No such thing as a silly question
Leading British thinker A.C. Grayling didn’t shy away from the hard questions when he met with students from around Victoria to debate ethics and morality at the Victorian Philosothon at Wesley’s St Kilda Road Campus.
AC Grayling - Samuel Alexander Lecture
'Democracy and its crisis' by AC Grayling
AC Grayling - Samuel Alexander Lecture
AC Grayling - Samuel Alexander Lecture
AC Grayling - Samuel Alexander Lecture
AC Grayling - Samuel Alexander Lecture
AC Grayling - Samuel Alexander Lecture
AC Grayling - Philosothon
AC Grayling - Philosothon
AC Grayling - Philosothon
AC Grayling - Philosothon
‘If democracy requires informed and engaged citizens, what can we do to engage students more in important social issues?’ leading British thinker A.C. Grayling asked at the sold-out 2019 Samuel Alexander Lecture at Wesley College on 12 August.
As if in response, nearly 100 students from schools around Victoria came together the following day to explore philosophical questions at the 2019 Victorian Philosothon, also held at Wesley College. Competing in rounds against 12 other Victorian schools, students formed teams of young philosophers ranging in age from Years 7 to 11. Judges listen to the discussions and award points based on criteria for critical, creative and community thinking which deepens enquiry, rather than necessarily winning an argument. Wesley were pleased to win this year’s Victorian Philosothon, making them eligible to compete at the National Competition.
Grayling presented an inspiring introduction at the Philosothon: ‘The skills a philosopher needs include being able to see, with equal clarity, both fine detail and the furthest horizons; to be forensic and rigorous, but also imaginative and creative; to be relentless in pursuing implications; to be a good listener to others’ views, and a careful presenter of one’s own views. Above all, a philosopher needs a child’s heart: curious, open, eager to learn, ambitious, but welcoming to the genius of others and to the fellowship of humanity in seeking those two great goals: understanding, and the good.’
Nearly 50 VCE and IB DP students study Philosophy at Wesley College, focusing particularly on ethics, political philosophy and metaphysics. Grayling’s itinerary included a workshop with the Philosophy students and some of the visiting schools. Questions at the workshop ranged from whether philosophy still has a place in modern society to the importance of freedom of speech, with students unafraid to ask Grayling hard-hitting questions. Asked about his vision for the bleak future ahead, Grayling wryly noted that every generation believes they are at the tipping point of everything going wrong. ‘The future is always uncertain,’ Grayling said, ‘and we should try to remain optimistic and to make things better.’ Grayling explained that if the world was already perfect, there would be no chance to effect change and nothing to do. Philosophical enquiry, Grayling explained to the students, is a way to make sense of the world.
Grayling’s impressive Samuel Alexander Lecture, followed by his appearance on ABC TV’s Q&A, unpacked the history of democracy, from Plato to the present day, and questioned how democracy has contributed to the rise of President Trump in the United States.
The Wesley College Samuel Alexander Lecture is an annual seminar delivered by leading figures to advance public understanding and debate about significant issues of contemporary interest.
The Samuel Alexander Lecture honours one of Australia’s greatest scholars and one of Wesley’s most significant alumni. Samuel Alexander was a student at Wesley College in the early 1870s who, after completing his studies at the University of Melbourne and Oxford University, was appointed Professor of Philosophy at Manchester University. He subsequently became one of the 20th century’s most significant philosophers.
