Richard Norman

Part of the Secularity and Value series

Listen to the podcast here

6.30-8.00pm | Tuesday 3 June 2008
Room E171, New Theatre, East Building, LSE

Speaker
Richard Norman, Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Kent

Chair
Simon Glendinning, Reader in European Philosophy, European Institute, LSE and Director of the Forum for European Philosophy

The global revival of religion has raised fundamental questions about its role in politics and its claim that it serves as a principle of identity, indispensable to the continuing survival of communities. This series brings together leading thinkers and scholars to encourage discussion and debate on this crucial contemporary theme.

Secularity and Value
The recent revival of religion around the globe has raised fundamental questions not only about its role in both national and international politics, but also concerning its claim to serve as a principle of identity indispensable to the continuing survival of communities and peoples across the generations. There are many who would argue strenuously that the sense of belonging to a community is seriously weakened in the absence of a shared religious commitment. Others would insist just as strenuously that social and public life should be both conceived and organised in essentially secular terms. Our lecture series, held at the LSE in the summer term 2008, brought together leading thinkers and scholars to encourage discussion and debate on this crucial contemporary theme.