Conversations that matter

The Ethics Centre’s popular chill out zones were there to provoke conversations that matter about the issues on the day. Festival goers could pause, make new connections and debrief in between sessions at The Conversation Field, located outside beside the food and beverage marquees.

Hundreds were daring enough to step inside The Big Deep to contribute their own dangerous idea into the sea of truth and trust. The Big Deep was a popular experiential opportunity to share ideas that you wish we could discuss, see the perspectives of others and refuel with a coffee between sessions.

The Ethics Centre team were active both on stage and behind the scenes this year. Dr Simon Longstaff and Dr Matt Beard each ran sessions across the weekend (find out more below),  Kym Middleton and Dr Simon Longstaff chaired a number of discussions and many of our staff volunteered their time to help festival goers get the best out of the weekend event.

 Everyday Ethics Workshop – Dr Simon Longstaff

We ventured into the thorny and nameless ethical choices faced every day with Dr Simon Longstaff, Everyday Ethics.  The participatory workshop involved audience members in a process of deliberation that traces back to the days of Socrates in the Athenian agora.

The Danger of Scepticism – Dr Matt Beard

Festival-goers entered into a thought experiment with The Ethics Centre’s Dr Matt Beard at The Danger of Scepticism. History is littered with examples of the danger of absolutists. We all need to be sceptical, but Dr Matt asked when scepticism and doubt cross the threshold into dangerous.