| Date | Topic and Speaker(s) |
Details | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 September 2012 | Humans: Sovereign Individuals or Dependent Rational Animals? Dr Chris Groves, (Cesagen, Cardiff University) | 20th century moral philosophy largely affirmed that reknowned Enlightenment figures like Immanuel Kant were right to view the essence of morality as acts of free choice. The basis of morality lay in the sovereign will of the independent, autonomous individual – guided by a disinterested form of moral rationality. This tradition has also given us an influential way of thinking about what counts, morally speaking, about people: that they possess, thanks to their capacity for reasoned choice, a special status (as what Kant called ‘ends-in-themselves’). From this special status or dignity come human rights and the responsibility to protect them. But is this the full story? In this Cafe, we explore other dimensions of morality, and in particular the role of dependency in human life. Drawing on the work of feminist philosophers and critics of the Enlightenment tradition, Chris Groves asks whether our habit of thinking about morality as centring on independent or autonomy blinds us to the moral significance of vulnerability, dependency and care, and considers the political significance of this blindness. | |
| 17 July 2012 | The Green ‘Paradox of Thrift’ Molly Scott-Cato, University of Roehampton | During the Great Depression, the economist John Maynard Keynes articulated the paradox of thrift: that people’s inclination when encountering hard times to spend less and save more can be disastrous for the economy overall, by stalling rather than stimulating growth. The Chancellor George Osborne – substituting austerity for thrift – now appears to be falling victim to the same paradox on a national scale, pushing us further into recession. But, if we consider the pressures that economic growth exert on the environment, should we be attempting to restart the growth engine anyway? Should we welcome the end of growth? If so, how can we minimise the social impact of recession? And are there opportunities we can exploit to move towards a more sustainable and equitable society? | |
| 19 June 2012 | More Work, Less Well-Being? (TBC) Mike Harris, New Economics Foundation | More soon... | |
| 15 May 2012 | Should we pay our debts? Dr Chris Groves, (Cesagen, Cardiff University) | Morality can be defined as a systematic attempt to work out what, as human beings, our obligations are. So does this mean that morality is about what we owe – in other words, what our debts are and to whom? In this Café, drawing on the anthropologist David Graeber’s book Debt: The First 5000 Years, Chris Groves will look at the links between morals and debts, ethics and economics, and ask: should we always pay our debts? | |
| 20 March 2012 | How do we know? John Jackson, | What is the relationship between scientific and ordinary knowledge? What does scientific method add to our everyday ways of seeing the world, in what ways does it refine or overturn them, and what exactly makes it a more reliable approach to knowledge? And what are its limits? In this Cafe, John Jackson addresses these and other topics from the philosophy of science. | |
| 21 February 2012 | Being religious, for better or worse Francesca Montemaggi, Cardiff University, City and Regional Planning | Following on from January's Open Session on "Does Morality Need God?", this month's Cafe examines the nature of religiosity, and how "being religious" changes individual lives and the societies in which they're lived. Drawing on research conducted among members of evangelical churches in Wales, Francesca will suggest that religion is not just a matter of belief, and can be both socially beneficial and harmful Further, in response to the idea that what motivates people to "do good" doesn't matter so long as "good gets done", she will consider whether religion motivates voluntary action in ways that secular values can't match, and if so, how this happens. | |
| 17 January 2012 | Open Session , | This month's Cardiff Philosophy Cafe is one of our semi-regular open sessions, when the topic up for discussion will be chosen by the audience and members of the mailing list.
