While many of the activities are run by the Society itself, we also
recommend philosophy courses run by the Oxford University Department for
Continuing Education (OUDCE), which are offered in person and online.
Philosophy weekends and day schools are held in Rewley House at Oxford throughout the
year, at which two or more invited speakers of distinction give
lectures on a selected topic. During the weekend, ample opportunity is
given for questions and discussion. Mealtimes and coffee breaks
provide further opportunities to discuss topics and to get to know
other members of the Society. Please see the OUDCE Weekend/Day Philosophy Courses
page for details. Audio recordings of past events are available to
members from the OUDCE Events
Archive.
A Members' Weekend is held once a year, in person at Oxford and via
Zoom, at which the speakers are Society members. In addition, the
Society hosts International Events and Away Days at external venues
for presentations and discussions. All Society events are available
via Zoom as well.
Although Society events are open to everyone, most of those attending
are members who provide an enthusiastic core for the success of the
weekends.
An Annual Dinner, coinciding with our Members' Weekend, includes
awards being handed out to Chadwick
Prize, Boethius Prize, and Lyceum Prize winners. This is a
highlight of our social calendar.
We produce an annual journal. We call it the
Review and it contains many
contributions from members. Past issues of the Review
are available to members as PDF documents from the
Review Archive.
There is also an active Philsoc Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/OxfordPhilSoc/, which often contains
information on philosophical activities beyond the scope of
the Society, that may be of interest to members.
The Society encourages the formation of local groups for
those living some distance from Oxford and these are
proving very popular.
The Friday Discussion Group meets once a month at Rewley House at
Oxford and via Zoom to discuss various philosophical topics. All
members are invited to attend.
If you enjoy philosophy, then whether you can easily get to
Oxford or not, join the society
and you will be assured of an active and participatory
philosophical community.
ADVANTAGES OF MEMBERSHIP
Members receive advance notice of future philosophy courses and lectures
at the University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education.
Members have access to audio recording of past weekend courses going
back to 1987, thanks to the supportive arrangement with OUDCE for our
Society's members. See the OUDCE
Weekend/Day Philosophy Courses page for a list.
Members receive a free copy of the Philosophical Society
Review which is published annually in December, and to
which they are invited to contribute.
Members get a discount of 10% on all Weekend and Day Philosophy courses
at OUDCE, thanks to the supportive arrangement with OUDCE for our
Society's members.
Members who are suffering financial hardship may request financial
assistance to help with Society events and/or Society Membership fees.
Members receive a monthly email newsletter, keeping them up-to-date on
all Society events, courses, prizes, deadlines, and publications.
Members are entitled to borrow books from the Philosophy section of
Rewley House Library for a period of up to six weeks, thanks to the
supportive arrangement with OUDCE for our Society's members. Librarians
have an up-to-date list of paid-up members (members' names and towns of
residence only) and will request some form of identification. For hours
of opening, see the Rewley House
Library web site.
Members are entitled to participate in the Annual General
Meeting and are able to influence the selection of
topics and speakers for future weekends.
In addition to these member benefits, the Society runs essay
competitions. The Talbot Prize, awarded every term, is for students
enrolled in any OUDCE weekly class or on-line course in philosophy. The
Chadwick Prize is an open essay competition for our members, OUDCE
philosophy students, and any participants in groups associated with the
Society. The Philosophical Society funds all awards.
