School of Philosophy | Melbourne

In Search of Eloquence

5 weekly sessions, beginning Sunday 21st February 2010

Rhonda and Gordon Walker have been presenting the course In Search of Eloquence since 2002.  They are very pleased to offer the course again in 2010 for people wishing to develop their vocal machinery in order to say what they mean.

The course is designed for those who have an interest in the spoken word and improving their speech.  Its objective is to provide participants with material and practices that will enable them to discover their own innate eloquence.

Course content includes:

• the importance of listening on speech
• levels of speech
• voice production
• producing a natural sound when speaking
• public speaking / public speaking techniques.

Event Details

Time: 10 am to 12.30 pm, each Sunday for 5 weeks (last class Sunday 28th March).
Location: Hawthorn Campus, 1 Through Street, Hawthorn.
Cost: $100 for the course, payable to group secretaries or the School of Philosophy Office by Saturday 20th February 2010.
Bookings: Reserve a place by phoning the School of Philosophy office on 9818 0804. Numbers are limited to 25, on a first to enrol basis.
Notes: For further information contact Rhonda and Gordon on 9571 1564.
Availability: For students who are enrolled in first and second year groups, and their guests.

Economics with Justice

Commencing Friday 18th September 2009

Economics with justice is the practical application of philosophy to the affairs of society and humanity. Economics is going on around us all the time and it shapes our lives. It influences where we live, what we eat and wear, how we spend our time, how much money we have, how we earn it, what we can spend it on and whether we have enough. Consideration of justice, equity and natural law with how economic laws work offers a much brighter prospect for planetary health and human prosperity. 

No previous study of Economics or Justice is required.

Event Details

Time: 7 – 9.30 pm each Friday for 10 weeks (last class Nov 20th)
Location: Hawthorn Campus, 1 Through St, Hawthorn
Cost: $100 ($40 for full-time students)
Bookings: Enrol on the first evening.
Notes: For more information, please call Paul Kent : 0407 342 402 or Michael Luscombe : 0403 185 166
Availability: Open to all.

Marriage and Relationships

10 Weekly sessions, beginning Monday, September 14th

The objectives of the course are to strengthen and enhance marriages and relationships.

The course explores marriage, the nature of love, relationships and communication, and takes the form of presentation, discussion and observations. It is preferable, though not essential, for a couple to attend together, whether married or in a relationship.

Event Details

Time: Monday evenings, 7 to 9.30 pm
Location: 45 Riversdale Rd, Hawthorn. Room 41, 3rd Floor
Cost: $100 per couple or $70 per single.
Bookings: Call Ian on 9870 5030 or Brenda on 9870 7542 (20 places only, bookings essential).
Availability: Open to all.

Introduction to Dialectic

Sunday mornings, 12, 19, 26 July and 15 August

By Dr Craig Hassed

Dialectic, more than anything else, is the most necessary skill for an aspiring philosopher. It uses discourse and reason to find answers to questions, and to examine the truthfulness or otherwise of opinions. It can take us to the heart of any philosophical inquiry and yet is of enormous practical importance at home, in work and study.

Taking Plato as our guide, this four week introductory dialectic course will be offered this term (term 2, 2009). It will be based on practical, one-to-one exercises, group discussions, dramatic performances and readings. The course aims both to engage and challenge.

No prior experience is required.

Event Details

Time: 10 am to 12.15 pm
Location: 1 Throught St, Hawthorn
Cost: $70 for the whole series, or $20 per week for those who cannot attend all four classes.
Bookings: Enrol on the first morning of attendance.
Availability: Open to all SOP members.

Create a Job

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

By Roger Peate

This is an invitation to students of the School to meet with others who have the inclination to become self-employed or who may be forced into the situation in these times of rising unemployment.

The morning will begin by considering case histories of small business start-ups, some of which have begun in a garage, at a kitchen table or in similar modest ways to illustrate the possibility of self-employment in difficult economic times. Among other things, the case histories should demonstrate the truth of the following statements:

There is opportunity for service in all places and at all times—it is just a matter of love and attention. —Shantananda Saraswati

But—and note this, development specialists around the world—not one single Grameen borrower requires any special training. They either have already received this training as part of their household chores or have acquired the necessary skills in their field of work. —Mohammed Yunis, Nobel laureate and founder of the Grameen Bank, a micro lender to the poor—which some people suggest has done more to alleviate poverty than all the International Aid and the World Bank combined.

The case histories should also demonstrate that all people can be successful—both men and women, young and old. Also, the examples should destroy a number of commonly believed myths about the success of new ventures being dependent on such factors as lots of money, a new invention or the taking of big risks.

The remainder of the morning will be given over to discussion.

If interest is expressed, this introductory day will be followed by workshops of a practical nature that will be aimed to help people crystallize their own viable business plan. These will be based on successful workshops offered by the presenter some years ago.

About the Presenter

Roger Peate is a qualified accountant, with a background in business re-organisations within a wide variety of industries, and for three years he he had a senior role with a venture capital company. In his late 30’s, Roger (and his wife abandoned their careers and turned their backyard hobby into a business venture that became a leading production nursery (PGA), which enjoys a multi-million dollar turnover and employs a staff of around fifty.

Event Details

Time: 10 am to 1 pm, with a break for refreshments.
Location: 1 Throught St, Hawthorn
Cost: Nil!
Availability: Open to SOP members only.