General knowledge and broad horizons are inseparable parts of conducting a fruitful discussion and convincing anyone. In other words: to debate a topic well, one needs to be sufficiently familiar with it. 

This series of lectures provides listeners with an in-depth introduction to fields of knowledge that have been the subject of countless debates worldwide. 

Each lecture covers one such topic: 

• Explaining concepts worth knowing and when and how to use them.
• Exploring theories and analytical approaches related to it.
• Providing real-life examples and fun facts.
• Highlighting common contention areas and relevant debate topics.

These lectures draw on academic knowledge from the humanities and social sciences, along with thousands of hours of analysis of debates.

The lectures don't presume to provide unequivocal answers and "correct" opinions but rather offer analytical tools, basic knowledge, and a means of evaluating arguments from both sides. 

You can book an individual lecture, several lectures, or an entire series ("The Good Lecture Club"). 

The lecture can be followed by a guided discussion or debate (depending on the group size). 

Topics include: 

1. When PC Meets The PC: The New Political Correctness Wave on Campuses
2. Violence and The Role of The Modern State
3. Heretic Insights Into Religious Institutions
4. Rage Against The Machine: Debating Technology
5. Feminism Is For Everybody: Let's Debate It
6. There Is Accounting for Taste: Engaging in Artistic Discourse with Finesse
7. We Shall Overcome: Debating Social Movements and Social Change
8. Get Rights Right: Understanding, Defending, and Debating Human Rights in the Modern World
9. Deciphering The Global Chessboard: Strategies for Debating International Relations
10. Decoding Democracy: Navigating the Paradoxes and Promises of The Most Debated System of Government

 

1. When PC Meets The PC: The New Political Correctness Wave on Campuses

In recent years, newspapers have reported a new wave of political correctness. Right and left, young and old, and the majority and minority seem to be at odds over the concepts of "political correctness," "free speech," and "cancel culture." Little research has been done to understand the underlying causes of this phenomenon and analyze it objectively. This lecture tries to characterize these trends based on their unique characteristics, plus in light of past waves of political correctness in the Western world. It proposes an innovative way to understand the origin of recent political correctness: the effect of growing up in the internet age. We will demonstrate the thesis using the context of the global debate community - an academic sport that largely relies on expression. Finally, we will discuss the social and moral consequences of discourse policing.

 

2. Violence and The Role of The Modern State

The lecture focuses on a topic that is relevant to many ongoing public policy debates and affects our daily lives whether we notice it or not: violence - of individuals, communities, and countries. As we examine violence from a philosophical and historical perspective, we will ask: When and where do we allow violence? When should it be limited? How do our beliefs about violence relate to the rise of the modern state and its obligations to us? We will challenge common assumptions and value judgments around violence. Moreover, we will present novel ways to look at violence. These will be exemplified in our discussion of concepts such as "private justice."

 

3. Heretic Insights Into Religion

An unorthodox take on religion as a social institution rather than as metaphysics, or in other words: heretic insights into religion. We will highlight similarities and differences between religion and other familiar social institutions such as culture, community, and nation -  and see what we can learn from the comparison. To understand how and under what conditions religions form, change, and change over time, we'll look at various sects and religions operating today and throughout history. We will examine some of the famous religious conflicts and ask ourselves if they actually fall under the category of religious conflict, or if other factors explain them. Other earthly aspects of religion, such as hierarchy, symbols, religion-state relations, and other significant elements, will also be discussed.

 

4. Rage Against The Machine: Debating Technology

Technological advancement seems inevitable - generative AI has become many's go-to for writing text or code; the autonomous car is no longer a distant dream; and gene editing techniques are on the brink of allowing us to personalize medicine - but we often have trouble when it's time to debate technology properly. The lecture provides analysis, prisms, and applicable terms to help map the discussion to several core issues. We'll begin by explaining the importance of metaphors laying at the basis of technological discourse. We will move on to discuss fascinating questions, such as: how and why technology is developed? What influences technology's implementation? What are some social and cultural influences on and by technology? How can we understand the complicated state and market relations regarding technological advances? 

 

* Upon request, additional abstracts will be sent.