Living the Platonic Tradition

Moving philosophy into the mainstream of human life.

Tim Addey will give a talk on the important idea that the Platonic tradition was – and still is – really only understandable if the attempt is made to live according to its precepts. All the great sages of the Platonic tradition viewed philosophy as a way life, rather than a set of clever theories – as Porphyry wrote, “Beatific contemplation does not consist of the accumulation of arguments or a storehouse of learned knowledge, but in us theory (theoria) must become nature and life itself.”

The tradition is at least 3,000 years old and draws upon the accumulated wisdom of many men and women – it addresses directly all the most essential questions that a human being must ponder, from the most outward matters of how we live with justice within society and in relation to our fellow creatures, to the most inward mysteries of the human soul and its relation to its source. The talk aims to explore the relevance of the tradition to contemporary life.

No previous experience of formal philosophy is required.

Entrance is free, but donations between £3-5 will be welcomed.

A PDF download of the extract we will be reading is available on our website together with further details of this and other Prometheus Trust's activities: www.prometheustrust.co.uk (the PDF is on the "London Monday Evenings" page.)

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