10 week course in Poole
Practical Philosophy
Courses in practical wisdom for everyday living.
Happiness Course
Practical life skills with enough toughness to last a lifetime.
Discover The Wisdom Within
Philosophy aims to set you free. Free from pressures and worries, free from limiting ways of thinking, free to grow and be yourself.
Take your first steps to freedom with our 10 week course.
Local Course
Local face-to-face courses available in Poole.
Peace of Mind
A safe space with experienced & supportive tutors & others looking to philosophy to set them free.
Practical Wisdom
Courses in practical wisdom for everyday living. Meet with like minded individuals.
Offer only £65
Introductory offer – 10 week course only £65. Limited spaces.
This popular course is practical rather than academic and draws on sources of wisdom from East and West, past and present.






Explore Life To The Full…
The Poole Happiness 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.

“Absolutely loving the course!! …Really changing how I think about things and life in general.”
10 weekly sessions
The ten weekly sessions explore central human questions through discussion, practical observation, conversation and reflection in good company.
Self-enquiry through practical philosophy
click each title below for more details
How do we seek happiness? True happiness and unity: ‘May all be happy’ as an intent. Tolstoy: happiness through serving one’s neighbour. Observation, the conscious perceiver and the present moment.
Is happiness natural? Analogy of light bulbs. Relationship between happiness and law.
Hedonism, Epicurus and Plato. Plato suggests two categories, necessary and unnecessary pleasures. Introduction to the Upanishads: finding satisfaction in oneself.
Divine goods: wisdom, self-control, justice and courage. Human goods: health, beauty, strength and wealth. Are these the way to happiness?
Introduction to Marsilio Ficino, renaissance philosopher. Key phrases inscribed on academy walls.
Introduction to Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching. Tea ceremony. Exploring effortless action.
Introduction to Patanjali and the 8-fold system of yoga, meditation, contentment. What about ambition? Finding happiness in work: 2 principles for finding happiness in work.
2 more principles for finding happiness in work. Practical exercise to discover more about the principles of work in action.
The connection between wisdom and happiness. Marcus Aurelius; you don’t need much to live happily. Review of the term.
click each title below for more details
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.
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 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.
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.
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’.
How it 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.

"The knowledge and experience that I have gained from the philosophy classes has helped me to discover more about myself and better prepare for dealing with life's daily surprises and challenges."


Next Wessex Introductory Courses
Start Dates & Times
- Monday 26th September 2022 (Chichester)
- Time: 3pm - 5pm
Term Dates: 26th September to 5th December 2022
(half-term 24th October 2022)
- Tuesday 2nd May (Poole)
- Time: 7pm - 9pm
Term Dates: Tuesday 2nd May to Tuesday 18th July 2023 (half-term break 30th May and no meeting on 11th July).
- Tuesday 27th September 2022 (Petersfield)
- Time: 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Term Dates: 27th September to 6th December 2022
(half-term 25th October 2022)
- There will be a refreshment break
- Limited Spaces
- Introductory Offer only £65

“The daily awareness exercises … have changed my thinking and I feel more relaxed about situations in the media and other aspects of my daily life.”
Location
- CHICHESTER: The Hamblin Centre, Bosham House, Main Road, Bosham, PO18 8PJ
- POOLE: Parkstone Grammar School, Sopers Lane, Poole, BH17 7EP
- PETERSFIELD: Winton House, 18 High Street, Petersfield, GU32 3JL
- enquiries@philosophyinwessex.org
- Call 0800 373 620

“...I am benefiting greatly from the content and the practical nature of it. Thank you, it is enriching my life.”
How to Enrol
- Step 1 - Click 'Enrol Today'
- Step 2 - Enter your details & click 'NEXT'
- Step 3 - Pay the fee on next page
- Step 4 - Receive receipt & course details by email.
The Hamblin Centre, Bosham House,
Main Road, Bosham, PO18 8PJ
Winton House, 18 High Street,
Petersfield, GU32 3JL
Frequently asked questions
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.
Online by clicking ‘Enrol Today’ or by calling 0800 373 620 or emailing enquiries@philosophyinwessex.org
If you register online, you will receive a confirmation email with your day of attendance. If you register by any means other than online, you will receive a receipt confirming your registration.
Yes, we have local venues at Petersfield & Poole. There are also many other local venues in other parts of the UK where you can attend the course face-to-face.
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.
First you need to enrol on a course. The in-person courses are available in Petersfield, Poole and at many other local venues up and down the UK. A local map can be found on this page.
If you have any questions simply call us on 0800 373 620 or by emailing enquiries@philosophyinwessex.org

What some of our students say...

“Absolutely loving the course!! …Really changing how I think about things and life in general.”

“...I am benefiting greatly from the content and the practical nature of it. Thank you, it is enriching my life.”




“The daily awareness exercises … have changed my thinking and I feel more relaxed about situations in the media and other aspects of my daily life.”

"The knowledge and experience that I have gained from the philosophy classes has helped me to discover more about myself and better prepare for dealing with life's daily surprises and challenges."
Happiness Course Enrolment
The courses have limited spaces and can get fully booked up in advance, so to save disappointment it is advisable to reserve your place on the next course well in advance.
Enrol below
1. Enter your details below & click NEXT
2. On the next page: scroll down and click the ENROL NOW orange button
3. Pay the £65 fee to secure your place.
4. Receive your receipt & course details by email
The next page will look like below.