This event is free to attend and no registration is required. Seats are assigned on a first come, first served basis.

Speakers
John Cottingham, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Reading
Beverley Clack, Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Oxford Brookes University
Tim Mulgan, Professor of Moral and Political Philosophy, University of St Andrews and Professor of Philosophy, University of Auckland

Chair
Peter Dennis, Fellow, Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method, LSE and Forum for European Philosophy Fellow

The traditional answer to this question is that God has a plan for the universe and we are part of it. Almost as traditionally, atheists have countered that the universe has no purpose since a benevolent God does not exist. But what if the purpose of the universe does not involve us—or God—at all? Tim Mulgan explores this possibility in his recent book Purpose in the Universe (Oxford University Press, 2015). He joins a panel of metaphysicians and philosophers of religion to debate his view.

Image credit: Greg Goebel, ‘Paley’s watch‘