Dear PFA Friends

PFA is now 10 years old! The very first Kant's Cave lecture, given by Dr Alfons Grieder at the Masons Arms in Maddox Street, entitled "Philosophy in the modern world: superfluous wisdom?" was on 6 May 1998. The audience presumably thought not, since they kept on coming back, though not to the Masons Arms: next month we moved to the First and Last in Dover St, which was our base for the next 18 months or so. There have been a number of moves since then, some at hair-raisingly short notice due to double bookings, but we have never cancelled a Kant's Cave and are now fairly settled at the Exmouth Arms (I hope!) which is our thirteenth venue. There have been far too many speakers to list (all of whom have generously contributed their time and effort freely) but special mention should go to Ray Tallis, Christian Michel and Tom Rubens, each of whom has earned 6 Kant's Cave "caps".

As well as 120 Kant's Caves, there have been 75 Mary Ward debates, 16 Mary Ward public lectures (with speakers as illustrious as AC Grayling, Janet Radcliffe Richards, Ted Honderich, Simon Blackburn, Mary Midgley (twice), Mary Warnock and Colin Wilson), 230 philosophical walks and about 30 other events of one sort or another: round tables, book launches, workshops, etc.

What will the next ten years be like? We need to think about the future: the present committee neither can nor should be running the show for ever. New blood is needed and possibly a more definite structure too. Later in the year we will be organising a special meeting to discuss these issues.

But for now I think we can celebrate the last ten years and I hope you will be able to join us at our 10th birthday party - details below.

PFA 10th Birthday Thames Cruise

Sunday 18 May 2008

Three hour cruise from Westminster Pier to the Thames Barrier, ending at Greenwich Pier

Buffet lunch provided

Tickets £10 per head, from:
PFA Secretary, 73 Southey Rd, London N15 5LJ.

Andrew Dodsworth
PFA Secretary

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