bigideas

We’ve become used to hearing the word “crisis” in contemporary discourse: most recently, of course, in connection with the financial system. We also hear of nations in crisis and crises of a more social or cultural sort: a crisis of confidence in our political systems or in the arts, for example. Finally we often refer to personal crises, whether they appear to have their origins in some external catastrophe or psychological strife. Big Ideas and the Forum for European Philosophy at the LSE come together to present an interactive panel discussion on the idea of “crisis”. Is there anything that binds all of these ideas of crisis together? Does the word — with its origins, inevitably, in ancient Greece — name a useful concept? Or does is paper over too much complexity and specificity? Should it be banned or celebrated? Join our panel for an interactive and lively session that we expect to traduce traditional disciplinary boundaries and political divides:

• Dr Amber Jacobs, lecturer in psychosocial theory at Birkbeck University
• Dr Mareike Kleine, lecturer in EU politics at the LSE
• Andy Wilson, director of L-Shift
• Chair: Dr Simon Glendinning, director of the Forum for European Philosophy

The panel will introduce and discuss the topic from 7:30-9:00, after which the audience will be invited to participate, take the emerging ideas forward and engage in an open, friendly and stimulating dialogue. You don’t need any specialist expertise to contribute; in fact we’re hoping to benefit from many different perspectives and your own particular experience and knowledge will give us a valuable insight. The event takes place in the upstairs room of the historic Counting House pub on Cornhill, 1 minute’s walk from Bank tube station.