Living with Food
Online Circles
with Annie Webster PhD
Join Annie as she takes you on a journey through the philosophy of food through her online circles. Expect to explore ethics (what is 'right' and 'wrong' to eat), ontology (what is food and everything else made of) and identity (what our relationship with food has to tell us about who we are).
Details
This course consists of four circles across four weeks. Each circle is about one hour and 15 minutes. The available dates for this course can be found here. The circles will be held on Zoom, and links will be provided after booking.
A "philosophy circle" is a collaborative space where participants sit in a circle to engage in thoughtful discussions around philosophical questions. These circles are designed to broaden and deepen participants' appreciation of the topic at hand. Each session is guided by a set of discussion rules and facilitated by Annie, who is trained in facilitating discussions and has a strong background in philosophy. To explore more about our circles, click here.
Annie, your facilitator, has been a passionate student of philosophy for 15 years and has been leading circles for both adults and children for the past 8 years. To learn more about Annie and her journey, click here.
The Circles
1st Circle - Ethics of Food: Use of Land and Shopping
Join us for an exploration of the ethics of food. Is there a definitive "right" or "wrong" way to approach what we eat? We will start to look at this question through land use and our shopping practices.
2nd Circle - 'Is it ok to eat meat?' and the Cycle of Life
After the warm-up of ethics in our 1st circle we now delve into one of the most controversial questions in food - is it ok to eat meat? Here we will explore meat eating, vegetarianism and veganism. Apart from seeing what is 'right' and 'wrong' we will start looking what our thoughts behind this reveal about our humanity and connection with the greater cycle of life.
3rd Circle - Food Ontology: What Does Food Make of Me?
After considering the ethics of food it is time to consider its ontology. That is what food 'is' and what is -really- going on when we eat it. We can start this by asking: what does food make of me? This circle invites reflection on your approach and diet shapes who you are and your connection to the larger universe. We’ll also explore important topics related to eating disorders and food addictions.
4th Circle - Food: Fuel, Medicine, or Sacred Connection?
In our final circle, we’ll review and reflect on the insights gained from previous discussions and see what we think we should be eating and why. Is food ultimately about energy or our well-being? Is it fuel, medicine or something else? Or is it possible what we eat reveals a deeper truth about our connection with nature and the universe?
The Price
Price for all 4 Circles
The price of the philosophy circles course is £40. This fee grants you access to four online sessions, each lasting one hour and 15 minutes, where you’ll engage in thought-provoking discussions with fellow participants. The facilitator will introduce relevant philosophical content when appropriate, which will be shared with you via email, along with a summary of the discussions.
Wye Philosophy also offers two alternative pricing options for participants. A no-questions-asked reduced price of £30 is available for those who feel they cannot afford the full fee. Additionally, a 'full price + donation' option is available for £50, allowing those who can contribute a bit more to help support participants utilizing the reduced price.
If you choose this option Annie will aim to hold your experience through all 4 circles connecting your thoughts and arguments to the larger 'living with food' picture. Your questions and thought processes will be prioritised over those who opt to only come in on one or two circles.
Price for one Circle
If you are not interested in the whole course, but you feel drawn to one or two cricles (to either take part or just to listen to the discussion), then you can pay to join events individually.
The cost per circle looks like this: Full price: £12, Reduced: £10, Full price + donation £14.
If you choose this option, you will be a welcomed participant in your chosen circle, however, the direction of the discussion will largely be chosen by the individuals who have paid to take part for the full course.
Book you spot
Currently, these circles will be running on Wedesday evening at 7pm on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th January 2025.
