The SFCP aims to promote the Critical Philosophy through the linked activities of education and scholarship.

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Leonard Nelson quoted in Enquiring Minds p 141

For the SFCP education means

  • assisting people to develop the capacity to lead their lives as independently-thinking rational ethical beings 

  • Creating good citizens 

  • enabling people to make an autonomous contribution to society and their communities. 

  A central method used by the Society in pursuit of this purpose is the Socratic Dialogue as developed by its twentieth century founder, Leonard Nelson.

 We aim through this to

  • encourage the development of sound independent critical judgement in participants
  • produce a broader and deeper ethical awareness

Our method involves

  • examining personal experience through the practice of rigorous dialogue
  • working in a group setting with a trained facilitator

In addition, the society has a long-standing history of work with schools. Dr Rene Saran has carried out a number of Socratic dialogues with school children on topics such as 'Is bullying a fact of life?'  She is joint editor of Enquiring Minds - Socratic Dialogue in Education which discusses how the Socratic Method provides opportunities for educators to

·        foster rational critical thinking skills

·        develop autonomy of the learner

·        nurture emotional intelligence and qualities such as empathy  

Tamsyn Imison, one of the society's four Trustees, is an educational consultant, she worked as a head teacher in a London school for over 16 years and is on a number of key education committees. Her article 'Using Socratic Dialogue in School ' was published in the July 2000 edition of 'Headlines' the Headteachers journal. Tamsyn Imison also contributed chapter four to the society's book Enquiring Minds.