**In collaboration with London Philosophy Café, Veins is putting on:** **Free Friday Philosophy** **The idea is to offer occasional Philosophy Cafe events that are completely free to attend. If it works well, I hope it can become a monthly event.** **With Halloween only a day away, I've chosen the occult as the subject for this first Free Friday Philosophy.** **We normally explore what might be called the official history of Western philosophy. This evening, we will look at its unofficial or shadow history: magic, mysticism, Kabbalah, alchemy and the search for hidden knowledge.** **We will also explore the perhaps surprising links between these traditions and ideas now regarded as part of orthodox philosophy.** **At the centre of the evening will be the influence of Plato and Neoplatonism: the idea that the visible world reflects a higher spiritual reality, and that knowledge can lead us towards it.** **We will follow some of these ideas through the Kabbalah, John Dee, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and Aleister Crowley, before considering their influence on modern paganism and Wicca.** **After a short introduction, participants will propose and vote on questions to discuss in small groups before sharing their thoughts with the whole room.** **You do not need to have studied philosophy or arrive with specialist knowledge. Curiosity and a willingness to join the dialogue are enough.** **Where: Downstairs room, Square Pig, Holborn (private room)** **NB: The event begins at 7pm, doors open at 6:50pm.** **Event ends at 9pm** **Format: Participants propose questions → vote on questions → small-group discussions → share insights with the whole room** **Price: Free**

Description supplied by the event organiser.