Event Date: 2nd September 2024

Events Start: 17:20 British Summer Time

Speakers: Martha Nussbaum, Michael Huemer, Tommy Curry & more!

Most have a clear sense of what is right and wrong, and we imagine that our assessment is reasoned and sensible.  But critics argue this is an illusion and morality is commonly little more than concealed prejudice that seeks to impose our view on others. Terrible practices, like slavery and racism were in their time justified by philosophers and thinkers in the West who claimed to be applying rational principles, but were merely in positions of power. The Soviet introduction of 'one morality for everyone' saw terrible crimes committed against its people. And from Thasmymachus to Nietzsche, philosophers have argued morality, however rational sounding, is in fact driven by a will to power.

Should we accept that morality is concealed prejudice, and rid our discourse of all moral terms? Or should we see it as useful for ourselves and society, even though it is ultimately prejudice? Or is it a profound mistake to see morality as a means to impose your view on others, and instead hold to the view it is in fact based on eternal lasting principles? 

You can join IAI Live September with either a pay-by-view ticket or by purchasing an Premium Live subscription - find out more here. Explore our events so far with the images below.