Should we fear death, or can it teach us how to live? Join us as we explore one of life’s most universal and profound topics - death.

What emotions does death evoke in you? Fear, gratitude, anger - or something else entirely? What does it mean to die well? And why is death still one of the hardest subjects for us to talk about?

Join The Philosophers’ Yard and the Global Philosophy of Religion Project at the University of Birmingham for an evening exploring one of life’s most universal and most profound questions. The evening will feature two thought-provoking talks, live poetry from Wolverhampton-based poet Diary, and opportunities to explore and discuss the ideas raised with other attendees.

📅 Thursday 15th October 2026, 6.00–9.00pm

📍 The Exchange, Centenary Square, Birmingham

Should We Fear Death? Michael Cholbi, Professor and Personal Chair in Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh and the founder of the International Association for the Philosophy of Death and Dying (www.philosophyofdeath.org)

Philosophers have long been preoccupied with the nature, significance, and morality of death. This talk asks what emotions our own death should evoke in us. Fear is perhaps the emotion we most commonly associate with death, but making rational sense of this fear proves surprisingly difficult. Either death isn’t harmful to us at all and therefore doesn’t justify fear, or it can be harmful to us but not in ways that justify fearing it. Michael will explore other possible responses to our mortality, including anger, disappointment and gratitude.

Why Don’t We Talk About Death? Dr Emma Hodges, Founder of Public Health Palliative Care UK and Chief Executive at the The Lisieux Trust in Birmingham; former Development Director for Compassionate Communities UK and a Hospice Chief Executive

Death remains one of society’s last taboos but what does our reluctance to talk about it cost us? Emma’s talk explores the idea of social morbidity: the ways in which death, dying, loss and caregiving can affect wider society, contributing to challenges including loneliness, depression, economic inactivity, educational absence and addiction. She will consider how talking more openly about death might help us build healthier, more compassionate communities.

After the talks, attendees will have the opportunity to continue the conversation in small-group breakout sessions. We’ll explore different ways of responding to death and mortality, as well as sharing cultural traditions, beliefs and experiences around death, dying, loss and caregiving. There will be plenty of opportunity to listen, reflect and consider perspectives that may be different from our own.

Who are these events for?

Our events are open to everyone. Each gathering is designed to offer something for all, with space to listen, learn and share ideas in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

Ticketing

🍲 Hot food will be served from 6pm and is included in the ticket price.

Please note that there are four ticketing options:

General admission, £6 (including fees)

Buy One, Get One Free if you come with a friend

Supporter tickets for those of you who would like to support Philosophers' Yard by paying more than the cost of general admission

If paying for a ticket is not financially feasible for you or our ticketing system presents some other barrier, please contact thephilosophersyard@gmail.com. We have a small number of free tickets that will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis, no questions asked

As a registered charity, all revenue generated from tickets will go, in full, towards supporting Philosophers' Yard events and activities.

Quotes from past attendees:

The discussion was beautifully constructed and it was an absolute joy to engage with people in so many different ways

It’s an amazing space that encourages conscious thinking and expression. I love it, thank you!

These events are amazing, I love them! Keep it up - it makes the world better 🙂

Learn more about the Global Philosophy of Religion project and its upcoming events.

Find out more about The Philosopher's Yard or about our other philosophy events and meetups.

Description supplied by the event organiser.