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Philosophers Look To Bentham's Individualism To Promote Philosophy In The UK

October 22, 2003

The new British Philosophical Association (BPA), set to support learning, teaching and research in Philosophy, is embracing Jeremy Bentham's Individualism to ensure the subject is represented in the UK. Unlike the National Committee for Philosophy that it replaces, membership is open to individual philosophers, as well as Higher Education departments, and philosophical societies.

The BPA is the public face of philosophy in the UK, speaking with one voice on all matters that affect the future of the study of the subject, and is to host its first ever Conference on Friday 24th October 2003, at Portcullis House, Westminster, London at 2.00pm.

By widening membership to individuals it recognises the importance of the independence of individual initiative. However, it is not committed to any one philosophy and represents all aspects of the discipline and will promote an Olympiad of critical thinking.

Professor Roger Trigg, BPA Chairman, and Researcher with the University of Warwick, said:

"Philosophy examines our most basic assumptions and underlies the ideas of our law, politics and morality. It provides intellectual training, teaching clarity of thought, and the ability to argue rigorously and consistently. Without Philosophy we are impoverished as scholars, and as human beings. However, as HE changes it is crucial that the subject is properly represented and that the views of the community of professional philosophers in Britain are promoted to relevant bodies, within universities and beyond."

The new Association promotes the exchange of ideas among philosophers, to encourage creative and scholarly activity and facilitate the work of philosophers. It will represent the discipline within universities, advance philosophy teaching in schools, and promote wider awareness of what philosophy has to offer.

Although is not a popularised discipline philosophy is used and applied in our everyday lives, from discussing the ethics of cloning, biotechnology or IVF treatment to making decisions about our own religion.

Professor Roger Trigg added: "Philosophy lies at the root of every academic discipline. It produced the physical sciences, and, in more recent years has helped give birth to linguistics and computing. As the Quality Assurance Agency Benchmark statement says: 'Philosophy ought to be at the heart of any University worthy of its name. In fact, a University without any philosophical work being done has devalued itself as a place of learning'."

Key speakers include Baroness Onora O'Neill, Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge and life peer who will examine the responsibility philosophy has to society at large. Her research has responded to increasing societal pressure to investigate the ethical, legal and social implications of recent developments in the life-sciences industry. She has chaired the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and the Human Genetics Advisory Commission, and is currently chair of the Nuffield Foundation.

The second key speaker, Professor Robert Audi, formerly University of Nebraska, now University of Notre Dame will offer his experience of the work of the American Philosophical Association, and a view of how the new British body might evolve.

Warwick, University of