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HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2024's Solo Talks brought radical scientists and insightful authors to Hay-on-Wye to explore their areas of expertise.
For the chance to delve into the ideas and theories of the world's most influential minds join us for HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024 this September.
We usually believe that consciousness emerges out of inanimate molecules. Join Roger Penrose's long-time collaborator, Stuart Hameroff, as he puts forward the controversial case that consciousness actually precedes life, and that we have evidence for this view from a new NASA experiment.
"Hameroff’s theories are getting support from unlikely places." - Discover Magazine
Yale law professor and author of the internationally best-selling 'Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother', Amy Chua, is renowned for her controversial views on parenting, global affairs, and political tribalism. Join her to discover how her challenging views shaped the development of her debut novel, The Golden Gate, and how the rejections outsiders receive are often a blessing in disguise.
"Chua’s work strives to traverse the no-go areas around which others usually tip-toe.” - The New York Times
We've all had the experience: that urge to do something wrong just for the hell of it. From walking on grass we're told to keep off, to fantasies of violence towards someone we find a minor annoyance. Join Yale psychologist Paul Bloom as he invites us to see the clever, creative and beautiful side of our impulses toward evil.
"Paul Bloom has a gift for spotting paradoxes in human nature." - Steven Pinker
We think that the laws of physics are unchanging and cannot be violated. Join pioneering physicist, João Magueijo, as he argues that everything we thought we knew about the laws of physics is wrong. They do change. And they can be violated. What's more, a new understanding of these laws could help solve the mystery of dark matter.
"Familiarising his readers with the hippiest ideas in modern science." – The Observer
There has been an explosion in the development of artificial intelligence, a technology thought to bring both promise and peril. Join mathematician and bioethicist John Lennox as he reveals the mechanistic worldview of the creators of this dangerous technology, and argues for a clear separation between man and machine.
"Considers the best, most recent science and demonstrates the picture looks far different from what we've been told." – Michael Behe
Physicists have spent decades looking for evidence of the force known as 'dark energy'. It makes up two thirds of the universe and is put forward to explain the accelerating expansion of the universe. But might this be mistaken? Join groundbreaking physicist, Claudia de Rham, as she argues we have a better candidate to explain the accelerating expansion: quantum vacuum energy.
"de Rham has pioneered a radical theory." – Hannah Devlin
As the multi-polar world of global politics becomes ever more complex, who better to cast light on its workings than a physicist turned President? Join Armen Sarkissian, former President of Armenia, as he argues for his new theory of quantum politics, in which individuals are necessarily connected across space and our world is dominated by randomness, uncertainty and possibility.
"Sarkissian clarifies the important role small states play in upholding world order." – Henry Kissinger
We think that stoicism is defined by a rugged self-reliance and indifference to events. Join distinguished philosopher, Nancy Sherman, as she argues this is radically mistaken, and that building deep emotional connections with the world, and the people in it, is as important for the stoics as it is for everyone else. Prepare for stoicism to be reimagined.
“A sure-footed and appealing guide." – Martha Nussbaum
Time is political. Throughout history, how we use our time has been controlled by the rich and powerful, and today is no exception. Even outside of work, we're almost always 'on the clock'. Join pioneering economist, Guy Standing, as he shows us how to reclaim our most valuable asset: time.
"Guy Standing's Politics of Time is a splendid addition to his important work." – Yanis Varoufakis
We say that life is priceless. Yet in our data-filled world, it has become possible to calculate the cost of almost anything - arguably, including life itself. Join journalist and broadcaster, Jenny Kleeman, as she argues that putting a price on life might paradoxically help us save more of them.
"Like Louis Theroux channelling Margaret Atwood." – New Statesman
Truth it is sometimes said is the first casualty of war. And the terrible events in Gaza are seemingly no exception. But what should our strategy be when seeking to understand what is happening on the ground? Is there a simple fact of the matter which we can uncover? Join Palestinian-born academic, physician and author Ghada Karmi and Professor of Political Science at Tel Aviv University, author of The Mortality and Morality of Nations, and expert on philosophy and meaning in war, Uriel Abulof, to examine whether and how we can overcome the limitations of truth in times of war.
We are entering into an increasingly difficult period for freedom of expression because the technologies we hoped would support freedom turn out to pose a threat to it. Join the political philosopher Time magazine labelled a 'prophet' of anti-globalism, John Ralston Saul, as he argues that globalist ideology harms freedom of speech.
"Informative, engaging and bitingly critical." – The Guardian
We know the magic of creativity and culture, and yet both personally and as a society, they are often a low priority. Join rising star of the Labour Party, and Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Thangam Debbonaire, as she argues that creativity and culture are essential to who we are and our society.
"Determined to sway minds." – The Guardian
The beauty industry is valued at over $260 Billion globally. But what is this industry's cost to humanity and society? Join journalist and Guardian columnist, Jessica DeFino, as she explores the philosophy of beauty, and argues the industry exploits both women and men alike, and calls for us to abandon beauty products.
"DeFino basically gives the middle finger to the entire beauty industry.” – HuffPost
We tend to think that morality has nothing to do with our individual circumstances or desires. That universal values apply to everyone equally. Join challenging and controversial philosopher Tommy Curry as he makes the case that universal values are a fantasy; a myth created by those with power.
"Curry has taken a bullet for the brothers." – Ishmael Reed
We invent technology to make life easier. But has new technology led to a surveillance culture? Join Harvard computer scientist and author, Judith Donath, as she argues that while many technologies promote themselves on the basis of trust like Airbnb and Uber, they in fact do the opposite and replace trust with surveillance and control.
"Donath succeeds in painting an unusually deep and personal portrait of the universe of social media." – John Meade
Popularised by Dawkins, we think genes are the blueprint for life. But might this commonly-held view of biology and evolution be mistaken? Join renowned Oxford biologist, Denis Noble, as he proposes the radical new theory that organisms control their genomes rather than the other way around.
"Unusually among practising scientists, he is an accomplished philosopher." – Sir Anthony Kenny
Quantum computing has turned into a phrase that the tech industry will sprinkle on almost anything to help raise funds and generate sales. As a result, there is a tsunami of hype about what quantum computers are going to revolutionise. Join leading quantum computing specialist Scott Aaronson as he challenges the hype and tells us what is really going on.
"A world-class scientist." – Timothy Nguyen
Most are sceptical that artificial intelligence will one day become conscious. But might this scepticism be misguided? Join leading AI researcher, Joscha Bach, as he argues that we can create artificial consciousness if we open ourselves up to the possibility of cyber-animism, the idea that consciousness and spirit is akin to a software agent that naturally emerges in a biological organism.
"One of the most brilliant, and fascinating minds in the world." - Lex Fridman
We are undoubtedly living through a mental health crisis. But might we be drastically overestimating the amount of people who need medical intervention? Join leading psychologist Simon Wessely as he argues that physicians and psychiatrists are severely inflating the diagnosis of mental health conditions and why this poses a grave risk to society.
"One of the most respected psychiatrists working in Britain today." – The Times
We assume our theories describe reality and uncover the truth, for otherwise the success of science appears a miracle. Join leading critic of philosophical realism, philosopher Hilary Lawson, as he argues this is a profound and damaging mistake and puts forward a radical alternative that enables us to make sense of the mystery that is reality.
"Lawson shows himself to be a latter day 'metaphysican' on the grand scale... a quite astonishing achievement." – Alan Montefiore, University of Oxford
Global capitalism has defined the past century and has reshaped our lives with the development of influential technological innovations. But is there a danger that the system has now begun to undermine innovation? Join former Finance Minister of Iraq, Ali Allawi, as he argues the global economic framework has begun to prevent development.
"One of Iraq's most respected Shia politicians of the post-Saddam era." – The Independent
What happens when a technology that defines humanity's future collides against the spiritual traditions that have long defined human experience? AI can already surpass human cognition. Yet people are more than intelligent: we have the capacity for transcendence. AI is all logos, no mythos, while individuals can tap both. But we need to improve our "SQ", or spiritual intelligence, in counterpoise to the machines.
"More ambitious...than Kahneman and Harari" - Forbes
AI might seem like the pinnacle of a new frontier, opening up vast possibilities to reshape the future. But AI is backwards facing by design being an amalgamation of the ocean of data humanity has already produced. AI carries with it our blind spots. Join philosopher of technology, Shannon Vallor, as she argues AI holds a mirror up to humanity and proposes how to address its flaws.
"Offers a transformative approach for re-envisioning AI." Karen Levy, technology professor at Cornell
Conversations about the state and nationhood have typically excluded those with seemingly the most right to be in those conversations - indigenous voices. There is difficulty in now knowing how to re-engage those voices and incorporate a different understanding of the world. Join trailblazing indigenous academic Dale Turner as he argues that we need to bridge the gap between Western and indigenous world-views to bring about a new legal and political conversation on stolen land.
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