2nd May, 2013: Peter Bowden: Ethics for a Dinner Party

Peter Bowden  spoke about a book he just has published in which over 20 contributors identified the ethical issues they had experienced across 14 different disciplines. The talk will provide a sample of the more interesting dilemmas, enough for discussing over a  dozen dinner parties. A more serious second part discusses ways in which we can use this knowledge to build a more ethical society. 

Check out the book at  http://www.tup.net.au/publications-new/Applied_Ethics.aspx

Peter is one of the convenors of Philo Agora, and is secretary to the Australian Society of Professional and Applied Ethics.  Formerly Professor of Administration at the University of Manchester, Peter has a background in Engineering, Administration and Economic Development.

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7th March, 2013: Peter Banki: Philosophy and Sex

Sex has never constituted one of the great philosophical questions or themes.  The philosophers themselves almost never wrote about their own sex lives, as if such discourse were taboo, as if it would endanger the capacity of their work to be taken seriously.  Kant famously feared that sexual attraction puts in danger the categorical imperative.

And yet, sexuality and desire is probably one of the most decisive elements of our lives.  Philosophy may indeed have a lot to do with sex.  In his talk, Peter looked at some of the ways in which sex has been alluded to in the work of Plato, Kant and Nietzsche as well as more radical attempts to bring sex and philosophy together in the works of Georges Bataille and Friedrich Schlegel.

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4th December, 2012:  Tibor Molnar  :  What is Knowledge?   

A fascinating look at what is meant by knowledge and the relationship of knowledge with belief.