Philosophy & Psychology

Speaker: Mr Donald Lambie, Senior Tutor and Leader of the School

Why are so many people addicted to ‘likes' on social media? Psychology is now one of the most popular A levels - why? What do Philosophy and Psychology have in common? This lecture will explore how modern psychology developed, starting in the 19th century, ranging to the current day. 

Please note this lecture will be filmed. By attending this lecture you give your assent to be filmed as part of the audience.

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Donald Lambie is the leader of the School of Philosophy and Economic Science. Starting his professional life as a barrister, he became the head of the School in 1994. He has enjoyed exploring ancient and more contemporary philosophy, especially with an applied or practical element. More recently the groundswell of interest in psychology has led him to this new area.

Richard Jefferies, Nature Writer and Mystic

Speaker: Andrew Rossabi

Richard Jefferies (1848–1887) was a nature writer, social historian of Victorian rural England, visionary, and master of plain English prose. Andrew Rossabi will explain why his writings have never been more relevant than today.

Please note this lecture will be filmed. By attending this lecture you give your assent to be filmed as part of the audience.

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Andrew Rossabi is the President of the Richard Jefferies Society and has written introductions to several of his books and the entry on him in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. He has given numerous talks on Jefferies to various institutions, including the prestigious Wilts Archaeological and Natural History Society. He is the author of an acclaimed new multi-volume biography of the author entitled A Peculiarly English Genius and editor of the equally acclaimed Richard Jefferies Miscellany.

Meeting the Needs of The Next Generation

Speaker: Hilary Wyatt, educator

Raising happy children in challenging times. This talk, informed by research and inspired by Philosophy, will offer practical tips for parents and educators.

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Hilary was one of four children and she and her siblings spent much of their early life travelling with her parents, both in America and in Africa. Her experiences shaped who she is today and her educational philosophy. Her experience of teaching spans over 30 years, and she is currently in her third Headship of a London Prep School. She has a master’s degree in education, and an NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship). She has been inspecting schools with ISI since 2014 and has given public talks on a number of topics, including, Every Child is a Genius and Emotional Contagion.

Philosophy and Family in our Time

Speaker: Chris & Valery Rees

Drawing on their many years of studying philosophy and raising a large family, Valery and Chris Rees will discuss the opportunities and challenges, the duties and demands of family life today, compared to former times and different cultures. How can philosophy help family life?

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Valery and Chris Rees have been married for more than 50 years and have five children and ten grandchildren. They joined the School in 1971.

Valery teaches and writes in the field of Renaissance Studies. She now leads the group in the School that has been translating the Letters of Marsilio Ficino. The study of Ficino has led her into many further topics: she was several times a panel member on Melvyn Bragg’s Radio 4 discussion programme, In Our Time, and was commissioned to write a wide-ranging history of Angels (From Gabriel to Lucifer, published in 2013). She has lectured and written widely, for universities, learned societies and festivals.

Chris retired in 2015 as a management consultant specialising in IT, and expert witness. He has been a philosophy tutor for some 25 years. He is a Trustee of the School and of the Education Renaissance Trust. He was President of the BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT in 2018-2019. He has served as Treasurer of the School since his election in 2021.