Join us from 8pm for some philosophizing on the fly! | |
| 15 November 2011 | Autism, Aspergers and Being Human Yap , Pink Punk | In this Cafe, poet and musician Yap offers a philosophical reflection on the experience of someone with Asperger's Syndrome, and looks at how this might shed a different light on the human condition. We also look at some broader ethical issues surrounding how society views autistic spectrum conditions. | |
| 4 November 2011 | The Ethics of Artificial Meat (Special Event as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science) Dr Neil Stephens, (Cesagen, Cardiff University) Dr Chris Groves, (Cesagen, Cardiff University) | In vitro meat is a potential application of stem cells science, in which cells from living animals are used to "grow" muscle tissue, intended for consumption. Groups such as PETA have argued that this application of biotechnology may reduce animal suffering, by rendering farming animals for meat obsolete. It could also conceivably lead to enormous reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases. Are these good reasons to develop artificial meat? What other consequences might this have, both for human society and for our relationship with the animal world? | |
| 18 October 2011 | What's the point of private property? Dr Chris Groves, Cesagen, Cardiff University | If we listen to politicians, then prosperity, security and even happiness would seem to be impossible without owning things. Others suggest, however, that without private property, there would be no inequality, less unhappiness, and more solidarity. The proposition that owning things is basically antisocial and even immoral is summed up nicely in Pierre Joseph Proudhon's infamous phrase, "La propriété, c'est le vol": property is theft. In this cafe session, we explore the historical roots of the concept of private property, consider arguments from its supporters and detractors, and reflect on what "having stuff" contributes to well-being. | |
| 20 September 2011 | Economics versus Ecology Richard Jones, | In this Cafe, we will examine the relationship between economics and ecology, as contrasting - and perhaps conflicting - ways of seeing the world. It is often suggested that economics takes for granted the existence of natural resources, and concerns itself merely with how to transform them efficiently into goods and services, in order to satisfy pre-existing consumer demands. Ecology, on the other hand, appears to be more concerned with the study and preservation of the natural world, as something which economic activity tends to destroy. Are economics and ecology inevitably conflicting ways of seeing the world, or can they be integrated together? | A presentation for this talk is available to be viewed. View Richard Jones's presentation in new window |
| 21 June 2011 | Art, the Mind and Mental Illness Rhys Jones, (Psychological Medicine & Neurology, Cardiff University) Julia Thomas, (Glamorgan University) | The history of our understanding of the mind is replete with aesthetic images and metaphors used to represent its essential nature, from the ancient Greek pneuma to Gilbert Ryle’s description of Descartes’ concept of mind as the ‘ghost in the machine’. In this Café we explore both how art can help us expand our range of imaginative tools for understanding the mind, and how explorations of creativity can lead to new approaches to both understanding and healing mental illness. Join artist and psychiatrist Rhys Jones and artist Julia Thomas as they offer some thoughts on how their work relates to these themes. | Podcasts are available for this talk. To stream audio for Julia Thomas' talk, click on the play arrow below. To stream audio for Rhys Jones' talk, click on the play arrow below. |
| 17 May 2011 | Film Narrative and Moral Psychology Dr Jonathan Webber, (Philosophy, Cardiff University) | From tragedies such as Alfie and The Hurt Locker to comedies such as The Thick Of It, can film and television fiction inform our moral outlook? Can it increase our understanding of human motivation? And can it tell us anything about how our moral assessments of other people work? Join Cardiff philosopher Jonathan Webber to explore these and other issues. | |
| 19 April 2011 | A Beautiful Game? The Philosophy of Art and the 2010 World Cup final Dr Andrew Edgar, (Philosophy, Cardiff University) | The final of the 2010 World Cup has become notorious for the style of the Dutch play, preventing the flowing and beautiful football of the Spanish. But if we criticise the Dutch, does this mean that we want a sporting event to be beautiful, and as such an aesthetic experience, rather just a sporting contest? Considering other games in the World Cup, we might also ask if sport has a meaning beyond the mere entertainment of the game. What, for example, was happening when we found ourselves supporting plucky little North Korea against Brazil? What sort of communal self-reflection did its early exit from the cup encourage in France? Does sport invited us to tell stories and engages in dramas that impact upon our non-sporting lives? | A podcast is available for this talk. Click the play arrow below to listen to Dr Edgar's talk. |
