EMail Print

Eventlist

Event 

Open Seminar: The Practical Value of Scientific Knowledge in Aristotle’s Best Life
Title:
Open Seminar: The Practical Value of Scientific Knowledge in Aristotle’s Best Life
When:
07.04.2016 19.00 h
Where:
The Ithacan Philanthropic Society - Melbourne
Category:
Education

Description

Lecturer: Dr Brennan McDavid
Entry: FREE

Synopsis

What do we need to know in order to live happy lives? This is a question that Aristotle took very seriously and that inspired him to write many philosophical texts, including his famous ethical treatise, the Nicomachean Ethics.
In that great work, Aristotle says the best human life is one which is lived in accordance with knowledge of the world. Specifically, he means that the best life is that of a scientist or a philosopher, someone who inquires into the deep mysteries of the cosmos, leading us to think that what we need to know in order to live the best life possible is just a lot of science or philosophy.
But is that really all we need to know in order to be happy? Dr. McDavid will press Aristotle’s theory with this question in order to determine just how valuable scientific or philosophical knowledge is, and what other knowledge we might need along the way.

Bio

Dr. Brennan McDavid is the Seymour Reader in Ancient History and Philosophy at Ormond College and Fellow of the University of Melbourne’s Philosophy Department where she teaches Greek Philosophy and Latin subjects.
Her research covers all covers of Aristotle’s thought, from science to epistemology to ethics, and she is presently working on a project that concerns Aristotle’s theory of moral knowledge and moral education.
She received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from Princeton University and also holds a master’s degree in Classical Philology from the University of Arizona.

Donors

We thank the following donors: Theodore Sklavos and Family in memory of Eleni Sklavos.

During the course of the year considerable expenses are incurred in staging the seminars. In order to mitigate these costs individuals or organisations are invited to donate against a lecture of their choice.  You too can donate for one or more seminars and (optionally) let your name or brand be known as a patron of culture to our members, visitors and followers, as well as the broader artistic and cultural community of Melbourne.
Please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or call 03 9662 2722.


We also thank the following corporate sponsors:

Venue

Venue:
The Ithacan Philanthropic Society   -   Website
Street:
Level 2, 329 Elizabeth Street
Postcode:
3000
Suburb:
Melbourne
State:
VIC
Country:
Country: au

In October 1916, the Ithacan migrants of Melbourne established the ITHACAN PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY "The Ulysses", with an inaugural membership of some 153 members. This was in response to pleas for aid from their loved ones in Ithaca who were suffering deprivation during the First World War.

Over the years, however, the Society has been much more than just a philanthropic institution. It has been a constant in the lives of the early Ithacan migrants replacing the homeland which they had left.

The Society takes an active role in the cultural, social, educational and quality of life interests of the Ithacan Community. The Society, as part of its philanthropic role, also makes many monetary contributions to worthy causes, including those outside the immediate Ithacan community. The Society celebrated its 90th Anniversary in 2006.