Festival of Dangerous Ideas
Encyclopedia
Festival of Dangerous Ideas is an annual event presented by Sydney Opera House
and St James Ethics Centre. In 2009, festival's opening address was given by atheism advocate Christopher Hitchens
on the topic of "Religion Poisons Everything", which was countered by Australian Roman Catholic Cardinal George Pell
in a session titled "Without God We Are Nothing".
In 2010 Geoffrey Robertson and Alan Dershowitz gave the opening address about sexual abuse of children within the Catholic Church in the debate, "The Sins of the Fathers: Should the Pope to be held to account?" Christian Lander, author of the satirical blog and book, "Stuff White People Like" discussed the meaning behind his tongue-in-cheek etiquette guide to Caucasian culture. New York newspaper columnist, Lenore Skenazy told how she was labeled “America’s Worst Mom” after she let her nine-year old son ride the subway home and how she fought back in the midst of a media maelstrom, by starting movement for “free range kids”.
In 2011, the Festival of Dangerous Ideas brought important questions to light as a catalyst for sharp and vibrant discussion. Traversing a broad terrain, the festival featured a host of international and local speakers including: Julian Assange
, Jonathan Safran Foer
, Alexander McCall Smith
, Jon Ronson
, Slavoj Zizek
, Mona Eltahawy and Philip Nitschke
. The speakers negotiated a range of dangerous ideas including, that: Wikileaks has not gone far enough; Footballers are Barbarians not role models; Psychopaths Make the World Go Around; Ecstasy is No More Dangerous Than Horse-riding; All Women are Sluts and that Australia is a third-rate country.
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
and St James Ethics Centre. In 2009, festival's opening address was given by atheism advocate Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Eric Hitchens is an Anglo-American author and journalist whose books, essays, and journalistic career span more than four decades. He has been a columnist and literary critic at The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, Slate, World Affairs, The Nation, Free Inquiry, and became a media fellow at the...
on the topic of "Religion Poisons Everything", which was countered by Australian Roman Catholic Cardinal George Pell
George Pell
George Pell AC is an Australian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Archbishop of Sydney, serving since 2001. He previously served as auxiliary bishop and archbishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne...
in a session titled "Without God We Are Nothing".
In 2010 Geoffrey Robertson and Alan Dershowitz gave the opening address about sexual abuse of children within the Catholic Church in the debate, "The Sins of the Fathers: Should the Pope to be held to account?" Christian Lander, author of the satirical blog and book, "Stuff White People Like" discussed the meaning behind his tongue-in-cheek etiquette guide to Caucasian culture. New York newspaper columnist, Lenore Skenazy told how she was labeled “America’s Worst Mom” after she let her nine-year old son ride the subway home and how she fought back in the midst of a media maelstrom, by starting movement for “free range kids”.
In 2011, the Festival of Dangerous Ideas brought important questions to light as a catalyst for sharp and vibrant discussion. Traversing a broad terrain, the festival featured a host of international and local speakers including: Julian Assange
Julian Assange
Julian Paul Assange is an Australian publisher, journalist, writer, computer programmer and Internet activist. He is the editor in chief of WikiLeaks, a whistleblower website and conduit for worldwide news leaks with the stated purpose of creating open governments.WikiLeaks has published material...
, Jonathan Safran Foer
Jonathan Safran Foer
Jonathan Safran Foer is an American author best known for his novels Everything Is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close...
, Alexander McCall Smith
Alexander McCall Smith
Alexander "Sandy" McCall Smith, CBE, FRSE, is a Rhodesian-born Scottish writer and Emeritus Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. In the late 20th century, McCall Smith became a respected expert on medical law and bioethics and served on British and international committees...
, Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson is a Welsh journalist, documentary filmmaker, radio presenter and nonfiction author, whose works include The Men Who Stare At Goats. His journalism and columns have appeared in British publications including The Guardian newspaper, City Life and Time Out magazine...