| 15 March 2011 | The Freedom of the Internet Dr Frank Langbein, (School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University) Dr Peter Burnap, (School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University) | The Internet has rapidly grown into a major system determining how we run society. Some argue it enables us to overcome the obsolete systems of money, government and commerce our society is based upon; others seek to harness its potential for these systems. Is the Internet the free network everyone thinks it is? | Podcasts are available for this session. Click the play arrow below to listen to a streamed podcast of Dr Langbein’s talk. You can listen to Dr Burnap's talk by clicking on the play arrow below. |
| 15 February 2011 | The Nature of Nurture: Environment, Epigenetics and Ethics Dr Michael Arribas Ayllon, (CESAGen, Cardiff University) Dr Anthony Isles, Medicine, Cardiff University | In an age of advancing genetic science, the age-old debate over the primacy of nature versus that of nurture is often thought to have been largely settled. Stories in the media often depict our genes as determining the physical and even mental characteristics we possess. But the study of epigenetic phenomena complicates this picture. Epigenetics studies 'switches' that turn genes on or off – and suggests that environmental factors like nutrition and stress can control these switches and, some suggest, even cause heritable effects in humans that can be passed on between generations. In this Café, we explore how epigenetic mechanisms operate, and what ethical and political implications may follow from the discoveries now issuing from this field, concerning issues such as intergenerational equity and social justice. | A podcast is available for this talk. Click the play arrow below to listen to a streamed podcast of Dr Isles’ talk. Click the play arrow below to listen to a streamed podcast of Dr Arribas-Ayllon’s talk. |
| 18 January 2011 | "Being in the Present Moment": Mindfulness and Political Action Dr Steven Stanley, (SOCSI, Cardiff University) | This seminar will introduce the concept of mindfulness (commonly understood as 'being in the present moment'), with the aid of classic and contemporary definitions of mindfulness from Buddhism, psychology and professional practice, in order to explore a range of questions: what are the similarities and differences between these concepts? How mindful are we in our everyday lives? Should we become more, or less, mindful? Should there be an ethical foundation to mindfulness? While mindfulness practice may make us feel better, can it help us change the world? How does it relate to contemporary consumer capitalism? Or inform social and political action? | |
| 16 November 2010 | Ethics and Disgust Dr Chris Groves, BRASS, Cardiff University | Does disgust have a role in shaping morality? In evolutionary terms, it may have evolved as a means of helping us avoid sources of infection and disease, like rotting food. However, some philosophers have argued that disgust can serve as a reliable guide to spotting morally problematic phenomena (such as human cloning), and that it therefore embodies a kind of moral wisdom. Others point out that disgust can create prejudice and hatred. In this Cafe, we're invited to consider what repulses us, and how our negative emotions connect to how we make judgements about right and wrong. Leading up to this event, you can vote in a poll relating to this topic on the Philosophy Cafe Blog. | You can download a set of notes for this talk, and a copy of Dr Groves' presentation. To download a copy of the notes, click here. |
| 19 October 2010 | Evil, Nothingness and Value Rev. Dr Peter Sedgewick, St Michael's College, Cardiff | How far can the universe be seen as both possessing value, and additionally be a universe which is purposively tending towards the realization of that value? The standard "scientific" view of the universe as meaningless is however seen increasingly as the common sense view of the matter. It is an instinctive reaction- ‘one damn thing after another’. Yet even if we deny that value exists, objectively, in the universe, the concept of evil, and questions about the origin of evil, still trouble us. How might we make sense of these issues? A leading theologian offers some food for thought.
| A podcast is available for this talk. Click the play arrow below to listen to a streamed podcast of Dr Sedgewick's talk. |
| 17 October 2010 | The Relationship between Art and Sport Andrew Edgar, Philosophy, Cardiff University | Can sports be artistic? We often use similar kinds of language to describe sporting performances and art forms. There are even sports (e.g. figure skating, high diving) in which aesthetic criteria can make all the difference between winning and losing. But does this mean that we should stop thinking about sport as just entertainment, and start taking it more seriously? Dr Andrew Edgar, Chair of the British Philosophy of Sport Association, will invite us to consider these and other questions as part of the Made in Roath Festival.
