67 Plendor Street
Camden Town
London NW1 0LB
The modern age is reluctant to engage with metaphysics: perhaps because the prevailing view is that there is a high degree of unreality intrinsic to non-physical objects; perhaps because trying to frame metaphysical laws is deemed to be too difficult or too big for ordinary human minds; perhaps because metaphysics is thought to have no relevance to practical life. But are any of these views true?
The truth is that just because we don’t consciously engage with metaphysical concepts, doesn’t mean that we are not basing our life on a set of metaphysical assumptions: these assumptions are likely to have profound consequences on our decision-making processes. From this point of view metaphysics underpins ethics.
In this session we plan to look at a few propositions from Proclus’ Elements of Theology (sometimes known as the Elements of Metaphysics) – these propositions explore the nature and power of causes. The subtleties of Proclus’ understanding of causality reveal the basis upon which Plato “theory of forms” rests.
No previous experience of formal philosophy is required.
Entrance in free, but donations between £3-5 will be welcomed.
A PDF download of the extract we will be reading is available on our website together with further details of this and other Prometheus Trust’s activities: www.prometheustrust.co.uk (the PDF is on the “London Monday Evenings” page.)