Jazz-soaked philosophy in our catastrophic times: from Socrates to Coltrane

“These lectures reflect my passionate conviction that the vocation of philosophy may be, in the language of the great jazz musician, John Coltrane, a force for good in a broken world.” – Cornel West

How do we emerge from the bleakness of our catastrophic times?

At this year’s RSE Gifford Seminar, Professor Cornel West, distinguished American philosopher, theologian, activist, and public intellectual, considers the philosophical and artistic resources at our disposal to help us shape courageous, compassionate responses and find ways of moving forward.

The Seminar allows audience members to explore with Professor West some of the larger questions and issues raised in his Gifford Lecture Series – ‘A Jazz-soaked Philosophy for our Catastrophic Times: from Socrates to Coltrane.’ It is an opportunity to join in a conversation about the topics of Professor West’s lectures, and hear a variety of voices and perspectives.

As the University of Edinburgh Gifford Lecturer for 2023-24, Professor West will give six public lectures between 6 and 16 May. In these lectures, he will explore how the forces of kairos (disruptive hope), kinesis (the holy folly of faith) and, above all, kenosis (revolutionary love), when embedded into philosophic traditions, can “sustain us in the painful but also joyful trek from womb to tomb.”

About the RSE Gifford Seminar

The RSE and the University of Edinburgh unite annually to present the RSE Gifford Seminar, providing a unique overview of the Gifford Lecture Series for the year. This seminar is not another lecture but an interactive session where you can engage with the speaker on his series, fostering fresh thinking, connections and exchanges.

The Gifford Lectures were established in 1887 under the will of Adam, Lord Gifford, a judge of the Court of Session and a man of broad interests and compassion. Gifford Lectures are held at each of the four ancient Scottish universities. For over a century, the lectures have enabled an eminent field of scholars to advance philosophical and scientific thought. You can read more about it here.
This registration page is to attend the event in-person. Should prefer to attend online please regsiter here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/868198544217?aff=oddtdtcreator

Chair: Professor Mona Siddiqui, OBE, FRSE
Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies, University of Edinburgh, VP International, RSE.

Speaker: Professor Cornel West, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Philosophy & Christian Practice Union Theological Seminary, New York.

Panellist: TBC
Panellist: TBC

Speaker: Professor Cornel West, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Philosophy & Christian Practice Union Theological Seminary, New York.
Dr. Cornel West, affectionately known to many as Brother West, is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary. Dr. West teaches on the works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as well as courses in Philosophy of Religion, African American Critical Thought, and a wide range of subjects -- including but by no means limited to, the classics, philosophy, politics, cultural theory, literature, and music. He has a passion to communicate to a vast variety of publics in order to keep alive the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. – a legacy of telling the truth and bearing witness to love and justice. Dr. West is the former Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard University and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. Cornel West graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard in three years and obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy at Princeton. He has written 20 books and has edited 13. He is best known for his classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and for his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. His most recent book, Black Prophetic Fire, offers an unflinching look at nineteenth and twentieth-century African American leaders and their visionary legacies.

Chair: Professor Mona Siddiqui, OBE, FRSE, Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies, University of Edinburgh, VP International, RSE.

P rofessor Mona Siddiqui is a well-respected public intellectual and speaker on religion, ethics and public life. Her primary research areas are Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), ethics, and Christian-Muslim relations. She has held several prestigious research grants and visiting professorships, serving as a Humanitas Professor at the University of Cambridge and a Visiting Professorship at Hartford Seminary in the US. In 2011, she was awarded an OBE for her interfaith work.

She is a regular commentator in public life and the media, having spoken at the World Economic Forum and being listed in the Debretts top 500 list of the most influential people in the UK. She currently chairs the BBC’s Religious Advisory Committee in Scotland.

Important points to note
This event is suitable for age 18+
Accessibility Statement: We aim to make events as accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility requirements or any questions about how we can support this event, please contact the RSE Public Engagement team on [email protected]
Covid-19: In order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 we kindly encourage participants to continue to wear face masks if they feel comfortable to do so; use the hand sanitisers provided at the venue; and to stay at home if they have Covid symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19.

Host or Publisher The Royal Society of Edinburgh