Top Philosophers give Public Lectures

Lancaster University is offering the public a chance to hear five top philosophers speaking on themes from war to climate change in a series of lectures this New Year.

The Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy at Lancaster University has organised the talks, which will feature five internationally-renowned philosophers speaking on issues of current public concern. Topics range from whether pre-emptive war can be justified to tackling climate change.

All talks are free and open to all. They will be held at the Gregson Centre, Moor Lane, Lancaster, starting at 7.30pm. The first talk will be held on Wednesday January 25.

The lecture series has been funded by the Royal Institute of Philosophy – a major philosophical organisation within the UK devoted to the public discussion and dissemination of philosophy. The Royal Institute of Philosophy has also approved the creation of a new branch at Lancaster.

The schedule of talks is as follows:

Wed 25 Jan - Prof. Robin Downie - Honey, I Shrunk the Doctor and Inflated his Ethics: The Rhetoric and Reality of Medical Ethics.

Wed 8 Feb - Prof. Alan Holland - The Good, the Bad - and the Unnatural.

Wed 22 Feb - Dr. Suzanne Uniacke - Can Pre-emptive War be Self-Defence?

Wed 8 March - Prof. Anthony O’Hear - Serfdom and Openness: A Comparison of Hayek with Popper.

Wed 22 March - Dr. Catriona McKinnon - Tackling Climate Change through Democratic Politics.