Many see philosophy as the academic battleground of white-bearded scholars.
But at the Geelong School of Philosophy it’s just the opposite, said tutor Doctor Stephen McKenzie.
“It’s practical philosophy,” he said.
“It’s about how can this help me to live my life better.”
The school is open to anyone who is hoping to find meaning in their lives and requires no prior learning.
“They’re courses that anyone can do,” said Dr McKenzie.
“We have young people, old people, senior officers for the council, retirees, students – people from everywhere.”
Dr McKenzie, who has a PhD in psychology, joined the school in 1998 as a student.
He has tutored there for 15 years as well as lecturing psychology students at Monash University.
The school combines Eastern and Western traditions of philosophy into courses that are designed to help people live more productively and happily.
“We look at what these different traditions are saying or helping us to do in our everyday lives,” Dr McKenzie said.
“I find it very rewarding. For me it feels like I’m doing something useful.”
The school started in London in 1937. It opened in Melbourne in 1996 and in Geelong in 1998.
“The idea was to help people be healthier and deal with life difficulties,” Dr McKenzie said.
“It’s about being better able to enjoy life and know what’s important and what’s not. It’s something really worth doing.”
The school runs three 10 week courses examining questions such as ‘Who am I?’, ‘How do I best interact with other people?’
Its latest course will conclude on 4 December while its next course starts on 30 January.
