BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4.2//EN TZID:Europe/London X-WR-TIMEZONE:Europe/London BEGIN:VEVENT UID:35@prometheustrust.co.uk DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250114T194500 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250114T211500 DTSTAMP:20250112T191553Z URL:https://prometheustrust.co.uk/events/open-session-online-self-knowledg e-and-prayer-on-the-ladder-of-virtue/ SUMMARY:Open session online: Self-Knowledge and Prayer on the Ladder of Vir tue DESCRIPTION: \;\n\n"One valuable set of teachings from the Platonic tra dition concerns what scholars often call the “ladder of virtues.” Brie fly\, the notion is that all of the core human virtues\, or excellences\, appear at seven different levels as we progress through our philosophic an d spiritual journey. Most discussions of this ladder\, quite appropriately \, emphasize the four “cardinal” virtues of wisdom\, justice\, fortitu de\, and temperance as they manifest at each successive level. The foundat ions of this doctrine appear scattered throughout the dialogues of Plato\, and are presented in their most systematic form by some of the final Plat onic teachers of antiquity\, Damascius and Olympiodorus. In tonight’s se ssion\, we’ll look at two other important aspects of the Platonic spirit ual journey\, as they relate to our progress in virtue: namely\, the pract ice of prayer\, and the cultivation of self-knowledge."\n\nThese open sess ions usually run twice on the same day to accommodate different time zones (see below for details about how to register). They take particular topic s or passages from Plato and other writers in the tradition - these are op en to anyone interested\, and they attract a wide range of participants. W e usually begin with a short 5 or 10 minute introduction to the subject in hand and (when appropriate) a reading of a short text: this leaves a good hour or so to discuss the ideas which arise.\n\nThere are no fees payable . The Trust sees the Platonic tradition as a spiritual one: not only a gui de for the outer life\, but especially to be treasured for its assistance in the cultivation of the inner self - the soul - for\, says Plato in the  Timeaus\, “we are not terrestrial plants\, but blossoms of heaven.”  We understand the tradition to be profound and cohesive\, and one that r epays the long-term effort required to truly embed oneself in it. Our app roach is not exclusive - we value other traditions for their insights - no r is it dogmatic or an attempt to proselytise: however we are serious in o ur attempts to fathom the depths of the tradition\, to identify its founda tions\, and where its teachings seem to run counter to accepted thinking t o investigate them thoroughly rather than rejecting them prematurely. Thus our point of focus is on the teachings of the tradition and most especial ly our own inner response to them.\n\nBy joining our studies you are makin g no commitment beyond that of co-operating with us in our exploration of those truths which have inspired a company of men and women most luminous in their understanding\, and unsparingly generous in their teaching.\n\nYo u must register separately for the two sessions- links below:\n\nDownload the discussion paper: virtue prayer self-knowledge - PT Jan 2025(1)\n\nUK time zone session: click here for the link\n\nUS time zones session: (7:30 pm EDT/4:30pm PDT): click here for the link\n\n \; ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prometheustrust.co.uk/wp-content/uploads /2024/06/Conference_2024.png CATEGORIES:Open session LOCATION:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/MwYbzLZ9Tfmhu4KPPYVT3w END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London X-LIC-LOCATION:Europe/London BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20241027T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR