Latest thinking

Dangerous Rhetoric

Comment

10 May 2010

In Plato’s time they would regularly hold competitions between a skilled rhetorician and an experienced doctor to see who could convince a crowd who was the better doctor. Apparently the rhetorician would always win and if we consider the implications of that for the climate change debate it raises some serious concerns.

RSA Animate - Empathic Civilisation

Comment

06 May 2010

Bestselling author, political adviser and social and ethical prophet Jeremy Rifkin investigates the evolution of empathy and the profound ways that it has shaped our development and our society. View the full video of Jeremy Rifkin's talk at the RSA. Download a transcript of this video (pdf).

General Election 2010 - what about the issues?

Comment

27 Apr 2010

Ben Lucas

The story of the election so far has been the rise of Clegg and the Liberal Democrats and the consequences this may have on the result.  Change has become the central question – the choice being about who can manage this best and who personifies it the most.  But change for what?  It is striking that policy has received less attention in this than in any previous election.

The value trinity

Comment

09 Apr 2010

Matthew Taylor’s third annual lecture as chief executive of the RSA was titled Left Brain, Right Brain. While the left and right alluded to political viewpoints and the focus was on public policymaking, the title would have worked if referring to business decision-making, a discipline which is overly left-brain oriented and heavily focused on analysis.

RSA Animate - Drive

Comment

08 Apr 2010

Daniel Pink provides concrete examples of how intrinsic motivation functions both at home and in the workplace. View a video of Dan Pink's talk at the RSA that inspired this animation. Download a transcript of this video (pdf).

RSA Animate - Smile or Die

Comment

17 Mar 2010

Acclaimed journalist, author and political activist Barbara Ehrenreich explores the darker side of positive thinking. View a video of her lecture at the RSA that inspired this animation. Download a transcript of this video (pdf)

Creative Milieux

Comment

17 Mar 2010

For the past 1000 years or so, certain cities have come to be associated with great periods of wealth creation, innovation and technology and artistic breakthroughs. Venice in the 13th century opened up trade to the east; the Renaissance in 15th century Florence developed from the artist workshop system; the opening up of trade with the East Indies and the Northern Renaissance of the 17th century; the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th century; the breakthrough of modern art forms in 19th century London and Paris; and Modernism is 1920s Berlin and New York in the 1940s. These were the great creative milieux of western civilization and capitalism.

An enlightened view of altruism

Comment

15 Mar 2010

Fireman dashes into burning house to rescue small child. But why? What is the impulse to risk all for the sake of another, the phenomenon Auguste Comte named "altruism"? The watching crowd may applaud such selfless bravery, but not so the man with a clipboard who has "Health and Safety" inscribed on the back of his orange fluorescent jacket. John 15:13 is no part of his creed - "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." In any strictly utilitarian or consequentialist philosophy, altruism makes no sense. If we don't step in and stop it, who knows who may sue?

Soliphilia and Citizen Power

Comment

08 Mar 2010

The strength of attachment to what Indigenous Australians call their ‘country’ is difficult for many people from contemporary ‘European’ cultures to fathom. A translation of a song from the Oenpelli region in the Top End of the Northern Territory captures the emotional power of this connection: