Philosophy Tea - Jonathan Swift

Philosophy Tea, september 25th 2018
Leaving Europe Behind – Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels (1726)

In our first Philosophy Tea for autumn 2018, we follow the sea adventurer, Lemuel Gulliver, on a voyage of self-discovery away from his native England. Through his encounters with Little People, Big People, Flying Islands and Talking Horses, Gulliver is forced to rethink his views on European superiority. But when he starts to question his own humanity, perhaps Gulliver has gone too far.

This autumn Professor Peter Wallensteen and Lecturer Daniel Ogden will continue their popular Philosophy Tea talks. Each Philosophy Tea is a discussion about a particular philosopher or practitioner in the field of peace and justice and lasts for an hour. The discussion can span the whole career of the philosopher or focus on a particularly significant work. The final twenty minutes is reserved for an open discussion with the audience. The events are run in English.

Producer: Paul Kessel

The Philosophy Tea talks were held regularly at the Regina Theatre in Uppsala from 2014 to 2021. During these well attended events – where tea, scones and jam were served – Professor Peter Wallensteen and Guest Lecturer Daniel Ogden, both of Uppsala University, discussed thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of peace and justice. In all, 40 sessions were held, of which 31 are recorded. The session were also supported by Uppsala University as part of its outreach activities.