This Cafe will take place between 3.30 and 5.30 pm. | |
| 30 September 2010 | Philosophy Cafe Film Evening Beyond the Tipping Point, Stefan Skrimshire (dir) | How does the way we imagine the future change how we think and act today? Beyond The Tipping Point invites us to consider this question by exploring attitudes to climate change. The imagery of "tipping points", drawn originally from scientific research, has increasingly influenced the way politicians, activists, and journalists imagine how greenhouse gas emissions might have irreversible and unpredictable effects on global climate. But what effect might this way of thinking about the future have on the prospects for mitigating climate change now? Does it galvanise action, or induce despair? Join us at Milkwood Gallery for a screening of the film, followed by discussion of the issues it raises, and beginning with a wine reception at 7.30pm. Please note: space is limited, so to reserve a place(s), please send an email, stating numbers, to grovesc1@cf.ac.uk This event is free, but we request that attendees consider making a donation of £1-2 to assist with costs. | |
| 21 September 2010 | Materialism, the Mind and the Brain Jean-Jacques Hodge, | Are we, increasingly, common-sense materialists when it comes to the mind? Do we tend to agree with statements such as "the mind is the brain", and to accept, for example, that neuroscience can tell us more about who we are than introspection ever can? In this Cafe, we are invited to consider whether materialist views of the nature of mind stand on genuinely solid foundations, and whether different approaches may have more to offer, when confronting the problem of consciousness. | |
| 17 August 2010 | Ludwig Wittgenstein: Philosophy and Science John Jones, | Does science tell us all we need to know about the world and about ourselves? This Cafe uses the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein (thought of by many as the the foremost philosopher of the twentieth century) to explore this, and related, questions. Wittgenstein's only published work, the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, was an attempt to show, through logic, that there are limits to what logic and science can tell us, and that some things "can only be shown". It was written when he was an artillery officer in WWI, and was immediately well-received. The work was logically austere yet written in an unusual, almost poetic style. Later in his career, after a difficult relationship with Bertrand Russell, Wittgenstein turned away from logic to concentrate on the nature of language. Many, including Russell, felt that he had abandoned “real” scientific philosophy and had been, right from the start, something of a mystic. Wittgenstein, by contrast, thought that by analyzing everyday language, ideas - bad ideas - and the way they can produce persistent and troubling confusion - could be exposed and dispelled. Is scientism - the view that the natural sciences provide the most authoritative and penetrating knowledge of our world and ourselves - one of these "bad ideas"? | |
| 20 July 2010 | Open Session , | This month's Philosophy Cafe was one of our twice-yearly open sessions, featuring a list of discussion topics from which participants will be invited to select one for debate. The subject debated on the evening was "The Ethics of Charity". | |
| 15 June 2010 | The Future of Democracy Paul Feldman, A World To Win | Building on the discussion from December 2009's Cafe on freedom and democracy, and amidst the aftermath of the General Election, we return this month to the theme of democracy courtesy of author and activist Paul Feldman. In the wake of an election that saw every major party committing to an austerity programme to repay debts for which nobody had voted, he will argue that Britain's parliamentary state is in practice an undemocratic market/corporate state. He will set out proposals for a democratic transformation of politics and the economy. | A free download of Paul's book Unmasking the State can be downloaded from the World To Win website. To download a copy, click here. |
| 18 May 2010 | Philosophy and Education Martin Pollard, Welsh Centre for International Affairs Angela Hill, Welsh Centre for International Affairs | What is the relationship between philosophy and education? In broad terms, it may be about the analysis of educational issues (philosophy of education) or about the learning and teaching of philosophy. This café session will begin with a "hands-on" look at the latter: looking at how to develop forms of philosophical thinking that will deepen learners’ understanding and engagement in important areas of human thought and activity. In this session, café members will have an opportunity to participate in a ‘community of inquiry’ approach to philosophy teaching. The session will be led by Martin Pollard and Angela Hill at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs (Temple of Peace, Cardiff) who are promoting this approach to stimulate critical thinking and collaborative learning across the school curriculum in Wales, and see it as applicable to other sectors of education and community development work. | |
