Next Royal Institute of Philosophy Talk: ' The Religious Roots of Utopian Thinking' by John Madeley

Speaker: John Madeley and some of the club members

Bertie off to Madrid

 

Dr Barbie Underwood: chair

This is what philosoohy does to you

 a little blurry !

  

Picture: Phillip Medhurst
Abstract:

This talk draws a ‘history of ideas’ connection between two of the Philosophy Club’s recent major themes: the philosophy of religion and utopian thinking and beliefs.  It addresses the claim made by philosopher and controversial essayist John Gray (eg. in Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia(2007)) of a direct historical connection between religious dissidence on the one hand and utopian beliefs and thinking on the other – from Zoroastrianism and early Christianity through the Anabaptist ‘revolution’ in Muenster twenty years after Thomas More penned Utopia (1516) and on to present times.  While Gray is a non-believer he is an open admirer of the wisdom he sees as nurtured and maintained by most mainstream religious traditions.  On the other hand, he excoriates utopian thinking (in particular the Enlightenment belief in the possibility of humanity’s moral progress) and what he takes to be the disastrous political projects inspired by it in modern times (from the 1789 French Revolution, via socialist, communist and anarchist experiments to American Neo-Con attempts to create a New World Order).  Many questions arise: what is the significance of the long, trailing roots utopianism has in religious dissidence including, in particular, radical sectarian sets of ideas; how is it that these ideas have been domesticated and rendered relatively harmless in adventist sects like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, while they still remain politically relevant among some Evangelical Protestants, especially in the USA; and does this even tell us something useful about David Khoresh’s Waco and ISIS in Raqqa and beyond?

Next Royal Institute of Philosophy talk , 'Que sais-je? (What Do I know?) on Tuesday 14 May 2019, Coach & Horses, Barnes High Street 7.30 - 9 pm

Paul Fletcher: Speaker

Dr Barbie Underwood: Chair    

  

Abstract :  How did Montaigne know what he did, who inspired him, and can we learn from his methods of inquiry? Montaigne, like only a select few philosophers, makes us not only think but seems to touch us extraordinarily; we feel almost as if he is speaking to us personally. ‘Que sais-je? –What do I know?-  is a question we often ask ourselves in times of doubt. How could a 16^th-century philosopher help us through these modern times? In this talk, I shall be drawing on the essays of Montaigne so we may be able to seek solace by allowing him into our lives. In troubling times could Montaigne help calm our social, political and cultural trials and tribulations? Can an SOS call to Michel De Montaigne help our plight? 

Royal Institute of Philosophy Talk: 'Hijacked in Heterotopia? The Ethics of Facebook' by Nick Aldridge on Tuesday 02 April 2019

 Speaker: Nick  Aldridge

It is smashing to have one of our own giving a talk and I thank Nick for all his thoughts and hard work in preparing a hot topic of online social networks, including Facebook,  which have a role in spreading information and (mis)information.

 Nick examined Foucault’s notion of heterotopia: a kind of artificial utopia that reflects and distorts the “real” world and asking what what are the consequences for our world.  I liked the angle which asked to what extent is human nature, rather than technology, to blame for our troubles and concerns.  

But, thank you, to you the audience, who contributed very well, where, as well as asking pertinent questions, encouraging discussion, and adding some amusement -  although I'm not going to recount certain online jests !

 

Dr Barbie Underwood: Chair

Abstract:

Online social networks have come in for much recent criticism over their use of data, their role in spreading (mis)information and unsavoury content, and their supposed ill effects on our mental health. In this talk Nick will examine the nature and purpose of a social network, drawing on Foucault’s notion of heterotopia: a kind of artificial utopia that reflects and distorts the “real” world, while illuminating the artificiality of our own social constructs. But how do social networks reflect and distort our world, and what are the consequences? To what extent is human nature, rather than technology, to blame for our troubles and concerns? Nick will discuss these questions, drawing on an essay by Robin Rymarczuk in Philosophy Now, the thoughts of ethicists who have emerged from the major technology companies, and his own experience. 

Next Royal Institute of Philosophy talk : Prof Sue Mendus, ' Democratic Dirty Hands' Tuesday 12 March 2019

 

                  Prof Sue Mendus Speaker

 

Emerita Professor Sue Mendus talk on 'Democratic Dirty Hands' was timely.  She has certainly put a fresh light on an old topic.  She moved seamlessly from personal wrongdoing to a discussion revolving around the need to lie in politics;  she gave many interesting examples such as Churchill and the bombing of Coventry and John Major's talks with the IRA;  but this sells short a fascinating and stimulating talk.

As ever the questions and discussion from the floor were spot on, and Sue said afterwards that she really enjoyed responding to them.  So thanks again for your part in an excellent meeting.

(Meanwhile outside the wind howled and the Second Meaningful Vote happened.  So was this Philosophy as an Escape from the Real World, or was it Philosophy addressing it ?!) 

Abstract

How, in a democracy, should we understand politicians who do what is morally wrong? Machiavelli famously (or notoriously) insisted that politics demands dirty hands and that those who refuse to get their hands dirty will inevitably fail in political life: ‘the prince’ he said, ‘must learn how not to be good’. But Machiavelli was not writing in or for a democracy, and it is sometimes argued that in a democratic society there can be no defence of political dirty hands. In 16^th century Italy the prince could justify his wrongdoing, but in 21^st century Britain, the Member of Parliament cannot. Is this true?

Next Royal Institute of Philosophy talk: 'Weakness or Freedom of Will' by Dr Barbie Underwood on Tuesday 12 February 2019

The crew members entering getting

  ready to take part - this was a slightly different talk in that it was interactive discussing the notion of Weakness of Will leading to discussing Freewill and Determinism

 

Some thinking going on !There seems to be more involved than just will power in our eating that extra chocolate or handful of crisps or nuts. Questions arise such as: 'Is our will free to choose or refrain?' or 'is our free will an illusion anyway?'  Although aspects of the question were initially discussed by the ancient Greeks, more recently philosophy, psychology, neuroscience have picked up the mantle to go deeper into the question of our choices.