The University Philosophical Society (commonly known as The Phil) was founded in 1684 (or 1853 - see below). It is situated in the Graduates' Memorial Building of Trinity College, Dublin, which it shares with the Historical Society. It is traditionally a paper reading society, although debates are more common today.
History
The Dublin Philosophical Society was founded in Trinity in 1684, and in 1731 was ejected from the College. Many of its members then formed the Royal Dublin Society (RDS). In 1853 the Dublin University Philosophical Society was formed, with the Provost of the University as its Chancellor.
The Societies' past Presidents and members include such names as George Berkeley, Jonathan Swift, Oliver Goldsmith, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, Oliver St. John Gogarty, Edward Carson, Mary Robinson, and Nobel Laureates Ernest Walton and Samuel Beckett.
Guests
During its long history, the Society has recorded the presence of many remarkable guests, among them Alexis de Tocqueville, Frederick Engels, Karl Popper, Bertrand Russell and Winston Churchill.
In more recent years guests have included J.K. Galbraith, Mary Robinson, The Edge of U2, Peter Sutherland, George Galloway, Howard Marks, Germaine Greer, Spike Milligan, Vivienne Westwood and even Bart Simpson.
Guests of the 320th session have so far included US Senator John McCain, Bertie Ahern, John Bruton, Eddie Irvine, Ann Krueger, Amb. Bill Harrop and Bob Geldof. The closing meeting of the session will feature Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Beyonce Knowles. In the 319th session guests included Salman Rushdie, F.W. de Klerk, Newt Gingrich, Bono, John Hume, John Simpson, Peter Arnett and Clare Short. The actual age of the society is disputed, due to debatable links between the present society and that founded 320 years ago. If taken as the latter, the Phil is the oldest undergraduate society in the world. It remains the oldest paper reading society in either circumstance.
Notable Former Presidents and Members
The Phil's current president is Patrick Mary Cosgrave, a native of Rathnew, Co. Wicklow.
External Links
University Philosophical Society
