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Welcome to the Philosophical Society's Web Site

The Philosophical Society is a community of enthusiastic amateur philosophers. Although it includes amongst its members academics and professionals from various fields of activity, as well as people who do hold academic qualifications in philosophy, the Society is not an academic research organisation. Its purpose is to advise and encourage anyone who has an interest in philosophy, and to help students who attend classes in philosophy organised by OUDCE (Oxford University Department for Continuing Education).

The Society was founded in 1973 by Dr Tony Chadwick, Staff Tutor in Philosophy at the Oxford University Department for External Studies, the predecessor of OUDCE. It currently has 374 members, a number of them from outside the UK, and is based at Rewley House, Oxford. The running of the Society is in the hands of a committee (elected annually by members at a General Meeting) which determines policy and advises the President. The current President is Dr Stephen Law, the OUDCE Director of Studies in Philosophy.

Please do take a look at the many activities we engage in.

Activity Updates

Last updated: 01 December 2023.

  • Away Day 2023 recordings
    MP4 video recordings are now available to members via links from the event's archive page.
  • Chadwick Prizes 2023
    The 2023 winning essays are now available via the Chadwick Prizes page.
  • Friday discussion group
    Meets online and in-person every second Friday of the month. December topic TBA.
  • Members' Weekend 2023 recordings (available to members only)
    Recorded presentations, texts, and slides are now available on the event's archived page.
  • Members' Weekend 2024: 14th - 15th September 2024
    Members' Weekend 2024 will take place at Rewley House. The theme of the event is yet to be decided.
  • OUDCE weekend courses available to Philsoc members at a discount
    Academic year 2023-2024 relevant courses have been added to the events programme page.