Who are we?

PhilSoc is one of the most active academic societies within the university, with many members studying a variety of subjects – some totally unconnected to an academic pursuit of Philosophy.

Why not check our social media for the latest news on society events, and feel free to DM us with any questions! We use Instagram for event releases and important messages, so be sure to follow us there! Don’t worry if you’re not on social media; we also have an active WhatsApp group chat where the same information will be shared. 

Our aims:

1. Community – to provide a friendly environment for students to bond over their shared interest in philosophy, regardless of what subject they study. 
2. Passion – to allow everyone with a passion for philosophy of any kind, to contribute to a community of like-minded people. 
3. Balance – to maintain a balance between the academic and social side of philosophy in an informal and relaxed setting. 

What do we do?

Socials 

Every Thursday we alternate between running an academic event – Philosophy on Tap – and a non-academic event. 'Phil on Tap' is held at The Ship in Exeter city centre where a speaker (lecturer, guest, or member) will give a talk on a philosophical topic. Previous talks have included ‘The Philosophy of Mythology’, ‘Deepfakes and Deception’, and ‘My Brain Made Me Do It’. This is a really great way to interact with philosophy in a relaxed setting, whether you study the subject or not!

Non-academic socials include pub quizzes, board game nights, bowling, and nights at Cavern. We also plan to run joint events with other societies. At the end of each term, we celebrate with our Winter Ball and Summer Formal. This year we are also organising a Philsoc holiday (more details to come soon)!

 Book Club

This year we are launching a brand-new book club! We will be taking suggestions for novels with philosophical themes, papers you’ve really enjoyed or books by philosophers you’ve been meaning to read. Although the day is still to be confirmed, once we know people’s preferences, book club will take place one morning over brunch. If you’re looking to start your day with some good food and a relaxed non-screen-based activity, this is for you!

Notion 

PhilSoc also has its own magazine! Notion is a WordPress where members can showcase their passion for philosophy by submitting entries to be published! There is no need to worry, there is no required standard for submissions. We simply want to showcase our members’ creativity! You can put forward essays, responses to Phil on Tap talks, and any other philosophy-inspired creative pieces such as artwork and videos. 

Sport

To truly maintain a balance between academic and non-academic activities, we also have intramural mixed Netball and Football teams. Every week, these sports teams will play in matches against other societies in an informal, fun way! This also promotes the sense of community within PhilSoc that we strive towards! (Please be aware that this only runs in years where we have enough people interested to fill the teams, so do let us know if you are interested!)

Hear it from our members!

“After joining in my first term, PhilSoc quickly became the centre of my first-year experience. It provides the perfect welcoming environment – not only to grow your love of philosophy, but also to make new friends, engage with new ideas, and (of course) get discounted drinks ;)” – Jess, 1st year 2021-22.

We hope to see you there! - the commitee <3