In the Tory Leadership debate, one of the candidates, Kemi Badenoch, said that “the machine of government was “not working” and as an engineer, she was the only person who could fix it.” But although it is tempting to think of government as a machine, it leads to a number of problems. It is perhaps more accurate and useful to think of it as a conversation.
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Wasn’t the twentieth century the most violent in history? In his extraordinary, epic book Steven Pinker shows us that this is wrong, telling the story of humanity in a completely new and unfamiliar way. From why cities make us safer to how books bring about peace, Pinker weaves together history, philosophy and science to examine why we are less likely to die at another’s hand than ever before, how it happened and what it tells us about our very natures. – amazon.co.uk
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An integrated review of what science, philosophy and spirituality contribute to our understanding and experience of the world today.
We each have a unique ‘worldview’ that is shaped by our knowledge, experiences and our beliefs. This course will provide the opportunity to examine (and possibly expand) that worldview in the light of modern scientific discoveries, critical questions posed by philosophers, and diverse beliefs revealed through spiritual traditions. It will be of particular interest to people who care about the lasting damage that humanity is causing to our home planet, and who are seeking to understand what resources the fields of science, philosophy and spirituality can offer
The authors show how accepted theories about the development of civilization first emerged in the eighteenth century as a reaction to indigenous critiques of European society. Drawing on path-breaking research in archaeology and anthropology, they suggest that these theories are wrong.
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Indebtedness is entangled in many of today’s most persistent social problems. It leads to or exacerbates unemployment, homelessness, substance abuse, mental health and poor diet. As a driver and symptom of deprivation, it even contributes to reduced life expectancy.
So, when the Rotary Club of Folkestone along with its three international partner Clubs decided to set up a project to tackle indebtedness in its hometown, it seemed like an obviously good idea. Government agencies, charities and community groups were all in favour.
But delivering the project turned out to be littered with obstacles. Charities and agencies alike lacked resources, and both practical and ideological barriers hindered the cooperation necessary to achieve effective synergy.
It took Motivation, Adaptability and Perseverance throughout a six-year period to translate good intentions into the ‘Money Matters’ service. Now, three years after its first part-time employee started work, professionally prepared money advice plans (or MAPs) and support from trained volunteers are being provided each year to fifty of those in need of support and advice. And Folkestone Rotary Club has drawn a map showing how to generate the conditions for charities to cooperate in tackling the challenge of unmanageable household debt.
