Philosophy/Religious Studies: Kant and Freedom with Dr David Grumett from the School of Divinity at The University of Edinburgh
October 1 @ 14:00 - 14:45
The philosopher Immanuel Kant is often negatively viewed as focused on duty and routine. In fact, he was a revolutionary thinker. He passionately believed that reason was essential grounding for morality and that if we rely on character, common sense, feeling or custom, we’re likely to be led astray. For Kant, the moral law presupposed free and equal individuals who saw themselves as capable of acting without being determined by surrounding influences. Doing what we ‘ought’ doesn’t restrict us but relates our actions to the ultimate ends of ourselves and the world as a whole. Kant’s philosophy was central to the Enlightenment thinking that motivated ordinary people to rise up against their rulers and grasp new economic, political and social freedoms.
In this interactive event for students of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Dr David Grumett, Senior Lecturer in Theology and Ethics in the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, will consider whether Kant’s focus on equality is sufficient to promote freedom in our current age where diversity is also highly prized.
Lecturer Profile: Dr David Grumett
Our events are designed so that a group of students can take part from a classroom or students and teachers can take part as individuals, either from school or from home. There is no charge to take part.
As a live, participative event, this session will not be recorded but slides and other resources will be shared after the event, where available.
Suitable for: Age 16+ pre-university Philosophy and Religious Studies students. The session is designed for student groups as well as students and teachers joining individually.
Preparation/Pre-Reading: Students may wish to consider the topic in advance and questions they have. Students can also think about questions related to studying at university level.
The IT Setup: The event will be run on Zoom and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting on to a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the speaker via typed comments and questions and/or via a microphone. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.
Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below: