How ought we to live? Philosophy and ethical exploration
In a recent poll conducted by The Royal Institute of Philosophy, the exploration of moral and ethical issues was the top-scoring way in which philosophy had influenced our respondents’ lives. 45% of respondents said that philosophy had helped them with their exploration of ethical issues.
If you would like to use philosophy to think more about ethics, we have a range of resources to help:
- A-Level study guide on Moral Philosophy
- Is Anything Really Wrong? 15-minute Philosophy Briefing video from Robert Cowan
- Introducing Metaethics: introductory article in Think journal
The power of real philosophy, for everyone
We’ve seen that philosophy can help us to explore ethical issues – and much more. Today, on World Philosophy Day, we celebrate the power of real philosophy, for everyone.
Today, on World Philosophy Day, we celebrate the power of real philosophy, for everyone.
At The Royal Institute of Philosophy, we are dedicated to sharing philosophical thinking as widely as possible. We do this through our outreach work in schools, prisons and online, our funding for events, bursaries and studentships, and through our own public lectures.
The impact that philosophy can have
“It made me ask questions I’d never asked before”
Schools Programme student, Harris Invictus School
‘I was able to speak freely about opinions without being judged’
Schools Programme student, De Lisle College
“It has made me think a little more about other peoples attitudes rather than accepting the norm of my social circle”
Prisons Programme course attendee
“It’s taught me to reflect and to take time in my thinking”
Prisons Programme course attendee
As Lucy O’Brien, Chair of Trustees at the Royal Institute of Philosophy, puts it:
“Doing philosophy equips people with life skills – how to listen to others, how to make a case, how to change one’s perspective, how to reason, how to defend one’s view, how to acknowledge what one does not know or understand. Philosophy teaches skills integral to cultivating social values and conduct. It changes people’s minds.”
Give the gift of philosophy, with new TRIP Gift Memberships
We believe that real philosophy should be available to everyone. If you feel the same, why not give the gift of philosophy this World Philosophy Day? By gifting a year’s membership to The Royal Institute of Philosophy to an adult aged 18 or over, you can offer them:
- A year’s subscription to one of our journals, Think or Philosophy
- Exclusive access to a range of online lectures and webinars, curated specifically for members
- Year-round access to Senate House Library in London
- A dedicated virtual chatroom
- Exclusive access to philosophical content and commentary
- Networking, internship and tutoring opportunities
Find out more and purchase a gift membership
At the pub, online or in a lecture hall: How you can benefit from our philosophy outreach
We are proud to fund public philosophy events throughout the UK, across our network of partners Last year the Royal Institute of Philosophy funded over 450 events across the UK that saw over 9,500 audience members. Do you know about all the philosophical activities that are available to you in your area?
Upcoming events include:
- Fortnightly on Friday afternoons from 12 September: Open Age philosophy sessions in London
- 27 November and fortnightly: Midnight Philosophy (online sessions) hosted by Philosophy for All
- 1 December 2025 and monthly: Kant’s Cave pub philosophy sessions at the Two Chairmen pub in London. Also online. Hosted by Philosophy for All.
- 3 December 2025: M.M.McCabe on Philosophy in Prisons at Lancaster University
- February to June 2026: The Philosophy Workshop series at Winterbourne House and Garden, Birmingham
Keep checking our partner events pages for more events in future.
Our London Lecture Series
100 years since the first Royal Institute of Philosophy Lectures were held in 1925, the 2025/6 London Lecture Series focuses on the theme Philosophy in Retrospect and in Prospect. Distinguished philosophers have been invited to reflect on where their area of the discipline has got to over the last hundred years, and/or where it might go – or should go – over the next hundred.
The lectures, aimed at a general audience, form part of the Royal Institute’s mission to make real philosophy available to everyone.
Upcoming events:
- Rowan Williams: Empathy and Ethics: A Complicated Relation? (tonight, 20 November 2025)
- Naomi Eilan: The You Turn (27 November 2025)
- Michael Rosen: Why Does Philosophy Have a History? (15 January 2026)
- Clare Chambers: Developments in Feminist Philosophy (22 January 2026)
- Mazviita Chirimuuta: Apocalyptic Technology: Naturalism and Nihilism (29 January 2026)
- Timothy Williamson: Is Philosophy a Science? (12 February 2026)
- Michele M Moody-Adams: Imagining Democracy (19 February 2026)
- Jonathan Wolff: Social Equality: Then And Now (26 February 2026)
Annual City Lectures
Our annual lectures bring together philosophers of international standing to give a talk on the topic of their choosing.
- Cardiff Lecture (also available online): Frédérique de Vignemont: Perception Under Threat (tonight, 20 November 2025)
- London Lecture: Quassim Cassam: Extremism without Politics (4 December 2025)
- Edinburgh Lecture (also available online): Maximilian de Gaynesford: What lies in a poem? (9 December 2025)
Can’t make it to an event? Watch online
All of our events are made available on our YouTube Channel, alongside many other useful resources.
Tell us how you are marking World Philosophy Day
We’d love to hear what you are doing to celebrate World Philosophy Day. Tag us on BlueSky, LinkedIn or Facebook.