| 20 April 2010 | Environmental Ethics: Beyond the Human Dimension Professor Robin Attfield, (Philosophy, Cardiff University) | Biocentrism is the view that humankind is not the sole measure of ethics, and accepts the moral standing of all living creatures. It has played a formative role in the development of environmental ethics since the study of this subject became a self-conscious discipline in the 1970s. It had also been influential among some key earlier thinkers, including Albert Schweitzer (with his belief in ‘Reverence for Life’) and Mahatma Gandhi, who regarded even ‘the destruction of vegetable life as himsa [violence]’ In this Cafe session, we explore different versions of biocentrism, and the significance of a life-centred understanding of ethics for issues such as climate change. | A podcast and notes are available for this talk. Click the play arrow below to listen to a streamed podcast of Prof. Attfield's talk. To download a set of notes for this talk, click here. |
| 16 March 2010 | Neuroscience and Philosophy Professor Christopher Norris, (Philosophy, Cardiff University) Dr Paul Keedwell, (Medicine, Cardiff University) | How are our minds and our brains related? And what is the relationship between introspective knowledge of our minds, and knowledge of our brains, the territory of neuroscience? Neuroscience has told us a great deal about how the brain works, but does this mean it has told us anything about consciousness, about free will, and about what “selves” are? An evening of discussion with a neuroscientist and a philosopher from Cardiff University covering these and other issues, as part of Cardiff University Science Week. | You can listen to podcasts of both speakers' presentations by using the links below. Click the play arrow below to listen to a streamed podcast of Dr Keedwell's talk: Click the play arrow below to listen to a streamed podcast of Prof. Norris' talk: |
| 16 February 2010 | The Ethics and Politics of Uncertainty Dr Chris Groves, BRASS, Cardiff University | The future is uncertain, that we can agree on. And just as some are more equal than others, the future is more uncertain for some than for others, and some are better able than others to cope with it. Is this simply a matter of what material resources we can draw on in the here and now? Or is the unequal ability to deal with uncertainty also dependent on how different societies, different groups within a society, and individuals understand themselves as able to individually and collectively influence the future? If so, what aspects of social life enhance or undermine the capability of people to deal with an open future? Is uncertainty itself actually harmful, and if so, under what circumstances? These and other questions were addressed in depth by the British sociologist Peter Marris, who argued that, to understand societies, it is necessary to study how they “domesticate” uncertain futures, and psychological role that attachment plays in human life. This Café centres on discussion of Marris’ work, with examples of the political and ethical significance of uncertainty drawn from empirical research at Cardiff University and elsewhere. | Notes and a presentation for this event are available. To download a copy of the notes for this talk, click here. |
| 19 January 2010 | Personal Responsibility and Genomic Science Dr Nigel Williams, (Medicine, Cardiff University) Dr Michael Arribas-Ayllon, (Social Sciences/CESAGEN, Cardiff University) | “Know thyself” is an ethical imperative that was one of the touchstones of Greek philosophy, denoting one of the chief responsibilities of human beings. But how is this link between self-knowledge and morality affected when part of our “self-knowledge” becomes data about our genetic makeup and the health risk factors to which it may alert us? If we can have access to information about whether we carry, in our DNA, genetic markers for specific diseases or conditions, does this make us responsible for obtaining this knowledge, and are we then responsible for taking action to manage any risk? How far, realistically, are we able to act upon this knowledge? How reliable a predictor of future health problems is the information that recent scientific discoveries in genetics can provide? How far is susceptibility to a given condition still highly conditional on complex factors in our environment? These and other issues will be introduced by our two speakers. Dr Nigel Williams will introduce the work of his group on the role of genetic markers in indicating susceptibility to common neuropsychiatric conditions. Dr Michael Arribas-Ayllon will look at how the link between knowledge and responsibility is being used to market diagnostic tests and discuss and how our understanding of “genetic susceptibility” takes into account complexity and uncertainty. | You can listen to podcasts for this talk from both speakers, and view an autorunning version of Dr Arribas-Ayllon's presentation (with audio). Click the play arrow below to listen to a streamed podcast of Dr Williams' talk: Click the play arrow to listen to a streamed podcast of Dr Arribas-Ayllon's talk: |
| 15 December 2009 | Xmas Open Debate , | You're invited to come along and take part in an open session, driven by questions suggested on the night by our audience. A list of topics will be provided, taken from suggestions put forward beforehand by Cafe participants.