, Slavoj Zizek
Slavoj Žižek
Slavoj Žižek is a Slovenian philosopher, critical theorist working in the traditions of Hegelianism, Marxism and Lacanian psychoanalysis. He has made contributions to political theory, film theory, and theoretical psychoanalysis....
, Mona Eltahawy and Philip Nitschke
Philip Nitschke
Dr. Philip Nitschke is an Australian medical doctor, humanist, author and founder and director of the pro-euthanasia group Exit International. He campaigned successfully to have a legal euthanasia law passed in Australia's Northern Territory and assisted four people in ending their lives before...
. The speakers negotiated a range of dangerous ideas including, that: Wikileaks has not gone far enough; Footballers are Barbarians not role models; Psychopaths Make the World Go Around; Ecstasy is No More Dangerous Than Horse-riding; All Women are Sluts and that Australia is a third-rate country.
2009 speakers
included- Muslim advocate Keysar TradKeysar TradKeysar Trad is a spokesperson for a section of the Australian Muslim community.- Background :Trad was born in Lebanon and came to Australia at the age of thirteen under the Australian government's family reunion program. He met and married his wife, Hanifeh, when he was in his early twenties...
- Australian Roman Catholic Cardinal George PellGeorge PellGeorge Pell AC is an Australian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Archbishop of Sydney, serving since 2001. He previously served as auxiliary bishop and archbishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne...
- atheism advocate Christopher HitchensChristopher HitchensChristopher Eric Hitchens is an Anglo-American author and journalist whose books, essays, and journalistic career span more than four decades. He has been a columnist and literary critic at The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, Slate, World Affairs, The Nation, Free Inquiry, and became a media fellow at the...
- feminist Germaine GreerGermaine GreerGermaine Greer is an Australian writer, academic, journalist and scholar of early modern English literature, widely regarded as one of the most significant feminist voices of the later 20th century....
- neuroscientist Susan GreenfieldSusan GreenfieldSusan Adele Greenfield, Baroness Greenfield, CBE is a British scientist, writer, broadcaster, and member of the House of Lords. Greenfield, whose specialty is the physiology of the brain, has worked to research and bring attention to Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.Greenfield is...
- African-futurist economist (New York Times dubbed "Anti-BonoBonoPaul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
") Dambisa MoyoDambisa MoyoDr. Dambisa Moyo is an international economist and New York Times best-selling author of both Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way For Africa, published in 2009, and How the West Was Lost: Fifty Years of Economic Folly - And the Stark Choices that Lie Ahead, published in... - columnist Greg BarnsGreg BarnsGreg Barns is an Australian barrister, author, political commentator and former political candidate based in Hobart, Tasmania.-Political career:...
- former ChiefChief of policeA Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
of the Seattle Police DepartmentSeattle Police DepartmentThe Seattle Police Department is the principal law enforcement agency of the city of Seattle, Washington, except for the campus of the University of Washington, for which responsibility falls to the University of Washington Police Department...
Norm StamperNorm StamperNorm Stamper is a former Chief of the Seattle Police Department and an author. He is best known for his role in the Seattle's response to the protests of the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999, which eventually led to his resignation.... - president of FBi RadioFBi RadioFBi is an independent, not-for-profit community radio station in Sydney, Australia. FBi places a heavy emphasis on local alternative music: it has a policy that at least 50 per cent of its music content is to be Australian, of which at least half comes from Sydney musicians.FBi began 'test...
Cassandra WilkinsonCassandra WilkinsonCassandra Wilkinson is an Australian author and president and co-founder of FBi Radio. She is married to Australian politician Paul McLeay. She was the transport advisor to former New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally.-Writing career:... - libertarian John Humphreys
- retired admiral Chris BarrieChris Barrie (Admiral)Admiral Christopher Alexander "Chris" Barrie AC is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy, who served as Chief of the Defence Force from 4 July 1998 to 3 July 2002.-Naval career:...
.
2010 speakers
included- Alan DershowitzAlan DershowitzAlan Morton Dershowitz is an American lawyer, jurist, and political commentator. He has spent most of his career at Harvard Law School where in 1967, at the age of 28, he became the youngest full professor of law in its history...
