We used to be Philosophy but Lindsay MacDougall, who ran the group from 2012, suggested that

                            the History of Ideas was a less daunting title which would give us a wider scope. It was an excellent decision.

                                        To give you an idea of what we do, here are some of the topics we have covered since then:

                        Why do we laugh?’         Adam Smith, presented by Francis Buxton.    Michel de Montaigne.     Baruch Spinoza

                  Jean-Jacques Rousseau.       Romanticism- What’s it all about?           Romanticism in Art, presented by Caroline Lewis.

                                    Currently we are deep into the 17th Century and the Age of Reason, starting with Thomas Hobbes,

                    and continuing  in July and August with John Locke, As Locke was hugely inspirational in the creation of an independent 

                     United States his ideas about government are tremendously relevant today.

                           In September we will be leaving the seventeenth century to consider the timeless question of WHY WE BELIEVE 
                                                                                           Francis Buxton will be presenting.

                                                                  Caroline Lewis will present the October session which will be

                                            A fresh view of the world: some beliefs and ideas from other places and other times.

                                                                 Carolyn Bridgewater will be presenting November’s topic which is

                                                                                                      CHALLENGING MATERIALISM 

                                                                                     We meet on the third Friday of the month at 11.30.                                                            
                                                               It’s a good idea to check the monthly programme for current details.

                                                   Any ideas about future topic or offers to present a topic would be very welcome.