Reason and Rhetoric: The Ethics of Public Discussion (the Forum)

Even in so-called “mature” democracies, political discussion often turns ugly. Recently we have seen accusations of deception and name-calling in the EU referendum debate, of negative campaigning in the London mayoral election, and of unrestrained personal attacks in the US election. Does such behaviour fall short of an ethical standard for public discussion, or is it an essential feature of political life? We bring together a panel of political philosophers, argumentation theorists, and political commentators to debate this question.

Speakers
John Crace, Journalist, Critic, and Satirist, The Guardian
Catarina Dutilh Novaes, Professor of Theoretical Philosophy and Rosalind Franklin Fellow, University of Groningen
William Outhwaite, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Newcastle University
Jo Phillips, Journalist, Author, and former spin doctor

Chair
Peter Dennis, Fellow, Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method, LSE and Forum for European Philosophy Fellow

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