- Geoffrey RobertsonGeoffrey RobertsonGeoffrey Ronald Robertson QC is an Australian-born human rights lawyer, academic, author and broadcaster. He holds dual Australian and British citizenship....
- Waleed AlyWaleed AlyWaleed Aly is an Australian lawyer, academic and rock musician. He has been a member of the executive committee of the Islamic Council of Victoria and has served as the council's head of public affairs. He is a frequent commentator on Australian Muslim affairs. In 2008 he was selected to...
- Annabel CrabbAnnabel CrabbAnnabel Crabb is an Australian political journalist and commentator who is currently the ABC's chief online political writer. Previously she has worked for Adelaide's The Advertiser, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, the Sunday Age and The Sun-Herald, and won a Walkley Award in 2009 for her...
- Elizabeth FarrellyElizabeth FarrellyElizabeth Margaret Farrelly is a Sydney-based author, architecture critic, essayist, columnist and speaker who contributes tocurrent debates about aesthetics, design, public art, architecture and urban environments...
- Miriam LyonsMiriam LyonsMiriam Lyons is the Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Development , an independent public interest think tank set up in 2007. Formerly the Policy Coordinator for newmatilda.com, Miriam has a long history of bringing innovative policy ideas and debate to new audiences.Miriam co-founded...
- Marcus WestburyMarcus WestburyMarcus Westbury is an Australian festival director. He is currently based in Melbourne, Australia where he filmed the TV series Not Quite Art...
- John QuigginJohn QuigginJohn Quiggin is an Australian economist and professor at the University of Queensland. Quiggin studied at the Australian National University, obtaining bachelor's degrees in Arts and Economics in 1978 and 1980 respectively, and completing a master's degree in Economics in 1984. Quiggin was awarded...
- P.W. Singer
- Andrew LeighAndrew LeighAndrew Keith Leigh is an Australian politician and former professor of economics at the Australian National University. He has been a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2010, representing the Canberra seat of Fraser. In 2011, Andrew was awarded the Economic Society of...
- Tariq AliTariq AliTariq Ali , , is a British Pakistani military historian, novelist, journalist, filmmaker, public intellectual, political campaigner, activist, and commentator...
- Ross GittinsRoss GittinsRoss Gittins AM is an Australian political and economic journalist and author.-Early Life and Education:Ross Roderick Gittins was born 13 February 1948 in Newcastle, New South Wales where his family were living at New Lambton. His parents, Salvation Army officers moved to Sydney and Ross started...
- Paul McGeoughPaul McGeoughPaul McGeough is an Irish Australian journalist and senior foreign correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald, specialising in Middle Eastern affairs....
- David Hetherington
- Luke Malpass
- Tom SwitzerTom SwitzerTom Switzer is editor of The Spectator Australia, succeeding Oscar Humphries in December 2009. He is also a research associate at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney where he teaches American politics and history...
- Steve BiddulphSteve BiddulphSteve Biddulph is an Australian author, activist and psychologist who has written a number of influential bestselling books; and lectures worldwide on parenting, and boys' education. His books argue for a more affectionate and connected form of parenting, and the importance of role models in...
- Cordelia FineCordelia FineCordelia Fine is an Australian academic psychologist and writer. She is the author of two books on neuroscience, several book chapters and numerous academic publications...
- Clive HamiltonClive HamiltonClive Charles Hamilton AM FRSA is an Australian public intellectual and Professor of Public Ethics at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics and the Vice-Chancellor's Chair in Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University. He is the Founder and former Executive Director of the The...
- Eric Kaufmann
- Rebecca Huntley
- David MarrDavid Marr (journalist)David Ewan Marr is an Australian journalist, author, and progressive political and social commentator. His areas of expertise include the law, Australian politics, censorship, the media and the arts...
- Chris TaylorChris Taylor (comedian)Christopher Thornton "Chris" Taylor is an Australian comedian, writer and former radio host from Sydney. As a member of The Chaser, he is best known for co-writing and appearing on satirical ABC Television shows CNNNN and The Chaser's War on Everything...
