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The Simone Weil Lecture on Human Value is hosted by the School of Philosophy. It was first held in 2000, an initiative of Professor Raimond Gaita. It is a free public lecture held annually in Brisbane and Melbourne.
Each year, a distinguished international scholar is invited to give a public lecture and academic seminar at ACU. The lectures are inspired by Simone Weil’s ethical vision that is rooted in attentive compassion and obligation to others, her unstinting desire for the Good, and her non-negotiable commitment to justice.
We are delighted to announce that this year’s lecture, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Simone Weil Lecture series, will be delivered by ABC’s Scott Stephens.
This website will be updated once event details have been confirmed. You can also register your interest to be notified of this year’s lecture details.
In the meantime, you can read more about our speaker on the ABC website.
Lectures from more recent years, together with invited speakers, are listed below. Recorded lectures can be accessed via the topic link.
| Year | Lecturer | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Professor Roger Crisp |
Virtue in a changing climate: |
| 2018 | Professor Mark Alfano |
Dark humour in dark times: The sustaining virtue of laughter |
| 2017 | Professor Lenart Škof |
Democracy as Human Value: On the Idea of Ethical Citizenship |
| 2016 | Professor Robert Audi | Transnational Ethics and the Refugee Crisis |
| 2015 | Professor Michael Morgan | Tears the Civil Servant Cannot See: Ethics, Politics, and the Individual |
| 2014 | Professor Eleonore Stump | Is Justice Enough? Aquinas on Justice and Care |
| 2013 | Associate Professor Jeffrey Bloechl | Between Love and Law: Paul and Philosophy - Jeffrey Bloechl (Boston College) |
| 2012 | Prof Richard Kearney (Boston College) | Narrating Pain: The Power of Catharsis |
| 2011 | Prof Kevin Hart FAHA | On Forgiveness: Narrative and Lyrical |
| 2010 | Antony Duff | To Whom Must We Answer? Responsibility, Community and Criminal Law |
| 2009 | Miranda Fricker | Knowledge and Prejudice |
| 2008 | Professor Jonathon Glover | Uprootedness, Narratives and National Conflict |
| 2006 | Professor Susan Mendus | Terrorism and Religion |
| 2005 | Professor Susan Neiman | Moral Clarity |
| 2004 | Stephen Mulhall | The Conversation of Mankind |
| 2003 | Professor Simon Critchley | "I want to die, I hate my life": Phaedra's Malaise |
| 2002 | Professor Ray Monk | A Wonderful Life: Philosophy and Biography |
| 2001 | Professor Avishai Margalit | A Moral Witness |
| 2000 | Professor Christine M. Korsgaard | Human Action and Normative Standards |
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