Open University Ethics Centre Public Lectures

The Open University Ethics Centre Public Lectures 2009

Integrity in Public Life

6th May - Dr John Githongo: The Paradox of Two Recessions
John Githongo, the Kenyan anti-corruption campaigner now working as Senior Advisor - Advocacy, World Vision UK, will consider some of the scandals that have come to light as the economic tide has gone out in European business. He will compare the apparent paradox whereby economic upturn and democratic recession have gone together in Africa.

20th May - Lord Butler of Brockwell: Integrity and Politics
Robin Butler will draw on his experience as a previous head of the Civil Service, and lead author of the Butler Report, to discuss the ethical pitfalls facing politicians and civil servants, and how to avoid them.

27th May - Professor John Cottingham: Integrity and Fragmentation
Professor John Cottingham (University of Reading) will argue that we are harmed by living in a compartmentalised culture. Our institutions are manned by specialists who have mastered a particular field, but are not expected to form a view of the whole. Yet the classical ideal of the unity of the virtues suggests that people cannot live well unless their activities are integrated into a meaningful structure, informed not just by narrow technical expertise but by an overall vision of the good for humankind. We need this idea today.

17th June - Baroness O'Neill: Trustworthiness, Accountability and Character
Onora O'Neill, cross-bench peer and President of the British Academy, focuses on the place of trust in public life, and explores what we should take as evidence of trustworthiness. Character, codes of conduct and formal systems of accountability can all be helpful for judging trustworthiness, but what can we do when they don't provide enough evidence?

These free lunchtime lectures are open to all and will be hosted at St Bartholomew the Great, West Smithfield, London from 12.50 - 2pm. Click here for directions.

Admission is free but demand may be high for seats: please contact m.leroux@open.ac.uk to reserve your place at the lecture(s) you wish to attend.

Further inquiries to t.chappell@open.ac.uk