Welcome to the Philosophical Society's Web Site

The Philosophical Society exists 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). It was founded in 1973 by Dr Tony Chadwick, Staff Tutor in Philosophy at the Oxford University Department for External Studies, the predecessor of OUDCE.

The Society has well over 200 members, not all of them living in the UK. It is based at Rewley House, Oxford. The current President is Marianne Talbot who has been Director of Studies in Philosophy at OUDCE since 2001. (Check out Marianne's podcast "A Romp Through the History of Philosophy", which at over half a million downloads is breaking all Oxford University podcast records.) 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.

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

• Chadwick Prize announcement (from Marianne Talbot)
  I am delighted to announce that the winner of this year's Chadwick Prize is Mike Arnautov: our very own webmaster! (He is no doubt blushing as he puts this and the winning essay up on the website.) Congratulations Mike! Mike wins £150 and a free weekend of his choice. The prizes will be presented at the annual dinner in January.
  Perhaps next year this could be you? All essays welcome, no need to pretty them up, just send the essay you submitted for a weekly class or an online course. Details of who is eligible and how to submit can be found on the Chadwick Prize page.
• New printing, scanning and copying arrangements at Rewley House
  Philsoc members who use the Rewley house Library should be aware of the new printing, copying and scanning system. In order to use any of these services you now need an account set up for the purpose. As well as offering new facilities (such as scanning and colour printing) the system brings in a reduction in prices. Please talk to the Library staff for specific details.
• Website reorganisation
  The website has been somewhat reorganised in order to incorporate new material (the international membership page and the electronic application form) without overloading the main menu. If you have any queries and/or comments, please send them to the webmaster at webmaster@oxfordphilsoc.org.
• New electronic application form
  The process of joining the Society has been reorganised and simplified. We now have a Web-based membership application form available from the main menu on the left, and also linked from other pages as appropriate. Non-UK applicants may be pleased to know that subscription can be now paid by PayPal, which is far cheaper than more traditional forms of electronic money transfer. No PayPal account is required.
• Members' Day 2010 details and booking
  Full details of the 2010 Members' Day on aspects of epistemology are now available. Please click here, to see a page dedicated to the event – it also contains a link to the application form.
  Members and non-members equally welcome. Book early to avoid disappointment!
• From the Review editor (19 April 2010):
  A longer essay, of about 7-8000 words, has been submitted and as its content fully warrants its length, will be accepted. So longer pieces will be considered if (and only if) in the editor's opinion, which is final, their content warrants the word count. Please send to Steve in the normal way for feedback.
• Members' Day Recordings
  All the available Members' Day audio recordings and supporting documentation are now available via the Recordings and Library page. Many thanks to Bill Radcliffe for providing the MP3 files and the associated bits and pieces.
• Weekend Rewley House courses
  The Rewley House weekends programme for the next academic year (2010-2011) is now available and the Future Events section of this website updated accordingly. Some minor changes (e.g. an additional speaker) are still possible, but the overall outline is now clear. If anybody has any ideas for additional channels to publicise these courses, please contact Marianne Talbot or the Philsoc webmaster.