INTEGRITY20 CONFERENCE – GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY. I’m giving a keynote talk “The role of reason in a fractious society”, then taking part in a panel discussion on “Inconvenient ideas and how to disagree” with Jodie Ginsberg (Index on Censorship), Tom Switzer (Centre for Independent Studies) and chair Stan Grant (ABC’s Chief Asia Correspondent).
ReadCOMPASSION IN POLITICS CONFERENCE. The conference asks what would Compassion in Politics look like and how do we get it? Speakers include Lord Dubs, Harun Khan, Professor Danny Dorling, Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Mayor Magid Magid, Marina Cantacuzino, Joe Delaney, Professor Barbara Taylor and Dr Ala Sirryeh. I will, alas, only be there towards the end of the day. At All Souls College, 9:30–17:00.
ReadAppeared on this BBC Scotland programme (14 October) talking about my new book, How The World Thinks, and also “denialism”.
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Everyone likes to think they are open-minded. However, even those of us that actively invite different ideas rarely allow them to set up home. In the past I found this depressing. Now, I’m not so down on our apparent resistance to change. In short, I’ve changed my mind about changing minds.
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At the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Monday I thought I would have a break from talking about my own ideas when I took part in a discussion about Nietzsche’s aphorisms. What i discovered was that, in fact, when talking about Nietzsche’s aphorisms, or anyone else’s, exploring what you think is the whole point.
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