As usual, things begin at 7.30pm in the Cafe Bar at the Gate. Hope to see you there... | |
| 17 November 2009 | Power and Expertise: Introducing Ivan Illich Alwyn Jones, Sociology, University of Glamorgan | In the 18th century, the promise of the Enlightenment was that societies built on rational, scientific principles would be free societies. But to what extent is this true? The work of Ivan Illich (1926 - 2002) explores this question by examining the consequences of a range of modern institutions, many of which (like mass education and modern medicine) are lynchpins of the welfare state. Illich produced a range of short, polemical books in the 1970s which examined how institutions which are supposed to fulfil essential human needs turn out to have effects which are dehumanizing and often directly undermine the goals they were intended to serve (his book Medical Nemesis begins “The medical establishment has become a major threat to health”). He critically analyses the limitations of expert knowledge and its functions within social institutions, suggesting that a “culture of expertise” can be just as complicit with an unquestioning acceptance of power relations as the dogmatic forms of authority the Enlightenment had claimed it wanted to eradicate. This Café will introduce some of Illich’s main concepts and ideas. | |
| 17 October 2009 | Art and Communal Identity Dr Andrew Edgar, Philosophy, Cardiff University | In October, Philosophy Cafe will be linking up with the Made in Roath arts festival to host a discussion on art and identity. Dr Andrew Edgar, an expert on aesthetics in 20th century German philosophy (especially figures like Theodor Adorno and Jürgen Habermas) will lead a discussion on the relationship between art and identity, and particularly on what role art can play in shaping our understanding of ourselves as part of a community. Please note the change of date: instead of the third Tuesday in the month, this event will take place on Saturday 17th October. | |
| 15 September 2009 | The Ethics of Biotech: Who Decides on Stem Cell Research? Choon Key Chekar, Journalism/CESAGEN, Cardiff University Jamie Lewis, CESAGEN, Cardiff University | Stem cells from human embryos are thought to offer tremendous promise for treating debilitating diseases and injuries. Despite this, opposition to research has arisen in some quarters because the harvesting of stem cells destroys human embryos.
The ways in which debates on these issues are framed vary widely from country to country. In this Cafe, we'll explore what difference the assumptions employed by media and politicians about "the public" can change the terms of debate, and whether civil society should have more of an influence on research of this kind. | The presentations from both speakers for this event can be viewed (no audio available for this talk). Asccess the presentation and notes by clicking here. |
| 18 August 2009 | Selves, Bodies and Understanding Identity Chris Groves, (BRASS, Cardiff Uni) | In this Cafe, Chris Groves (BRASS, Cardiff University) will present as the occasion for discussion some philosophical views of the relation between mind and body, and what consequences these have for our assumptions about personal identity. For instance, Descartes saw an immaterial mind as the ground of our identity, as only such a mind could endure over time. The body, being composed of divisible matter, changes constantly, but the mental substance of the self cannot be divided or annihilated. Following countless advances in natural science, contemporary assumptions tend to be more materialist: the mind is the brain. But if minds are brains, is there anything that we could call our self? Or is the self just an effect of language, a product of social convention, a convenient fiction? Although it shouldn't be treated as a requirement for participation, reading this short essay [PDF - 120Kb] by Daniel Dennett might be a useful - and entertaining - introduction to some of the issues. | A set of notes is available to accompany this talk [PDF]. To download, click here. |
| 21 July 2009 | Philosophy Cafe First Birthday - Open Debate . ., . | This month sees Philosophy Cafe's first birthday come around. To celebrate,
we're going to be doing something a little different... You're invited to come along and take part in a free debate, driven by questions suggested on the night by our audience. A list of topics will be provided, taken from the full range of subjects suggested during the past 12 months by Cafe participants. As usual, things begin at 7.30pm in the Cafe Bar at the Gate. | |
