Surviving Turbulent Times – how philosophy can help us navigate chaos

Feeling overwhelmed by constant change, AI, and world events? Join The Open University for Surviving Turbulent Times, where we explore timeless philosophical tools to help you find calm, clarity, and steady ground amidst modern chaos.

Step away from the noise of the modern world for an evening of inspiring discussion and fresh perspective at The Steeple Centre. Join three leading philosophers as they explore how practical philosophy can help us stay clear-headed, manage distraction, and navigate chaotic times with confidence.

Speakers:

Professor Sophie-Grace Chappell, The Open University 

Examine how and why human beings are at their best when they devote their powers to problem-solving, intellectual exploration, and learning, and why we are never happier nor more usefully occupied than when actively learning.

Dr Tina Röck, University of Dundee 

Explore attention as a way of being present in a world built to distract us. Drawing on Buddhism, process philosophy, and phenomenology, she will address what is lost when attention becomes a commodity and what can be recovered by learning to attend differently.

Dr Costas Athanasopoulos, The Open University 

Addressing a critical modern question: as AI takes on tasks traditionally performed by people, what happens to our capacity for judgment, ethical reflection, and personal responsibility? Drawing on key philosophical perspectives, he will examine how these ideas help us navigate an increasingly automated world.

Learn more and reserve your spot via the Surviving Turbulent Times webpage.