Political philosopher to give lecture

Wednesday 1 March 2000

A philosopher who has advised both Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher is to give a keynote speech at the University of St Andrews.

Professor John Gray of the London School of Economics will be delivering the 2000 Years Lecture on Thursday 9 March, followed by a seminar on the morning of Friday 10 March.

John Gray is one of the UK’s most distinguished political philosophers whose career has taken him from New Right thinking in the early 1980’s to fierce, independent criticism of that ideology. He has questioned the assumptions of the Enlightenment and modernist thinking and consistently tried to show the practical relevance of political philosophy to the real world.

A regular contributor to The Guardian, The Times and the New York Times, Professor Gray has participated in high-level strategic discussions with leading government figures. His current work addresses the prospects for the global economy and the deep implications of value pluralism.

The lecture – “Liberalism and value-pluralism: a post- Enlightenment view” – is being given as part of the year-long programme “2000 Years: Faith, Culture and Identity in the Common Era”. Co-sponsored by the University’s Institute of European Cultural Identity Studies, Centre for Philosophy and Public Affairs, Department of Social Anthropology and the School of Divinity, the series is funded with the help of the Gifford Lectureship Fund.

Professor Gray’s lecture will be held on Thursday 9 March at 5.15 pm in Lower College Hall, St Salvator’s Quad, St Andrews while the seminar will be held in the Senate Room, South Street, St Andrews between 10.30am and midday on Friday 10 March.

 

 

NOTE TO EDITORS:- Due to the nature of Professor Gray’s talk, it is not possible to obtain an advance copy, however, you are invited to send a reporter/photographer to EITHER event. Further details can be obtained from Claire Grainger – contact details below.

Issued by Beattie Media on behalf of the University of St Andrews For more information please contact Claire Grainger on 01334 462530, 07887 650072 or email [email protected] Ref: gifford.2/standrews/chg/1march2000/ PR1900

 


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