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PROFESSOR ANTHONY O'HEAR GIVES HIS INAUGURAL LECTURE |
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Thursday 13th November 2003 Last Tuesday Professor Anthony O'Hear, Weston Professor of Philosophy, gave his inaugural lecture entitled 'Democracy or Openness: what is it we want in politics?' Anthony O’Hear was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bradford before he took early retirement to join us. He is the director of the Royal Institute of Philosophy and the editor of their journal Philosophy . He has also taken on the significant task of Head of the new Department of Education here at the University. Professor Norman Barry attended the lecture and gives this report: |
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"Although Professor O'Hear has an established reputation in the philosophy of science and general philosophy he chose democracy for his subject. In a well-informed account of the varieties of democratic theory and democratic experience Professor O'Hear expressed well-reasoned scepticism about some familiar democratic claims. He illustrated his theme by some well-chosen contemporary examples in which the traditional democratic bromides to political problems may be quite inappropriate. Professor O'Hear's lecture was enlivened by some apposite quotations from and references to Plato, Aristotle and de Tocqueville. He was particularly concerned to stress the connection between democracy and other political values. Overall, he expressed a preference for representative democracy over the various forms of direct democracy. He also effectively incorporated a critical discussion of some contemporary themes, such as multiculturalism, into his account. Professor O'Hear's presentation provoked a lively discussion. One questioner challenged his confidence in the virtues of representative democracy another raised the issue of elitism. Most people left the lecture well-informed about a topical issue and philosophically enlightened." Learn more about:
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Report by Norman Barry and the Web Team |