Dear Sci-Commers,

 

I’m a lurker on your list, and I’m breaking cover with a request that I hope is not ultra vires.  I’m organising a public talk by Prof Angie Hobbs, who is professor of the public understanding of philosophy.  This will be on Thursday 8 March. 

 

Now, I’m interested in this question of the public understanding of philosophy.  I’m not sure what it means, and though there are people like Angie for whom it is a job, there is not a profession for it.  There is no list like this one and no ecology of jobs and organisations.  Rather, there is just the assumption that philosophy lecturers can sally forth and speak to the public as and when, and a small number of regular media dons. 

 

So, I’d like to organise a workshop on the public face of philosophy and philosophy in public.  Is anyone interested?  I’d be quite happy for someone to come along and say, “I know nothing about philosophy, but here is what I think the public understanding of science is all about”.  Or perhaps “here is how we got beyond the bad old model that you philosophers still seem to be working with.”  Or whatever seems interesting and pertinent.   

 

This is an academic occasion, so we would pay expenses but no fee. 

 

Any takers?  Or, helpfully critical remarks?  Or, invitations to go and do my own research? 

Happy New Year to all,

 

Brendan

 

 

 

 

Brendan Larvor

Reader in Philosophy

University of Hertfordshire

Hatfield

Herts