Inaugural Lecture: Prof. Berys Gaut

Professor Berys Gaut, of the School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies, will deliver his Inaugural Lecture, "Educating for Creativity” in School III, St Salvator’s Quadrangle on Wednesday, 14 November 2012 at 5.15 p.m. All are welcome.

In this talk Professor Gaut examines whether it is possible to teach people to be creative. We often feel hesitant to say that we can do so, talking instead of 'nurturing' or 'fostering' creativity. A source of this reluctance is traced to two seminal 18th century works on creativity: Edward Young's Conjectures on Original Composition and Kant's Critique of the Power of Judgement. Two arguments against the view that creativity can be taught, concerning the role of imitation and rules in learning, are extracted from these works, but both arguments are shown to be unsound. Professor Gaut then develops a positive argument for the claim that creativity can be taught, and illustrates how to do so with examples drawn from mathematics, philosophy and creative writing.

New President of the British Society for the Philosophy of Science

Professor Peter Clark of the School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies was appointed President-elect of the British Society for the Philosophy of Science at its Annual Conference 2012 at the University of Stirling on 5th July. The presidency lasts for three years.

T.M. Knox Memorial Lecture

The Centre for Ethics, Philosophy and Public Affairs of the School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies presents the 2012 Knox Lecture by Professor Quentin Skinner of Cambridge University entitled, "The Utilitarian 'discovery' about Libery: What was it and Who made it?".

Monday, 16 April 2012

School III, St Salvator's Quadrangle

The lecture is open to the public - all are welcome! Reception to follow in the Lower College Hall.

Leverhulme Fellowship awarded for 'The Philosophy of Creativity'

Berys Gaut, Professor of Philosophy (School of Philosophical, Anthropological & Film Studies), has been awarded a Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship. Leverhulme Major Research Fellowships are awarded to distinguished researchers in the disciplines of the Humanities and Social Sciences to devote themselves to a single research project of outstanding originality and significance. Professor Gaut's project is entitled 'The Philosophy of Creativity', and it is to construct a systematic philosophical framework for thinking about creativity. Its development will draw on philosophy, research in psychology, and case studies of creativity in science and art. The ensuing monograph will discuss the concept of creativity; its value; whether it is an entirely rational disposition or has an irrational element to it; whether it is a kind of problem solving disposition; the role of know-how in creativity; whether one can teach people to be creative; the relation of creativity to imagination; its relation to tradition; and whether creativity can be explained in scientific terms.

"In Our Time" to discuss the work of philosopher David Hume

Dr James Harris of the School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies will be discussing the work of David Hume with Melvyn Bragg and guests on the BBC Radio 4 programme, "In Our Time" Thursday, 6th October, at 09:00.

8 REF St Andrews Sub-Panel members announced

The recent announcement of REF 2014 sub-panel members included eight members from the University of St Andrews. 

• Panel A, Sub-panel 4: Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
  Professor Verity Brown
• Panel B, Sub-panel 8: Chemistry
  Professor David O'Hagan
• Panel C, Sub-panel 18: Economics and Econometrics
  Professor Alan Sutherland
  Panel C, Sub-panel 19: Business and Management Studies
  Professor Jan Bebbington
  Panel C, Sub-panel 21: Politics and International Studies
  Professor Richard English
• Panel D, Sub-panel 30: History
  Professor Andrew Pettegree
  Panel D, Sub-panel 32: Philosophy
  Professor Katherine Hawley
  Panel D, Sub-panel 34: Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
  Professor Brendan Cassidy
  

During 2011, the teams will work on developing the criteria and working methods specific to each panel. The full lists can be found on the HEFCE REF 2014 website.