 13:00
The Rose & Crown, a popular community pub: 57 The Village, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 7PL ..... Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month ... All welcome!
Alienation and A I Marx Study Group (Online) Study group 21/01/2026 18:00
Marx Study Group will take place from 6 to 8pm on jitsi: - https://meet.guifi.net/NewJitsiLpoolSocialistStudyGroup ..... At the meeting, we’ll conclude Part 3 - Manifestations of Alienation and with it our programme of study on Alienation. The session will deal with Alienated labour and (AI) technology.
Chosen on the evening! Paris Philo Cafe (Online English) Michael M 21/01/2026 19:00
6pm here (7pm in Paris) .. Every Wednesday of the month. This is the online offspring of the monthly Paris Café Philo (in person) which exists since 1997...... Link: (Copy + Paste) https://www.meetup.com/english-cafe-philo-in-paris
When is a crime not a crime? The Park (Eccles) Open forum 21/01/2026 19:30
The Park, Monton Road, Eccles, Manchester, M30 9QD. We meet every 3rd Wednesday of the month (&.30pm) All welcome!
Truth in Political Discourse. The Black Toad (Hoylake) John Fry 22/01/2026 14:00
How do we reach truth within political discourse? The Black Toad, Micro-pub and bottle-shop in Hoylake specialising in craft beer and cask ale: 32 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2AF. Every 2nd + 4th Thursday of month (2pm start!) - All welcome!
Political protest Vs the media Pocket Cafe/Bar (City centre) Mike 22/01/2026 18:00
An early evening group, at a nice cool bar, just around the corner from Liverpool 1 bus station, and not too far from train stations. All welcome!
The Ethics of Surrogacy ... The Vernon Arms (City Group) Martin 26/01/2026 13:00
The Vernon Arms: Laid-back traditional alehouse featuring a selection of beers & plentiful comfort food plates. 69 Dale Street, City Centre, Liverpool, L2 2HJ
What Value are the Arts? Lock & Quay (Bootle) Mike Naido 26/01/2026 19:00
The Lock & Quay: 2 Irlam Road, Bootle, L20 4AH …. Bootle’s first community pub, owned and managed by the community – All welcome!
OPEN FORUM Flanagan's Irish Pub ALL 27/01/2026 18:30
Flanagan's Irish Pub is in Church Road, Waterloo. Turn left out of Waterloo railway station and walk down in the direction of river until you come to the Church Road on your left. Walk down Church Road and the pub is on your right about half way down. All welcome!
What makes beliefs reasonable? Keith's Wine Bar (L'pool South) Mike R 27/01/2026 19:00
Keith's Wine Bar: 107 Lark Lane, Aigburth, Liverpool, L17 8UR
Chosen on the evening! Paris Philo Cafe (Online English) Michael M 28/01/2026 21:00
6pm here (7pm in Paris) .. Every Wednesday of the month. This is the online offspring of the monthly Paris Café Philo (in person) which exists since 1997...... Link: (Copy + Paste) https://www.meetup.com/english-cafe-philo-in-paris
World War 3 The Vernon Arms (City Group) Sean 02/02/2026 13:00
The Vernon Arms: Laid-back traditional alehouse featuring a selection of beers & plentiful comfort food plates. 69 Dale Street, City Centre, Liverpool, L2 2HJ
Do you own your image? Keith's Wine Bar (L'pool South) Open forum 03/02/2026 19:00
Keith's Wine Bar: 107 Lark Lane, Aigburth, Liverpool, L17 8UR
Can you trust the word of a drunk person? Oats & Honey Coffee shop (Monton) Open forum 04/02/2026 19:30
Oats & Honey, 205 Monton Road, Monton, Eccles, Salford, Manchester, M30 9PN. We meet every 1st Wednesday of the month. All welcome!
The Rise of Collective amnesia V Critical Thinking The Vernon Arms (City Group) Alan 09/02/2026 13:00
The Vernon Arms: Laid-back traditional alehouse featuring a selection of beers & plentiful comfort food plates. 69 Dale Street, City Centre, Liverpool, L2 2HJ
Consequences or Intentions? Keith's Wine Bar (L'pool South) Mike 10/02/2026 19:00
Keith's Wine Bar: 107 Lark Lane, Aigburth, Liverpool, L17 8UR
What is Spirituality? The Black Toad (Hoylake) Paul D 12/02/2026 14:00
Spirituality is a somewhat vague term, often explained by further vague terms. It has been characterised as 'conceptually adrift' (White 1994, p369). It is argued here that while religion needs spirituality, spirituality does not, and never has, needed religion.
What is Culture? The Vernon Arms (City Group) Robert 16/02/2026 13:00
The Vernon Arms: Laid-back traditional alehouse featuring a selection of beers & plentiful comfort food plates. 69 Dale Street, City Centre, Liverpool, L2 2HJ
Drive your plow over the bones of the dead The Vernon (LIPs) LIPS 16/02/2026 18:30
Drive your plow over the bones of the dead - Olga Tokarczuk. Literature in Pubs every 3rd Monday of the month - 69 Dale St, Liverpool City Centre, L2 2HJ
Things, Relations + Category mistakes? Keith's Wine Bar (L'pool South) Open forum 17/02/2026 19:00
Keith's Wine Bar: 107 Lark Lane, Aigburth, Liverpool, L17 8UR
The Power of Refusal The Vernon Arms (City Group) Geraldine 23/02/2026 13:00
The Vernon Arms: Laid-back traditional alehouse featuring a selection of beers & plentiful comfort food plates. 69 Dale Street, City Centre, Liverpool, L2 2HJ
Is Crime Inevitable in Society? Keith's Wine Bar (L'pool South) Martin 24/02/2026 19:00
Keith's Wine Bar: 107 Lark Lane, Aigburth, Liverpool, L17 8UR
What is Imagination? The Black Toad (Hoylake) Vashic 26/02/2026 14:00
The Black Toad, Micro-pub and bottle-shop in Hoylake specialising in craft beer and cask ale: 32 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2AF. Every 2nd + 4th Thursday of month (2pm start!) - All welcome!
Knowledge and Belief The Black Toad (Hoylake) Open forum 12/03/2026 14:00
The Black Toad, Micro-pub and bottle-shop in Hoylake specialising in craft beer and cask ale: 32 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2AF. Every 2nd + 4th Thursday of month (2pm start!) - All welcome!
Memoirs of Hadrian. (Marguerite Yourcenar) The Vernon (LIPs) LIPS 16/03/2026 18:30
Literature in Pubs every 3rd Monday of the month - 69 Dale St, Liverpool City Centre, L2 2HJ
What is Ideology? The Black Toad (Hoylake) The group 26/03/2026 14:00
The Black Toad, Micro-pub and bottle-shop in Hoylake specialising in craft beer and cask ale: 32 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2AF. Every 2nd + 4th Thursday of month (2pm start!) - All welcome!