The Philosopher Queens Book Launch

Lisa Whiting, Rebecca Buxton, Angie Hobbs & Anita L. Allen

Join us to celebrate the official publication of The Philosopher Queens with Lisa Whiting and Rebecca Buxton, hosted by Angie Hobbs, Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield.

Privacy, Power, and the Data Economy

Carissa Véliz with Alexis Papazoglou

In this conversation with Alexis Papazoglou, Oxford philosopher Carissa Véliz will explore the relationship between data and power. If we give our data to companies, the wealthy will rule. If we give our data to governments, we will endure some form of authoritarianism. Only if people keep their data will society be free.

The Primacy of We

Dan Zahavi with Luna Dolezal

The capacity to engage in different types of collective intentionality is a key feature of human sociality. But who or what is this "we" to whom intentions, beliefs, emotions, and actions are attributed, and how does it come about? Join leading phenomenologists Dan Zahavi and Luna Dolezal to find out more!

From We to I: Loneliness as Pandemic?

Fay Bound Alberti with Lars Svendsen

Loneliness is as variable as human experience. Fay Bound Alberti and Lars Svendsen have both written recent books on this topic, so in this conversation they will explore why it is critical to consider the history of loneliness, as well as how it is political and politicised.

The Universality of Non-Belonging

Todd McGowan with Jana Bacevic

In this conversation with Jana Bacevic, English scholar and social critic Todd McGowan will explore the intersections between universality and particularity through an emphasis on the universality of non-belonging, and its role in rethinking political futures.

In Search of the Soul

John Cottingham with Lauren Slater

Does the concept of the soul have a claim to be central to our thinking about what it is to be human? In this conversation with Lauren Slater, John Cottingham will argue that, so far from being made obsolete by the rise of science, the concept of the soul still exerts a powerful pull on us today.

Angela Davis, Philosophy, and Me

Anita L. Allen in conversation with Lisa Whiting

In this conversation with Lisa Whiting, esteemed philosopher and legal scholar Professor Anita L. Allen will discuss her life and work, and how the revolutionary scholar and activist Angela Davis directly encouraged and inspired her career.

What is "We"?

Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan with Chiara Ricciardone

All articulations of collectivity – whether pedagogical or performative – are provisional, conditional, unstable, fabricated. This conversation between English scholar Ragini Srinivasan and philosopher Chiara Ricciardone will consider the question at the heart of all this week’s five nightly events: what is “we”?

Open Democracy and Democratic Imaginaries

Hélène Landemore with Vafa Ghazavi

In this conversation with Vafa Ghazavi, leading political theorist Hélène Landemore will discuss the crisis of democracy and her new model of an “open democracy” centered around randomly selected legislative bodies.

Human Beings and Being Human

Syl Ko with Adam Ferner and Darren Chetty

In this conversation with “Do you even Vegan?” hosts Adam Ferner and Darren Chetty, philosopher Syl Ko explore a new ground for an animal ethic that restructures the relationship between the injustices that affect humans and those that affect animals.

Illusions and Ignorance: A Critique

Renata Salecl with Bernard E. Harcourt

Do we live in a post-truth era or have we always thrived on ignorance and illusions? In this conversation, two leading critical thinkers, Renata Salecl and Bernard E. Harcourt will reflect on the important role of belief and denial in contemporary Western society.

Automation and Utopia

John Danaher with Brian D. Earp

Human obsolescence is imminent, but is this a cause for despair? In this conversation with Brian D. Earp, philosopher John Danaher will explore how the technology that hastens our obsolescence can open us up to new utopian possibilities and enable heightened forms of human flourishing.