The value of value

People often ask me, ‘how has your thinking changed in recent years?’ If you asked me now, my answer would certainly have something to do with what we call value. Those of you who have read The Matter with Things will know that in Part III, where I attempt to address the question “What, then, is true?”, there is a chapter devoted to Value. If you had asked me before I started writing whether there would be such a chapter, I would not have foreseen it. I knew it would be chapters on the coincidence of opposites, on the One and the Many, on time, flow, space, matter and consciousness, and on purpose – even, certainly, on the sense of the sacred – but most probably not on value itself. But whether it is the progress, or rather regress, of our civilisation, or the effect of getting older, or a slowly dawning insight – or no doubt a combination of these – I now find the topic of paramount importance.

So much is this the case that Channel McGilchrist has taken over the historic Sheldonian Theatre in the heart of Oxford for two days, Saturday the 2^nd of May, and Sunday the 3^rd of May, to consider it in some depth. I will speak on both days; and there will also be lectures by historian of philosophy Angie Hobbs, the, physicist Jude Currivan, mythologist and storyteller Martin Shaw, and head of the Scientific and Medical Network David Lorimer. We plan there to be a long Q&A session, so as to engage the audience in the discussion, and plenty of opportunity for meeting friends, and making new ones. They will also be a surprise distinguished guest, for those who are able to attend. Altogether unmissable! If you can be physically present that would be wonderful, but if not the event is also accessible online.

I don’t plan to do anything like this again, though I will of course still give public lectures from time to time.

Here is a promotional video on YouTube:

And here is a link to a full description of the event:

https://channelmcgilchrist.com/the-good-the-beautiful-and-the-true/