| 19 May 2009 | Is it Irrational to Get Emotional? Dr Chris Groves, BRASS, Cardiff University | Are emotions irrational? People – and philosophers – often oppose emotional motivations and judgements to ones that, by contrast, are based on what are called rational grounds. This has been the case for a very long time: in ancient Rome, it was said: ira brevis furor, or “anger is a brief madness”. Love too has been interpreted as passion that undermines rationality. In contemporary life, we are often reminded by experts commenting on the latest media scare story that we should be rational about the extent of a given risk, and not give in to emotional reactions as they may lead to panic and destructive consequences: a recent pamphlet released by the American Psychological Association was called “Managing Your Anxiety About Swine Flu”. The suggestion implicit in such views seems to be that, if we fail to control our emotions, not only might our powers of judgement become impaired, we might also end up acting immorally by getting carried away and harming others in our “brief madness”. But is this view, which suggests that the emotions might be nothing but an irrational residue of our animal heritage, too simplistic? What alternative accounts of the role of the emotions are available? This session will take a look at philosophical arguments from either side, and explore views in particular which see the emotions as making a vital contribution both to our knowledge of the world and to our capacity for ethical behaviour. | |
| 21 April 2009 | The Ethics of Energy Infrastructure in Wales Professor Nick Pidgeon, Psychology, Cardiff University Dr Chris Groves, BRASS, Cardiff University | Wales in common with all other parts of the UK faces a series of critical energy planning decisions over the coming 15 years. Rising concerns about the environment, and in particular climate change, means that the energy infrastructure in Wales is set to undergo radical changes. While political devolution has brought a degree of autonomy for many planning issues in Wales, responsibility for large-scale energy infrastructure projects ultimately remains with Westminster. Possible new projects on the horizon include large-scale wind and biomass facilities, the possibility of a replacement nuclear power station in Anglesey, and the proposed Severn Estuary Barrage. Few such projects pass without public controversy, as the recent cases of the Milford Haven high pressure gas pipeline and the Liverpool Bay offshore wind farm show. In this session the presenters will introduce some of the complex technical, ethical and political issues which arise when large-scale energy facilities are proposed in particular locations. What ethical concepts can shed light on the balance between national need (Wales and UK) and local environmental protection? What principles can we rely on in balancing how we value the natural environment with, on the one hand, the economic benefits of jobs that such projects bring, and on the other, with other concerns such as the risks which projects may impose on local people? The debate will draw upon the presenters’ own research with members of the public around existing energy facilities. | |
| 17 March 2009 | Nanotechnology: Big Uncertainties about Small Things Dr Adam Corner, (Psychology, Cardiff Uni) Dr Chris Groves, (BRASS, Cardiff Uni) | Nanotechnology is the latest example of a technology which, it is claimed, will lead to a brighter future. Some suggest that, if we race ahead with research, the next 50 years will see all kinds of possibilities realised, such as the enhancement of human cognitive abilities through neural implants, cures for cancer thanks to advanced drug delivery systems, and perhaps even tiny nanorobots being developed which will repair damage to human cells, thereby increasing our lifespans by centuries. But these promises of benefits are increasingly accompanied by warnings about potential unintended consequences. And all the time, companies large and small are getting new applications of basic nanotechnology onto the market – raising worries amongst scientists, NGOs, and governments about just how much we know about this new technology. As a result – just as with the controversies over GM food in the 1990s – people are starting to ask who should decide how, when and how far a new technology like this is developed? In this Café, we’ll be examining this question in depth. Starting with an introduction to nanotechnology itself, we’ll also look at current social science research on public concerns, and take a look at the ethical issues these concerns raise. | A set of notes relating to this Cafe can be obtained here. To download, click here. |
