Past Events

Is Religion the greatest threat to Science and Reason?

A public debate with Agora and The Guardian

Prof Daniel Dennett vs Prof Lord Winston

22 April 2008

The British Council, Spring Gardens

An informed and intelligent debate saw two of the world's leading intellectuals examine one of the world's most difficult questions.

The vote at the end was close, but the chair judged that those who voted against the motion that 'Religion is the greatest threat to scientific progress and rationality that we face today' had narrowly won the day.

Documentary director Richard Denton provided an astute summary of the debate on The Guardian website. To read it, click here.

To read a summary of the key arguments by Daniel Dennett and Robert Winston in The Guardian, click here.

Daniel Dennett also appeared on 'Start the Week', to debate the issue with Andrew Marr and his guests. To listen to their discussion, click here.

We experienced technical diffculties with the planned podcast of this debate, after a faulty microphone failed to record Lord Winston's contributions. However, Professor Dennett's remarks were recorded, and were included in The Guardian's weekly Science Podcast. To listen, please click here.

Is the Renaissance scholar dead?

A public debate with Agora and The Guardian

Prof Adrian Monck & Simon Woodroffe vs Prof AC Grayling & Stephen Bayley

8 April 2008

The Guardian Newsroom, Farringdon

A full house watched our panel discuss the thorny issue of the relationship between education and the economy. Adrian Monck and Simon Woodroffe defended the motion, while AC Grayling and Stephen Bayley led the attack.

In the end, despite Adrian and Simon's valiant efforts, an audience of Renaissance People voted heavily against the motion and the Renaissance scholar survived.

A fine summary of the debate by Dr Kevin Fong is available here.

AC Grayling and Adrian Monck began the debate in the Education Guardian, click here to read their articles.

Should 'elite' remain a dirty word in education?

A public debate with Agora and The Guardian

David Willets MP & Dr Terrence Kealey vs Baroness Blackstone & Polly Toynbee

26 March 2008

The Guardian Newsroom, Farringdon

An intelligent and stimulating debate produced some interesting ideas from a formidable panel of speakers. There was agreement across the panel that inherited privilege was a problem, but David Willetts and Terence Kealey both agreed that an academic elite (drawn from all social backgrounds) was good for society. Baroness Blackstone felt that elitism and excellence were different things, pointing out that Britain's elitist system limited the pool of people who were capable of academic excellence, and arguing that government should focus on building a world class system rather than on a few elite institutions. Polly Toynbee agreed, and stressed the need for early state intervention (especially investment in the under-fives) to try and break the link between income and academic attainment. Terence Kealey vigorously opposed further state intervention, arguing for the marketization of education through a vouchers scheme.

After a thought-provoking question and answer session, the audience displayed its elitist tendencies, voting in favour of the motion that British education would fall behind the rest of the world if 'elite' remained a dirty word.

To read articles by David Willetts and Baroness Tessa Blackstone in the Education Guardian, click here.

For a response to the debate in The Guardian by Penny Egan, the Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission, click here.

David and Tessa also appeared on the Wednesday 26 March edition of Radio 4's 'PM' to debate the issue with Eddie Mair. You can listen to their discussion here (available until Wednesday 2 April).

Should we charge students higher fees?

A public debate with Agora and The Guardian

Prof Eric Thomas vs John McDonnell MP

10 March 2008

The Guardian Newsroom, Farringdon

The debate on top-up fees was always going to be heated, and some fiery speeches from our speakers, coupled with a large turnout of students, made for a lively and stimulating discussion. Eric Thomas argued that Britain's low tax culture meant that top-up fees were the only realistic means of raising essential funds. He also stressed that the roots of low participation in Higher Education by working class people were early in life, and that state resources should be focussed on improving schools ahead of universities. John McDonnell felt that the cap on fees should not be raised until the impact of the policy, especially on access, was clearer. He argued that Britain should fund Higher Education through progressive taxation, and that considerable resources could be released if government addressed issues such as tax evasion by corporations and the super-rich.

In the end, it was John McDonnell who won the audience over, and the motion to charge students higher fees was defeated.

Click here for a summary of the arguments by Eric Thomas and John McDonnell in the Education Guardian.

Eric and John also joined Agora Director Anna Fazackerley to debate fees on Radio 4's 'The Learning Curve'. You can listen to their discussion here.

Can we teach happiness?

A public debate with Agora and The Guardian

Dr Anthony Seldon vs Prof Frank Furedi

25 February 2008

The Guardian Newsroom, Farringdon

The first debate in Agora's rethink series of public debates tackled the teaching of happiness. Dr Anthony Seldon, who introduced wellbeing classes to Wellington College where he is master, led a surprised audience in some breathing exercises before making a compelling case for positive psychology to be taught in every British school and university. Professor Frank Furedi, controversial marxist author and sociologist, preached against the intrusion of "psychobabble" in the classroom. He warned that the government would leap at the chance to introduce happiness targets and league tables for schools and argued that happiness cannot be taught, only learned through the experiences of everyday life.

A capacity audience was no less divided over the issue, and a show of hands vote produced a tie.

Read happiness expert Richard Schoch's view of the debate in The Guardian here.

Click here for a summary of the debate by Anthony Seldon and Frank Furedi in the Education Guardian.