Forum for Philosophy

Forum for European Philosophy public discussion Individuals are responsible for their actions, but what about groups of individuals like nations or states? Does membership of these groups make it appropriate to take up certain normative attitudes towards ourselves such as pride, guilt, or shame? And what role (if any) should public acts of remembrance play in maintaining and determining these…

Forum for European Philosophy public discussion Plato and Hegel thought of art as inferior to philosophy; philosophers like Aristotle, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche held the arts in high regard. Today, do we think art can address the big questions in life? Do artistic uses of imagination and emotion play a role in acquiring knowledge? And if art leads to knowledge, what…

Forum for European Philosophy public discussion Does political violence ever achieve its long-term goals or does it simply perpetuate violence? Are some types of political violence more rational, ethical, or justifiable than others? Is there always a clear line between resistance and political violence? In an era in which international relations have been transformed by globalization and new technologies, and…

Forum for European Philosophy public discussion AI is progressing fast. What level has it reached? Is human-level AI a realistic possibility? And if it is achieved in the near future, what will the consequences be for humanity? Could AI threaten our very existence? In this panel discussion, philosophers Huw Price and Mark Sprevak and computer scientists Mateja Jamnik and Kate…

From financial decisions to medical choices and political beliefs, emotion plays a crucial role. What is emotion and what is it good for? How is it represented in the brain and do human emotions differ from other animals? We will discuss the notion that emotion is the primary factor that controls our every action. Speakers Lisa Bortolotti, Professor of Philosophy…

A revolutionary thinker who drew upon influences from philosophy, political theory, and psychoanalysis, Fanon is best known for his fierce championing of Algerian liberation and his reflections on the psychological impact of colonialism and imperialism. Now that the philosophical value of Fanon’s work is finally being recognised, we should also ask what it can teach us about the contemporary world.…

Our panel will offer perspectives from neuroscience, history and philosophy on autism: How has our understanding of autism evolved? Why is autism so often linked with scientific and mathematical talent? Does this mean that some minds are ‘wired’ for science (and others not)? Is autism really a disorder, or just an aspect of human ‘neurodiversity’? Speakers Simon Baron-Cohen, Professor of…

Modern science has provided answers to questions once thought impertinent for human beings to investigate. Among them, ‘What causes earthquakes and natural disasters?’, ‘Where does human life begin?’, and ‘Do we have free will?’. But when does the triumph of science become triumphalism? What are the limits of scientific inquiry, and does it leave any questions for non-scientists to answer?…

A growing number of researchers are applying Darwinian ideas to explain aspects of human society, but this work has long been controversial. Is a Darwinian theory of culture possible? If so, what should such a theory look like? In what ways should it differ from a theory of biological evolution? Does the ‘meme’ concept have any value? How should we…

Recent years have seen numerous calls for independence: in Kosovo, South Sudan, Scotland, Catalonia, and in Eastern parts of Ukraine. Are all declarations of independence created equal, or are some more legitimate than others? What gives a territory the right to become an independent country, and under what conditions can a state prevent it from doing so? Speakers John Breuilly,…

In this time of austerity, many of those who want a small state are also committed to a highly expensive criminal justice apparatus that has little demonstrable deterrent effect. But are there other, more direct arguments against the use of imprisonment as a dominant form of punishment? If so, what are they? Why do they so often fall on deaf…

The relationship between mother and foetus during pregnancy has long challenged our sense of ourselves as distinct individuals, as well as our conceptions of legal and moral responsibility. Are the mother and foetus best understood as one organism or two? What are the implications of this special relationship for the mother’s moral duty towards her child? The speakers in this…

Slavoj Žižek talks about his new book, Against the Double Blackmail: Refugees, Terror, and Other Troubles with the Neighbours. From within the safety of Europe, we face two versions of ideological blackmail—open-door solidarity with refugees and drawbridge-minded protectionism. Both prolong the problem—so, confronted with this double blackmail, we find ourselves back at the great question: what is to be done?…

On 23 June, voters in the UK will make a decision regarding their willingness to share or pool some of the UK’s sovereignty with the twenty-seven other member states of the European Union. This special event, held as part of the Forum’s 20th anniversary, will consider a motion to change the status quo… #LSEFEP

For Heidegger, technology does not simply refer to the various tools we use to get along in the world, but also the tendency we have to view the world as nothing more than a resource for the purposes of production and consumption. After offering a brief overview of Heidegger’s thought as a whole, the panel will discuss what Heidegger can tell us about the nature of modern technology and the threat it posses to the world in which we live, as well as potential solutions to the dangers of reducing the world to resources for production and consumption. #LSEFEP