I drink, therefore I am... the questions of philosophy are answered in the pub

I'm not quite sure what to expect but in my mind I picture a group of earnest, middle-aged blokes with a taste for ale who are well versed in the theories of Kierkegaard and Aristotle. I'm actually met by three bearded men who are helping launch Talking Allowed in Leeds, a discussion group set up as part of Philosophy in Pubs (PIPs).

Perhaps noticing my scepticism, they seem keen to dispel my preconceptions. "It's not de rigueur to have a beard," says Mike Naidoo. "Although if you join, you will have to grow one," jokes fellow PIPs member Joseph Boughey.

They have gathered at a popular watering hole across the road from Leeds General Infirmary for the group's first meeting. Joseph is the group's local organiser, while Mike and Paul Doran have travelled from Merseyside to help get the ball rolling. Philosophy in Pubs started out in Liverpool nine years ago since when it has spread to cities across the country with groups popping up in places like Manchester, London and now Leeds.

Put simply, PIPs are a network of discussion groups for like-minded people interested in philosophical debate in a relaxed atmosphere. "The basic idea is to create spaces where people can come together, feel comfortable and talk about the bigger questions that philosophy deals with," Paul explains. "Philosophy is often regarded as an elitist subject and we want to try and bring it down to the streets for ordinary people so it can do most good."

Hence the association with pubs, although meetings are also held in bistros, coffee shops, book stores and community centres.

"The idea is that these groups are organic to the point where they become an integral part of our culture and our communities," says Paul. It sounds like a grandiose plan, but he believes it's possible. "It's not just like a local darts team, it's about taking topical issues and teasing out what's philosophically significant behind them so we can have a proper analysis rather than the usual knee-jerk reaction."

Most of us have sat in a pub with friends and put the world to rights during the course of an evening, but anyone going along to a meeting hoping to have a good old rant will be disappointed. PIPs groups are free to join and there's no academic or philosophical background required, but members are expected to adhere to a few basic ground rules. "There are no subscriptions and there are no real restrictions, the only thing we ask is that you respect other people's views and don't interrupt when someone is speaking," says Joseph, a former university lecturer.

Meetings last for about an hour-and-a-half and are held on a weekly, or monthly, basis depending on what each group decides. Discussion topics range from "What is the point of public art?" to "Do we get the politicians we deserve?" Some people might say it sounds like an exercise in self-indulgence, but Paul believes there is a growing appetite for these kind of informal discussion groups. "There are a lot of other groups that have been set up in recent years to deal with philosophical issues, there's one started in Staffordshire and there's one opening in Huddersfield, so there is clearly a need for this kind of thing. There's a therapeutic quality to all this because it allows everyone to contribute if they want," he says.

There are about a thousand people involved in PIPs groups across the country although many like Paul, a former bricklayer, and Mike, a retired telephone engineer, are the grey side of 50. Among the dozen people who turn up for the inaugural PIPs meeting in Leeds there are also only two women.

Overall, about a third of members are female although organisers would like to see more joining in and plan to meet members of the Women's Institute next year to try and drum up some interest.

"Whether you're retired or you're working, there will be something that will be of interest," says Joseph. "Yes, we have picked up a lot of people who are retired, but many of them might have retired early and they don't want to spend their time doing the things that their parents' generation did."

So what do people get out of it? "A sense of involvement and over the years you make some good friends," says Mike. "There is a certain level of confidence required to do any sort of debating and one of the aims of PIPs is to try and give people more confidence in their lives, people who may have felt excluded from this sort of thing in the past."

It also gives participants a wider understanding of a variety of topics. "It's not about experts talking to an audience which then goes off and does an exam," explains Joseph. "But everyone learns something new during a discussion and you might start thinking about something you may not have thought about before, which is how you learn.

"I went to a meeting at a college in Merseyside and I was sat in a room with three other men around my age and we talked about how we would like to be remembered after we'd gone. It sounds like a strange topic to travel all the way over there to talk about, but it raised some fascinating philosophical issues and it made me go away and think about it."

This desire to have organised discussions is a reaction, in part, to a feeling shared by many people that the art of debating has been hijacked, not only by soundbites and spin, but by those who shout the loudest. "We live in the era of the soundbite. To have a proper discussion programme on TV would take a couple of hours, but it just wouldn't get on," says Joseph. "But the big questions that effect us as a society need serious thought. They aren't simple, but it seems we live in an era when simplicity seems to have become the norm."

The hope is that these groups will spread throughout the rest of Yorkshire. "It all started in Liverpool but is Liverpool particularly philosophical? No it isn't," says Paul. "But I believe cities like Liverpool and Leeds should have philosophy groups because they get people thinking."

Joseph agrees. "The ultimate ideal would be to have similar groups in Leeds and that every town and village has somewhere to go and have these discussions, because that surely would lead to a more informed society."

But don't these already exist? "Leeds has a lot of meeting groups in its cafes but they tend to be groups where an expert comes along to speak and it's a dialogue between the expert and the audience, which is great, but we're just trying to get away from the idea that only they have the knowledge and we can only learn from experts, when, actually, we can learn from each other."

To find out more information about Philosophy in Pubs visit leeds-philosophy-in-pubs.blogspot.com or www.philosophyinpubs.org.uk

The art of debate

Philosophy in Pubs is a network of discussion groups where ordinary people can meet to talk about philosophical questions in a pub, or another social setting.

It was started in Liverpool nine years ago and there are now about 20 groups across the country in Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Brighton with about 1,000 people involved.

It is a grassroots movement that is free for adults to join. Contributors can raise subjects for informal debate, or simply turn up and listen to the thoughts of others.

There are no academic or philosophical qualifications needed, just a quizzical mind and an interest in public discussion.