Introductory course in Norwich

Practical Philosophy

Courses in practical wisdom for everyday living.

A Sat Nav for Life

Discover philosophy as a way of life

Philosophy aims to set you free. Free from pressures, worries and limiting ways of thinking. Free to grow and be yourself. Take your first steps to freedom and inner clarity with our 10 week course.

Practical Philosophy and mindfulness helps us to find our direction in life.

This popular Norwich course is practical rather than academic and draws on sources of wisdom from East and West, past and present.

Local Course

Local face-to-face evening courses available in Norwich.

Peace of Mind

Following all Health & Safety guidelines for your complete peace of mind.
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Practical Wisdom

Courses in practical wisdom for everyday living. Meet with like minded individuals.

Course only £60

Introductory 10 week course only £60. Limited spaces.

Explore Life To The Full… through 10 weekly sessions

The Norwich course offers a practical means to discover fully who we are, understand how to relate to the world we live in and see what gets in the way of being happy, peaceful and free.

Students are invited to see life as a place to test the words of the wise through practical and mindful exercises.

The 10 weekly sessions explore central human questions through discussion, practical observation, conversation and reflection in good company.

£ 60

10 weekly sessions
Starts in Sept/Oct 2025
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Refreshment break
Limited places

Popular

The Journey

Themes included in the course:

The Wisdom Within

These opening sessions consider how philosophy can help us enjoy richer, less stressful lives. What is practical philosophy? ‘What would a wise person do here?’ Philosophy means the love of wisdom. Our course is intended to show how philosophy can help us enjoy richer, less stressful and more useful lives. This opening two sessions consider these aims, and introduces simple exercises in mindfulness and the application of wisdom you can practise in daily life. You can download or listen to the Awareness Exercise, introduced in week one here. To download, right-click, choose ‘Save link as…’ and save the MP3 wherever you want. You can also download a PDF of the Awareness Exercise

Know thyself

Who or what am I? What is my potential? Who am I, really? My body? My emotions? My strongly held beliefs? My soul? Possibly all of these? Possibly none? Such questions have preoccupied philosophers down the ages. We look at practical ways to explore who we really are and how to tap our true potential.

Being awake

What is our state of awareness? Why does it fluctuate during the day? Often the most notable quality of wise people is their alertness to the subtleties of a situation. They are awake, perceptive and curious. We look at deeper levels of awareness, and consider how we may become more awake to ourselves, our surroundings, and the events we meet.

The present moment

Living in the now, mindfulness. What is the potential of the present moment? We review our own experience of attention through a model featuring attention centred, captured, open and scattered, and how these each relate to the past, present and future. We examine the extraordinary brightness and freedom naturally available in the present moment. A straightforward practice is introduced.

Living justly

Plato’s views on justice. What does it mean to live justly? According to Plato, justice and injustice do not start ‘out there’. They begin within us. For justice to prevail, Plato suggests that we must learn to avoid being ‘tyrannised’ by our passions and fears to the extent they overrule our reason. We discuss the practicality of Plato’s ideas on justice in our daily lives.

The Threefold Energy

The Vedic model of three fundamental energies. Sometimes we seem not to have enough energy, or the wrong kind. A wise person can act consistently despite these varying conditions. We consider how to recognise differing energies, how to gain and conserve them and how to use them wisely.

The light of reason

What is reason? How can it enrich our lives? We look at guidelines for Socratic dialogue and how to use them. Developing reason in decision-making and action are also discussed, with practical applications. Obstacles to reason are considered. Everyone has the faculty of reason and we can all use it and develop it.

The power of beauty

What is beauty?

Is there such a thing as absolute beauty?

Beauty has the capacity to open the heart and bring delight. In this session we discuss our direct experience of beauty in its different form: of the sensory world, of thought, of feelings, of the inner nature, and of conduct.

We consider Plato’s idea of there being ultimately one beauty – beauty absolute – ‘not knowing birth or death, growth or decay’.

Unity in diversity

Looking for the common thread in life. What is the effect of finding unity? When we look around, we see enormous diversity in nature. The wise person looks for the unifying factor: that which allows all this apparent diversity to be seen as part of a single whole. Seen in this way, life then has the best chance of being led freshly and openly.

The desire for truth

What is truth? How does the desire for truth show itself? Practical philosophy is about discovering the truth of things – not theoretically, but in our own experience. In this final session we look back and ask ourselves how our search for truth has fared as the term has progressed. We discuss what has been discovered and how, in our own way, we may continue to develop it in our daily lives.

Philosophy and Happiness Course

Holidays come and go. Clothes wear out. Bank accounts go up and down. Through all this,
the desire for happiness is a compass point.

The desire for happiness is hard-wired into human nature because happiness is part of our nature. But something’s blocking the flow. The Happiness course opens the gate and sets you on your way and focuses on meeting the perennial need for everyone to find the well-spring of happiness through all of life’s changing circumstances.

This course will calibrate your compass, provide a map and refresh your navigation skills.

Happiness and Service

Happiness and service. Is happiness natural?

Is happiness natural? Happiness and law

What is true happiness? Is this natural to a man or woman? How may it be experienced fully and how is it lost? Is it permanent or transient?

Happiness and utilitarianism

Happiness and law; Happiness and utilitarianism;

Happiness and pleasure, Epicurus, Aristippus, Plato

The Platonic goods which lead to happiness

Lao Tzu, finding inner equilibrium

An introduction to Marsilio Ficino

Happiness: contentment, Patanjali

Finding happiness in work

Happiness and Wisdom

Location

How to Enrol

How the Norwich Introductory Course works

A tutor presents philosophical ideas, and leads a discussion based on what arises in the group. Being practical rather than academic, the emphasis is on personal knowledge and experience. Students are encouraged neither to accept nor reject the ideas put forward, but to test them in practice for themselves, in the light of their own experience.

Practical Philosophy Course Enrolment

Limited spaces

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Practical Philosophy Colchester

Introductory 10 week course

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Practical Philosophy Norwich

Introductory 10 week course

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Frequently asked questions

What does ‘Practical Philosophy’ mean?

The course is practical in the sense that it takes philosophical ideas and shows how they can be of direct use in our everyday lives. The intention is to stimulate enquiry and through this expand the way we look at the world and ourselves.

How do I register for the course?

Click ‘Enrol Today’ on this page or emailing philosophyeastanglia@fses.org

Once enrolled you will receive a confirmation email with your day of attendance and receive a receipt confirming your registration.

Do I need previous experience?

No, all you need is an open and enquiring mind. The course is intended for everyone, regardless of education, occupation, race, political or religious belief.

Can I attend the course online?

Yes, we also offer the course as an online course via Zoom, ask for details.

How do I attend a course?

First you need to enrol on a course. The in-person courses are available in Colchester and at many other local venues up and down the country. A local map can be found on this page.

Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions simply email us at philosophyeastanglia@fses.org

What some of our students say...

"Lovely people with a strong sense of why learning is valuable at any stage in life."

"I started off with the Introduction to Practical Philosophy during the first lockdown and can honestly say it was a lifesaver."

"Have thoroughly enjoyed the introductory course and the daily awareness exercise practice. "