Socratic Retreat 2026: Studying Plato on the Vocation of the Teacher

Written By Jack Thomson

This retreat is in partnership with the Pascal Institute in Leiden, Netherlands.

Please fill out this form to register interest! Or contact j.thomson@thomasmorefoundation.co.uk for enquiries

Led by Francisco Contreras from the Pascal Institute, Leiden, and Jack Thomson, Coordinator of the Thomas More Foundation.

A retreat for teachers in the UK to experience the rich intellectual formation of the Pascal Institute. Through ‘great books’ seminars and additional practices, teachers will discover first-hand the principles behind and values of liberal education. Studying together two of Plato’s most renowned dialogues, they will consider the role of the teacher, the nature of philosophical ‘insight’, and what is true knowledge. Teachers will also will experience the value of communal study — Pascal’s ‘Studium’ — and the effectiveness of the ‘socratic method’.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Address

Netherhall Conference Centre, 18 Netherhall Gardens, Hampstead, London, NW3 5TH

Prices

We have 10 residential spaces at £120 (40% discount) for those who require it and also the option for those in London to join activities during the day and to stay for lunch and/or dinner at £12.50 per meal. To follow the full programme as a day visitor costs £50. 

Payment

Payment instructions will be sent out by email in the weeks leading up to the retreat. Those with mitigating circumstances who need to pay afterwards must notify us in advance. 

About the Pascal Institute

The Pascal Institute, founded two years ago by Jordi Wiersma and Peter Kaemingk. They offer advanced, semester-length in-person courses in Leiden in which students are guided through the study of great books. Pascal’s teachers employ the ‘socratic method’, which is question-led. They also prioritise the text, on the assumption that it contains something of formative value. 

Pascal offers their teachers regular in-person formation in accordance with these aims. This includes a practice of meeting together to read in silence, before entering into a socratic discussion of what they have just read; inviting teachers to co-teach courses and even lead some seminars; and working together to distinguish different approaches to teaching according to the kind of book being read.

Pascal equips teachers with diverse teaching methods appropriate to different kinds of texts and levels of students, though united by an essentially socratic character, and helps them to build meaningful pedagogical relationships with their students and with each other. This is exactly what the Thomas More Foundation wants to be able to offer teachers in the UK.

Programme

Arrive by Friday 8th May 4pm for introductions

  • Seminar 1: Plato’s Meno — What is the role of the teacher?

Saturday 9th

  • Seminar 2: Plato’s Meno continued — What is true knowledge?

  • Practice 1: ‘Dialectic into Dia-logos’ — How do we occasion insight in our students?

Sunday 10th

  • Seminar 3: Plato’s Apology of Socrates — An apology for wisdom

  • Practice 2: ‘Philosophical fellowship’ — What’s really at stake in the pursuit of truth?

Depart 4pm

Study Material

We will study together Plato’s Meno and Socrates’ apology for wisdom.

The texts can be found here. There will be dedicated ‘Studium’ time prior to each seminar to read the texts independently or to do your own work.

Jack Thomson