- Marcus WestburyMarcus WestburyMarcus Westbury is an Australian festival director. He is currently based in Melbourne, Australia where he filmed the TV series Not Quite Art...
- Lenore SkenazyLenore SkenazyLenore Skenazy writes a nationally syndicated column that appears in more than 100 papers through the Creators Syndicate. Her work offers commentary on everything from politics to family life to popular culture phenomena, and include My Dollar Store Addiction and Don't Call Me From Your Car Just...
- Hugh MackayHugh Mackay (social researcher)Hugh Mackay is the founder of the Australian quarterly research series The Ipsos Mackay Report . He is a psychologist, social researcher and writer. He is a regular columnist in The Age and a regularly appearing commentator on radio and television. He is a graduate of Sydney Grammar School, the...
- John Keane
- Anne ManneAnne ManneAnne Manne is an Australian journalist and social philosopher.Her 2005 book Motherhood: How should we care for our children? was short-listed in 2006 for Australian journalism's Walkley Award.She is married to Australian academic Robert Manne....
- Fred ChaneyFred ChaneyFrederick Michael Chaney, AO is a former Western Australian politician who, until April 2007, held the position of deputy chairman of the Australian Native Title Tribunal and is Chair of Desert Knowledge Australia and on the Board of Directors of Reconciliation Australia.Chaney was born in Perth,...
- Julian MorrowJulian MorrowJulian Francis Xavier Morrow is an Australian comedian and television producer from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is best known for being a member of the satirical team The Chaser...
2011 speakers
Included- Julian AssangeJulian AssangeJulian Paul Assange is an Australian publisher, journalist, writer, computer programmer and Internet activist. He is the editor in chief of WikiLeaks, a whistleblower website and conduit for worldwide news leaks with the stated purpose of creating open governments.WikiLeaks has published material...
- Alexander McCall SmithAlexander McCall SmithAlexander "Sandy" McCall Smith, CBE, FRSE, is a Rhodesian-born Scottish writer and Emeritus Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. In the late 20th century, McCall Smith became a respected expert on medical law and bioethics and served on British and international committees...
- Jonathan Safran FoerJonathan Safran FoerJonathan Safran Foer is an American author best known for his novels Everything Is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close...
- Jon RonsonJon RonsonJon Ronson is a Welsh journalist, documentary filmmaker, radio presenter and nonfiction author, whose works include The Men Who Stare At Goats. His journalism and columns have appeared in British publications including The Guardian newspaper, City Life and Time Out magazine...
- Mike DaiseyMike DaiseyMike Daisey is an American monologist, author, and actor best known for his full-length extemporaneous monologues. His breakthrough work 21 Dog Years is an account of life as an Amazon.com employee during the dot-com boom. Since that time he has created monologues about Nikola Tesla, L...
- Marc ThiessenMarc ThiessenMarc A. Thiessen is an American author, columnist and political commentator, who served as a speechwriter for United States President George W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld...
- Emmanuel JalEmmanuel JalEmmanuel Jal is a South Sudanese musician and former child soldier.-Childhood:Born in the village of Tonj in Southern Sudan, Jal was a young child when the Second Sudanese Civil War broke out. His father joined the Sudan People's Liberation Army and when he was about seven years old his mother...
- Kate AdieKate AdieKathryn "Kate" Adie , OBE , is a British journalist. Her most high-profile role was that of chief news correspondent for BBC News, during which time she became well known for reporting from war zones around the world...
- Christopher RyanChristopher RyanChristopher Ryan is an English actor. Ryan is perhaps best known for his role as Mike "The Cool Person" in the BBC comedy series The Young Ones.-Early life:...
- Andrew LeighAndrew LeighAndrew Keith Leigh is an Australian politician and former professor of economics at the Australian National University. He has been a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2010, representing the Canberra seat of Fraser. In 2011, Andrew was awarded the Economic Society of...