| 17 February 2009 | Space, Place and Well-Being James Parkin, Countryside Council for Wales Chris Groves, BRASS, Cardiff University | The nature of happiness and well-being is no longer just an academic subject, debated by philosophers and other like-minded folk. For some years now, research on well-being has also been a major ingredient in government policy on sustainable development and community cohesion. Recently, the links between the state of peoples' natural environment and their happiness have been the subject of much debate, in Wales and in the UK. In this Cafe session, theory and practice come together to examine these links. James Parkin from the Countryside Council for Wales will present an overview of the organisation's Green Spaces initiative, which aims to promote access to the countryside and the maintenance of a healthy "green infrastructure". Chris Groves will explore some key philosophical theories of happiness and how they relate to the vision behind Green Spaces. | Some notes covering the themes dealt with in this session are available. To download a PDF, click here. |
| 20 January 2009 | Who Owns the Future? Tony Kearney, | Einstein once said that we cannot solve the problems of the world with the same mindset that created them. So with this in mind what is the mindset that created these problems and what is the mindset that is needed to elevate above them and thereby discover a brave, bold and clean new future? What are the dimensions of our reality and what are the relationships we need to forge with ourselves, each other, the Planet and the future in order to secure our short and long term continuance? Does the term mindset include our physical, moral and spiritual reality and if so, how do these dimensions need to influence our thinking, decision making processes and behaviour about the future? | |
| 16 December 2008 | What is Forgiveness? Chris Groves, BRASS, Cardiff University | What does it mean to forgive, and what purposes does it serve? Do institutions like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa do any good? Can there be such a thing as a duty to forgive? On the other hand, is it ever morally wrong to forgive someone - that is, are there genuinely unforgivable acts? | Notes from this talk are available. To download a copy, click here. |
| 18 November 2008 | Climate Change and the Common Good Prof. Susan Baker, Social Sciences, Cardiff University | The need to combat climate change raises a number of ethical and political problems. What philosophical concepts might assist us in thinking these through? A social scientist and specialist in sustainable development argues that we need to go beyond ideas of rights and economic utility. In fact, it is necessary to examine again what we think is a "good life" for human beings. | |
| 21 October 2008 | Global Warming, Development and Social Justice Prof. Robin Attfield, Department of Philosophy, Cardiff University | What is the significance of human-induced global warming for international social justice? Is action to reduce carbon emissions justified in a world in which poverty and underdevelopment are major problems? An eminent environmental ethicist from Cardiff University considers some potential answers to these questions. | A short paper dealing with the themes of this session is available. To download a PDF copy, click here. |
| 16 September 2008 | Friend or Food? Pets, Meat, and the Fragmentation of Empathy Dr Matthew Cole, City and Regional Planning, Cardiff University | Why do some of us feel affection for some kinds of animals, while simultaneously seeming not to care about some other kinds? Do the ways in which we categorize nonhuman animals prevent us from engaging with them as unique individuals with particular personalities? What interests might be served by directing our capacity for empathy along species-specific channels? How can we reintegrate empathy for ‘the other’ with care for the self? | Some notes for this session are available. To download a PDF copy, click here. |
| 15 July 2008 | Do we have responsibilities to future generations? Chris Groves, BRASS, Cardiff University Prof. Barbara Adam, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University | Should we care about the effects our actions have on people who are not even born yet, and whom we will never meet? Do people who don't yet exist have rights? How can we take responsibility for a future which is largely unpredictable? Explore these and other related questions in conversation with a philosopher and a social scientist from Cardiff University. | Notes for both speakers' contributions are available to download in PDF format. To download a copy of Chris Groves' notes, click here. To download a copy of the notes accompanying Barbara Adam's talk, click here. |