The Philosophical Society: Oxford

The philosophy of archaeology asks a deceptively simple question: what do ancient monuments really tell us?

Are they merely collections of stones or are they material expressions of how our ancestors understood the world, time, community and the sacred?

The megalithic temples of Malta, among the oldest free-standing structures on Earth, and the monumental sanctuary of challenge the modern assumption that civilisation began with cities or writing. They suggest that shared meaning, ritual and the search for transcendence may have come first.

Later on, humanity witnessed another decisive step. One of the most famous earliest surviving legal codes in history reflects a profound philosophical development: the recognition that justice, order and the common good should be expressed not merely through power, but through publicly known laws.

From sacred temples, to the first written laws, archaeology reveals the unfolding story of humanity's search for meaning, truth and justice. It is therefore much more than the study of the past; it is a philosophical inquiry into what it means to be human.

Every stone laid and every law inscribed asks us the same enduring question: What kind of civilisation are we building today, and what legacy will we leave for those who come after us?

If questions like these inspire you, why not join The Philosophical Society: Oxford? Together we explore the great ideas that connect the ancient world with the challenges of the present, through lectures, discussion and thoughtful debate.

Because understanding our past is one of the surest ways of shaping a wiser future.

www.oxfordphilsoc.org

www.oxfordphilsoc.org

One of our members shared the announcement by the University of Dundee (UoD) that it will cease the teaching of Philosophy to undergraduates from 2027. This effectively ends a legacy of teaching Philosophy there, which began in 1883, when University College was established in Dundee as part of the University of St. Andrews. Dr Oisin Keohane, a philosopher at UoD, has started an online petition to try and have the closure decision reversed.

Sign the Petition Save the Philosophy Programme at Dundee University

As Chair, I would like to personally invite you to join The Philosophical Society: Oxford. We're a great group of people of various ages and nationalities who share a love of philosophy. If you're interested in great conversations, open-minded debates, winning prizes, getting published, attending events via Zoom or in person, then you have found your home! We would love to have you join us! You can find out more at www.oxfordphilsoc.org. Thanks, Kathy Postelle Rixon

Thanks to Alan Xuereb for this post. Interesting!

WHEN CLIMATE BECOMES PHILOSOPHY
As Europe swelters under another heat wave, it is worth reflecting on how different civilizations learned to dwell.

In the Mediterranean, architecture evolved under the sun. Thick stone walls, internal courtyards, narrow streets, shaded balconies, village squares and whitewashed façades were not simply aesthetic choices. They embodied a philosophy of coexistence with nature. The question was: How do we live well with the heat?
In the Nordic world, architecture developed under a different challenge. Long winters, darkness and cold encouraged compact forms, insulation, steep roofs, large south-facing windows and interiors designed around warmth and light. The question there was: How do we create shelter against the elements?

Neither tradition is superior. Each represents accumulated wisdom about what it means to be human in a particular place.

Yet modern architecture often forgot this lesson. Globalization produced buildings that look the same whether they stand in Malta, Dubai, Stockholm or Toronto. Technology promised that air-conditioning and heating could replace local knowledge.

The heat wave reminds us that climate is not merely an engineering problem. It is a question of dwelling.

As Martin Heidegger argued, building should arise from our way of being in the world. A home should not conquer its environment but belong to it.
Perhaps the future of sustainable architecture lies not only in new technologies but also in recovering an old wisdom: learning once again to build with the climate rather than against it.

"Tell me how you build, and I will tell you how you understand the world."
NordicArchitecture CommonGood Climate Urbanism

Dr. Stephen Law, President of The Philosophical Society: Oxford, discussing critical thinking about weird things, such as conspiracy theories, at our Philosophy Row held in May 2026. Photo courtesy of Renske van Vroonhoven.

To join us, please visit: www.oxfordphilsoc.org. We would love to have you join us!

www.oxfordphilsoc.org