What is Looking for Wisdom?
Looking for wisdom delivers philosophy by email! Find out more on the about page.
What's the difference between 'subscriber' and a 'member'?
SUBSCRIBERS get free weekly Philosopher File emails sent to their inbox every Thursday, and occasional email updates with news and snippets.
MEMBERS also have access to a rolling programme of philosophy courses. Lessons are delivered by email on Mondays (from January 2021). As a member, you will also have access to all site content, and you can play an active part in our friendly, supportive community. See below for more on how the courses work.
Becoming a member
How do I become a member?
Just click 'upgrade', and choose whether you want to pay monthly or annually.
How much does it cost to join?
To sign up as a member costs $12 (US) a month, or $108 (US) a year. This gives you access to all current and previous courses on the site.
How are payments processed?
Payments are processed using Stripe, the secure payment gateway. This means you can pay with any bank card. If for any reason you don't have access to Stripe, get in touch, and we can sort something out.
Philosophy courses
When do Looking for Wisdom philosophy courses run?
Courses run for seven weeks, beginning January, March, May, July, September and November every year. So there are a total of 42 lessons a year. This makes the cost of an annual subscription $2.57 a lesson.
What happens on a course?
Each Monday for the duration of the course, you will receive an email lesson. The lesson will include:
- New and interesting material to read and think about
- Suggestions for further reading
- Questions for discussion
You can follow up the discussion questions by logging into the members'-only area of the site, talking about the issues raised in the lesson, and engaging in moderated discussions.
Are there tests, exams or other onerous obligations?
No!
Do I have to wait to join at the beginning of a new course?
Not at all, you can join (and leave!) any time you like. Every lesson should be easily accessible even if you come in half-way through a course.
I really want to join a course, but I can't afford it!
I am committed to making sure anybody can study the course, regardless of financial position. Financial hardship is real, and it should not be a bar to studying. So if you are going to struggle to pay for a subscription, shoot me an email or a message via the contact page. The aim of paid subscriptions is to give me an income sufficient to keep this site running; but I don't want anybody to be excluded from studying philosophy because of having insufficient funds.
Your account
How do I upgrade from a subscriber to a member?
Just click the 'upgrade' button at the top of the screen, and follow the instructions. The payment is via Stripe, which offers a secure payment gateway, wherever you are in the world.
Stripe doesn't work for me. Is there another way I can pay?
For security and simplicity, stripe is ideal. But if it doesn't work for you, send an email to [email protected], or get in touch through the contact form. We should be able to find a work-around.
How do I cancel my membership?
If you decide that philosophy is not for you, or you have consumed so much philosophy you feel your head might explode, it's easy to unsubscribe. Just sign in, go to 'My Account' (look at the pop-up menu at the top right of the screen), and then click 'cancel subscription.' If you have any trouble, just use the contact form, or message me on [email protected], and I'll sort you out.
How do I cancel my account?
If you unsubscribe from the course, you will still receive Philosopher File updates and all the other goodies you get as a non-paying subscriber. If you want to cancel your account entirely, it's easy to do by going to your account page. Get in touch if you have any problems!
Philosophical questions
How do I find out more about philosophy?
If you want to explore philosophy more deeply, alongside a friendly, supportive community, why not become a member?
I've discovered a profound philosophical error on the site
Uh oh! If there are any glitches, factual errors, places where I'm profoundly wrong, or other philosophical problems, I'd love to hear from you. Let me know on [email protected]
Why is there something rather than nothing?
Now you're talking. This piece on the Conversation is a good place to start.