What is Self Knowledge?

One of the most striking features of our minds is how little we understand them. At The School of Life, we believe this lack of Self Knowledge is very often what stands between us and greater fulfillment – a relationship that will bring us joy, a job that motivates us each morning, or a wiser approach to those situations where we seem to keep making the same familiar, frustrating errors.

Know Yourself will draw on our Core Curriculum, focusing on the exploration of ourselves. The teaching methods aren’t entirely standard – our lecturers invite almost continuous interaction, encouraging participants to actively engage in self-reflection and share their stories, thoughts and reflections with others. As always at our events, we aim to establish an atmosphere where all feel welcome to contribute and question, safe in the knowledge that our courage will be met with warmth, open-mindedness, and good humour.

Our festival on Self Knowledge is for anyone who wishes to explore – as part of a curious, like-minded community – what truly interests, motivates and excites them, as well as what lies behind some of their most important fears, anxieties, and sorrows.

Here is a selection of what will be on offer on the day:

Keynotes session with Alain de Botton, founder of The School of Life

The Confessions Game - our faculty members will prompt honest, daring answers to important questions about our own feelings of joy, hope, fear, and sorrow

The Wall of Self - a space for your most elusive thoughts as they develop throughout the day

Lecture, films, music, psychological exercises and conversation

A School of Life gift bag filled with emotionally intelligent gifts

Refreshments throughout the day

An opportunity to make new friends in a community of like-minded individuals

Schedule of the Day

09.30 Welcome and registration

10.30 Alain de Botton on ‘The Problem of Our Minds and the Solutions to Self Knowledge’

12.00 Coffee Break

12.20 Raul Aparici on ‘Sociability’

13.30 Lunch

14.30 Alain de Botton on ‘Failure’

15.40 Coffee break

16.15 Raul Aparici on ‘Happiness and Meaning’

17.30 Drinks reception

19.00 Day Ends

Please note that this event includes materials drawn from the best of our Curriculum, including the following classes: How to Develop Self-Knowledge, How to be Sociable, How to Fail, and the Meaning of Life.