- Slavoj ZizekSlavoj ŽižekSlavoj Žižek is a Slovenian philosopher, critical theorist working in the traditions of Hegelianism, Marxism and Lacanian psychoanalysis. He has made contributions to political theory, film theory, and theoretical psychoanalysis....
- Salil ShettySalil ShettySalil Shetty has been the director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign since October 2003. Before joining the UN, he served as the Chief Executive of ActionAid. He is an Indian national.-Amnesty International :...
- Mona Eltahawy
- Lisa PryorLisa PryorLisa Pryor is an Australian journalist and author. Born in Sydney in 1978, she was educated at Ravenswood, where she achieved a TER score of 100, and the University of Sydney, where she graduated in arts and law. She is a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald, where she has also...
- Clem BastowClem BastowClem Bastow is a writer, broadcaster and music critic based in Melbourne, Australia.-Media work:Bastow is a senior contributor to Inpress, where she writes the weekly singles review column Singled Out....
- Samah Hadid
- Catherine Lumby
- Roy MastersRoy MastersRoy Masters may refer to:* Roy Masters , British-born American talk radio personality* Roy Masters , Australian rugby league football coach, sport administrator and sports journalist...
- Michael KirbyMichael KirbyMichael Donald Kirby AC, CMG, is an Australian retired judge, jurist, and academic who is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, serving from 1996 to 2009.-Biography:Michael Kirby attended Fort Street High School in Sydney...
- Alison Broinwski
- Rebecca Huntley
- Richard DennissRichard DennissRichard Denniss is the Executive Director of The Australia Institute and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Crawford School of Economics and Government at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia...
- David MarrDavid MarrDavid Courtnay Marr was a British neuroscientist and psychologist. Marr integrated results from psychology, artificial intelligence, and neurophysiology into new models of visual processing...
- Alan NobleAlan NobleAlan Henry Noble was a field hockey player, who won a gold medal with the England team at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.-References:*...
- Martin Rogers
- Alec Cameron
- Jim WallaceJim WallaceThe Rt. Hon. James Robert Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness, PC, QC , is a British politician, currently a life peer in the House of Lords and the Advocate General for Scotland...
- Cheryl KernotCheryl KernotCheryl Kernot is an Australian politician, academic, and political activist. She was a member of the Australian Senate representing Queensland for the Australian Democrats from 1990 to 1997, and the fifth leader of the Australian Democrats from 1993 to 1997...
- Philip NitschkePhilip NitschkeDr. Philip Nitschke is an Australian medical doctor, humanist, author and founder and director of the pro-euthanasia group Exit International. He campaigned successfully to have a legal euthanasia law passed in Australia's Northern Territory and assisted four people in ending their lives before...
- Dick SmithDick SmithDick Smith may refer to:*Dick Smith , Australian entrepreneur**Dick Smith , electrical retailer in Australia.**Dick Smith Foods, food brand in Australia*Dick Smith , former player with Manchester United...
- Julian BurnsideJulian BurnsideJulian William Kennedy Burnside AO QC is an Australian barrister, human rights and refugee advocate, and author. He is known for his staunch opposition to the mandatory detention of asylum seekers, and has provided legal counsel in a wide array of high-profile cases...
- Simon SheikhSimon SheikhSimon Sheikh is the national director of the Australian political organisation GetUp!. The son of Michael Sheikh, an Indian-born industrial chemist and inventor, he attended Camdenville Public School, which was officially branded 'underprivileged', and later gained late entry to Fort Street High...
- Bronwyn Fredericks
- Aileen Moreton-Robinson
- Stephanie AlexanderStephanie AlexanderStephanie Alexander is an Australian cook, restaurateur and food writer.After studying to become a librarian and traveling the world at the age of 21, Alexander's first restaurant, Jamaican House, opened in 1964. In 1976, Alexander's next venture was Stephanie's Restaurant located in the Melbourne...
- Gabrielle HamiltonGabrielle HamiltonGabrielle Hamilton is an American actor who performed in various TV movies and series from 1953 to 2010.-External links:...
- Appelspiel