Berry Lectures

People who feel chronically lonely are often struck by the fact that no one seems to need them. In the next Berry Lecture in Public Philosophy, the University of Warwick's Kimberley Brownlee will explore the tragedy of chronic loneliness, the moral urgency of our need for social connection, and the social human rights that this need grounds. Read More

This year's Berry Lecture is April 20 and features Vanderbilt philosopher John Lachs. Read More

James Bernauer, a priest and expert on the Holocaust who will speak to a Vanderbilt Divinity class, also will give a public talk on Jewish-Christian relations March 13 at Christ the King Church. Read More

Delirium in the ICU is the subject of a Vanderbilt University Medical Center group's research, which will be represented April 7 at a delirium forum in Furman Hall. Read More

Find out how tyrants fund their operations through the ordinary purchases of American consumers when Leif Wenar speaks at Vanderbilt on March 25. Read More

W. James Booth, professor of political science and philosophy, examines our obligations toward the dead. Read More

There is good reason to think that long-term solitary confinement has debilitating psychological effects which render people unable to engage socially, says Lisa Guenther, associate professor of philosophy. Read More

Watch “Can War Be Justified?” a lecture by Larry May, W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy and professor of law. Larry May’s talk offers an introduction to a range of questions on the morality of war. He addresses such questions as: Is the killing of… Read More

Thought-provoking questions about the morality of war, treatment of others and obligations toward the dead will be explored during the 2013 Berry Lectures in Public Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. Read More

Watch video of Vanderbilt University Marilyn Friedman presenting “Can Bad People Live Well?” on March 22. Her presentation was part of The Berry Lectures in Public Philosophy series of talks that aims to make philosophy accessible and relevant for the public. “The Berry Lectures in Public Philosophy provide a wonderful opportunity to reach… Read More

Watch video of the most recent presentation in the Berry Lectures in Public Philosophy that took place on March 15 with Jeffrey Tlumak, associate professor of philosophy. He discussed “Do We Have Free Will? Why Does It Matter?” “The Berry Lectures in Public Philosophy provide a wonderful opportunity to… Read More

Watch video of the most recent presentation in the Berry Lectures in Public Philosophy that took place on March 1 with Robert Talisse, professor and chair of philosophy. He discussed “Must Life Be Tragic?” “The Berry Lectures in Public Philosophy provide a wonderful opportunity to reach a broader audience beyond… Read More

Watch video of Vanderbilt University Centennial Professor of Philosophy John Lachs on Feb. 23 kick-off a new series of talks that aims to make philosophy accessible and relevant for the public. Lachs discussed “Why Is Good Enough Not Good Enough for Us?”, which addressed the human drive for perfection. “It is… Read More

Vanderbilt University Centennial Professor of Philosophy John Lachs is the lead-off speaker Feb. 23 for a new series of talks that aims to make philosophy accessible and relevant for the public. Read More