2024 Annual Oration & AGM:
The Importance of Conversation in the very Idea of our Common Humanity
Coinciding with the Annual General Meeting, Conversation at the Crossroads will be hosting its second Annual Oration, to be delivered by Raimond Gaita, Honorary Professorial Fellow, Melbourne Law School and Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy, King's College London.
This promises to be a remarkable event that promises intellectual stimulation, lively discussions, and the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals.
Conversation at the Crossroads is delighted to announce its second Annual Oration, coinciding with our Annual General Meeting (AGM), on Sunday, November 3, 2024, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, November 3, 2024
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: University College, University of Melbourne, College Crescent, Parkville
Price: $10-$20, Donations Welcome
German-born Australian philosopher and writer, Raimond (Rai) Gaita is perhaps most well known as author renowned for his insightful perspectives on contemporary issues, and his lecture promises to be thought-provoking and enlightening.
Gaita is the author of 14 books and contributor to many more, he is best known for his award-winning 1998 biography about his early life, titled Romulus, My Father. Few people in this world believe more in face-to-face conversations – in speaking with others not when you’ve done your thinking, but in order to think – than Rai. This belief is a guiding presence in Rai Gaita’s latest book, a collection of his works, Justice and Hope.
Agenda for the Day:
Annual General Meeting (AGM): Our event will kick off with our AGM from 2pm, a crucial moment for our organisation as we reflect on the past year's achievements, introduce our constitution, and chart our course for the future.
Indulgent Afternoon Tea: Following the AGM, join us for a delightful afternoon tea where you can mingle with fellow members and savour delectable treats.
Second Annual Oration by Professor Raimond Gaita: Professor Gaita asserts that our conception of humanity cannot be based upon the empty language of individual rights when it is our shared feelings of grief, hope, love, guilt, shame and remorse that offer a more potent foundation for common understanding. Gaita will delve into
He will address critical questions such as:
· How can we reconcile the evils in the world within our vision of a common humanity?
· how can we respond to the different forms of reality avoidance becoming a force we reckon with - in the lives of individuals, families, communities, nations?
· How can we protect the idea that public spaces should be free of hate?
“Rai’s tough-minded conception of conversations sidesteps chat and debate alike. You speak not to say something and to hear something back, not to dazzle, be right or stake a claim, but to be held accountable to each other. A conversation is a pact. You are accountable not only for what you say but for the way what you say, and how you live your life, does or doesn’t square up. A conversation is also a precious opening. The light of another person’s presence turned towards you will almost always illuminate something you couldn’t see or find thinkable before.”
Maria Tumarkin
Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing,
The University of Melbourne
Lively Conversation and Q&A: Following the second Annual Oration, our group's convenor will offer insights to provoke and enrich discussions.
This event provides a unique opportunity to engage in spirited Q&A sessions, exchange ideas, and connect with fellow members who share a passion for meaningful dialogue and the pursuit of a better future for our society.
We encourage you to mark your calendars for this significant event and be part of the conversation that will shape our collective journey. Please RSVP by Friday October 25th to ensure we can accommodate all attendees comfortably.
We look forward to your presence at this pivotal event as we collectively explore the path ahead for Australia, and for Conversation at the Crossroads.
Professor Raimond Gaita
Raimond Gaita (b. 1946) arrived in Australia in 1950 with his Romanian father and German mother, and was brought up largely by his father near Barninghup, Victoria. After completing his MA at the University of Melbourne, he went to England to gain his PhD at Leeds. Foundation Professor of Philosophy at the Australian Catholic University, for many years he divided his year between Melbourne and London, where he was Professor of Moral Philosophy at King's College. Gaita's main research interests and publications have been in ethics, but he has also worked and written on scepticism, on the philosophy of mind and the philosophy of psychology, and on aspects of political philosophy and education. In 2011 he became a Professorial Fellow of Melbourne University’s Law School and Faculty of Arts. His publications include the award-winning memoir 'Romulus, My Father' (1988), and a volume of biographical reflection, 'After Romulus' (2011). He has written and edited numerous titles on ethics and moral philosophy including 'Good and Evil: An Absolute Conception' (1991, 2004), 'A Common Humanity: Thinking about Love & Truth & Justice' (1999); 'The Philosopher’s Dog' (2002); 'Breach of Trust: Truth, Morality and Politics' (2004); 'Thinking about Torture' (2008); and 'Muslims and Multiculturalism' (2011).