In a collaborative event with Humanists Malta at the University of Malta Valletta Campus on November 7, 2024, David Bevan delivered an insightful talk on secular process philosophy. Departing from Heraclitus' renowned statement, "everything flows," David connects this idea with the works of Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, Bergson, Whitehead and Heidegger to explore how such philosophers challenged traditional metaphysical frameworks that posit fixed substances as the foundation of being. Process philosophy emphasizes the dynamic nature of reality, proposing a vision where everything is in constant flux, with entities emerging, evolving, and passing away. This perspective profoundly impacts our understanding of existence, touching upon various philosophical disciplines, including ontology, ethics, and theology. David integrates such philosophical insights with other renowned thinkers such as Gregory Bateson (known for his contributions to anthropology and social science), Henri Frankfort (known for his contributions to the understanding of ancient Near Eastern civilization) and Karen Barad (recognized for her work in quantum physics and biology) to portray a framework for understanding change, novelty, and creativity in the universe, as well as the interconnectedness of all things. 00:07:40 | Heraclitus: Everything flows; You cannot step in the same river twice 00:18:52 | Hegel: Here I see land. There is no proposition which I have not adopted in my logic. 00:20:36 | Marx: The Difference Between the Democritean and Epicurean Philosophy of Nature 00:26:19 | Nietzsche: Everything is in Becoming 00:28:03 | Bergson: The world is primordially biological 00:29:18 | Whitehead: Time is something inseparable from its existential content 00:36:23 | Bateson: Individual behavior resulting from cumulative interaction is a process 00:40:48 | Frankfort: The universe is an intelligible whole 00:43:34 | Heidegger: Philosophical thinking is authentic thinking 00:45:04 | Karan Barad: Quantum Physics & the Entanglement of Matter and Meaning 00:49:51 | American Humanists Association: The 4 Principles of Humanism About the Speaker David Bevan arrived in Malta late in 2018. Since early 2019 he has served as director of postgraduate programs at St Martin’s Institute of Higher Education in Hamrun. He has been a professor of business ethics at business schools and universities in UK, France, Belgium and China since 2002. Prior to his academic work he was engaged in enterprise resource planning and consulting in UK.

In this talk held by Philosophy Sharing, Godfrey Baldacchino, Professor of Sociology at the University of Malta and Malta's Ambassador-at-Large for islands and small states, shares his life's entire journey that has been grappling with smallness. He spent the first 20 years of his adult life fascinated by meteors, the smallest particles in the solar system. He observed, plotted and analysed their features and built knowledge on how they throw light on the origins and constitution of our solar system. He then spent the next 20 years of his adult life fascinated by small islands and small states, the smallest members of the community of nations. He visited, observed, analysed their features and built knowledge on how small islands and states can throw light in international relations, sustainable development and climate action and indeed the future of our planet. Prof Baldacchino also spent 40 years working on and with workers and trade unions, looking at alternative forms of industrial relations that can survive in spite of an economic system dominated by large multinational corporations. Prof Baldacchino's concluding assessment in this talk is that small size does not exclude agency or vote. Being effectively agentic depends on competence and confidence, smartly sensing opportunities, being prepared to surprise others rather than being cowed by them, and cultivating in the process even unlikely alliances.

In his latest exploration following the publication of The Political Brain, Professor Matt Qvortrup from Coventry University delves deeper into the fascinating intersection between neuroscience and political philosophy. In this insightful lecture delivered to Philosophy Sharing's annual event, he elaborates on how modern brain imaging technologies can differentiate individuals with conservative leanings from those with liberal perspectives. Yet, by analysing the active pathways of the brains when it engages in problem solving and integrating this analysis with the works of Plato and Aristotle, Professor Qvortrup unveils a more profound truth: our brains are inherently designed to work out solutions, possessing a unique ability, unparalleled in the animal kingdom, to absorb knowledge through listening and exchange of views and opinions. However, Professor Qvortrup raises a crucial alarm - our brains are likewise wired for conflict and predisposed towards hate, making it alarmingly easy for us to fall into the trap of divisive, partisan politics. Such regression, he warns, is a step backwards on the evolutionary ladder. The core of Professor Qvortrup's argument is the need to discuss policy not politics. This shift, he suggests, is essential for progress and harmony in society. Listen to this insight lecture as Professor Qvortrup shares his compelling insights, urging us to prioritize problem-solving over winning political arguments, and to embrace the power of listening and learning for the betterment of all.

In this talk held by Philosophy Sharing at the University of Malta Valletta Campus on the 8th of January 2024, speaker Francois Zammit argued in favor of a political philosophy of technology. Francois Zammit pointed out the need to discuss theories based on specific technologies rather than treating technology as a simple homogeneous metaphysical concept. He also cautioned on how dominant technologies offer forms of discourse that can easily be manipulated for other political agendas. Watch this interesting talk in just 45 minutes with accompanied power point presentations !