2 November 2011

History, politics, philosophy and literature to feature in lecture series

The historical context of the current economic crisis and an exploration of whether non-vocational Humanities should be taught at university are among the topics to be covered at a new series of public lectures to be held at the University of Dundee.

Eminent academics from across the UK will take part in the Arts & Humanities Research Institute (AHRI) Lecture Series 2011/12, which will showcase the range of groundbreaking humanities research taking place across the country.

The series will begin on Wednesday, 9th November when Professor James Williams, a Philosophy lecturer at Dundee, delivers a lecture entitled, ‘Objective-Setting is Poisonous: Some Remarks from the Philosophy of Time’. A further eight lectures will take place as part of the series, which concludes in May 2012.

The AHRI is based within the School of Humanities at Dundee, and serves as a forum for research across the School’s principal disciplines of English literature and creative writing, history, philosophy and aesthetics.

Academics from Dundee will deliver the lecture programme, alongside colleagues from other UK universities, including Oxford, King’s College London, and Queen Mary, University of London.

Professor Nicholas Davey, Dean of the School of Humanities at Dundee, said the lectures were open to students, staff, and members of the public.

'We would encourage anyone with an interest in the Humanities to engage with the series,' he said. 'In these straightened economic times, there is a debate about the nature, purpose and very future of Humanities teaching and research at universities.

'We have put together an exciting programme of lectures which demonstrate the breadth, vibrancy and relevance of the disciplines which constitute the Humanities and illustrate why they play an essential role in our cultural, social and economic life.

'It is vital that the School of Humanities shares its research with the communities that support us, whether they be academics we cooperate with, schools and colleges we recruit from, or interest groups with which we share common concerns.

'It is with both pleasure and pride that we open our doors for all to participate in this notable programme of lectures and discussions. There will be a very warm welcome for all.'

The programme for the AHRI Lecture Series 2011/12 is as follows:

• 9th November 2011 - Professor James Williams: 'Objective-Setting is Poisonous: Some Remarks from the Philosophy of Time'
• 23rd November 2011 - Professor Jim Tomlinson: 'The Current British Economic Crisis in Historical Perspective'
• 30th November 2011 - Professor Peter Kitson: 'Kind Hearts and Kowtows: British Cultural Encounters with China in the Romantic Period'
• 7th December 2011 - Professor Nicholas Davey: 'Should the Humanities be Taught at University?'
• 29th February 2012 - Professor Sir Adam Roberts: 'The Public Value of the Humanities'
• 7th March 2012 - Professor Mary Margaret McCabe: 'Transformative Goods: Plato and the Modern Academy'
• 9th May 2012 - Professor Marina Warner: 'The Reason of Myth: Why Literature Matters'
• 16 May 2012 - Professor Michael Kenny: 'The History of Political Thinking in Universities'

More information is available by visiting www.dundee.ac.uk/humanities/artsandhumanitiesresearchinstitute

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Grant Hill
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University of Dundee
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