Forum for European Philosophy Event: European Provocation

Plato between the Teeth of the Beast: Animals and Democracy in Tomorrow’s Europe

Tuesday 11 February, 6.30 – 8pm
Wolfson Theatre, New Academic Building, LSE

Richard Iveson, Research Fellow, Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies, University of Queensland

Chair: Danielle Sands, Visiting Lecturer, Department of English, QMUL and Forum for European Philosophy Fellow

How important are animals to the constitution of democracy? In constructing his famous Republic, Plato expressly warns of the dangerous link between the liberation of animals, the uprising of the proletariat, and the founding of democracy. Unwittingly, Plato alsoreveals that an increased ‘sensitivity’ towards the fate of bonded animals marks an essential first step towards a truly free society. From this starting point, Richard Iveson will consider whether the egalitarian entanglement of humans and other animals in fact constitutes the prior condition of any democratic community.

Suggested hashtag for this event for Twitter users: #LSEanimals

Podcasts of most FEP events are available online after the event. They can be accessed at www.philosophy-forum.org

All events are free and open to all without registration
For further information contact Juliana Cardinale: 020 7955 7539
J.Cardinale@lse.ac.uk

Forum for European Philosophy
Cowdray House, Room G.05, European Institute
London School of Economics, WC2A 2AE
www.philosophy-forum.org