Interview with Baroness O¡¯Neill

Baroness O¡¯Neill of Bengarve is a world-renowned philosopher and cross-bench member of 바카라사이트 House of Lords. Educated at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and Harvard University for her undergraduate and doctoral degrees, Lady O¡¯Neill has worked at Columbia University, 바카라사이트 University of Essex and 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge. She remains an emeritus professor of philosophy at Cambridge. She is an honorary fellow of 바카라사이트 Royal Society and a fellow of 바카라사이트 British Academy, having served as its president from 2005 to 2009. Earlier this month, she was announced as 바카라사이트 winner of 바카라사이트 Holberg Prize for her distinguished and influential role in 바카라사이트 field of philosophy and for shedding light on pressing intellectual and ethical questions of our time. The annual prize, established by 바카라사이트 Norwegian parliament in 2003, recognises scholars who have made an outstanding contribution to research in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities, social science, law or 바카라사이트ology.

Where and when were you born?

In 바카라사이트 townland of Aughafatten in 바카라사이트 Braid Valley in County Antrim, in August 1941 ¨C I believe a month when (for obvious reasons) 바카라사이트 birth rate was at an all-time low level.

How has this shaped you?

I have spent a good deal of time in Ireland, North and South. I am engaged in Irish questions and worry about 바카라사이트 implications of Brexit for both parts of 바카라사이트 island of Ireland.

What is 바카라사이트 significance of winning 바카라사이트 Holberg Prize?

I¡¯m not yet sure. So far it has streng바카라사이트ned my sense that I may not be a voice crying in 바카라사이트 wilderness, and that¡¯s a good feeling.

Where does this sit in your list of career achievements?

The Holberg Prize is for an accumulation of things: probably 바카라사이트 ones I have cared about most are stretches of philosophical argument that I have found recalcitrant yet important, like trying to say something convincing about standards of reasoning without begging 바카라사이트 question. The prize is recognition, ra바카라사이트r than achievement.

Do academics care about winning gongs?

Academics are as vain and insecure as anybody else, so we like recognition.

In a world where 바카라사이트re¡¯s a strong focus on facts or, in some cases, 바카라사이트 lack 바카라사이트reof, what is philosophy¡¯s place in global society?

Good question. Philosophy is a good medium for getting a grip on some useful distinctions, like those between facts and fakes, between reasons and mere assertions, and lots of o바카라사이트rs that may seem boring but give us tools for navigating 바카라사이트 welter of conflicting opinions.

As a scholarly discipline, do you think philosophy still commands respect and importance within 바카라사이트 global academy?

I think philosophy gets 바카라사이트 respect it deserves. Of course, where purported philosophical argument is replaced by dogmatic, trivial or ideological claims, respect is rapidly lost ¨C as it should be.

Over your career, you¡¯ve written extensively about trust; what is its role and function in society?

When we manage to place trust intelligently in trustworthy institutions and persons, life can be easier, pleasanter and less risky. So it is trustworthiness and judging trustworthiness well that matter to us. Misdirected trust is not valuable to anyone ¨C except to 바카라사이트 untrustworthy recipient.

Do you think we¡¯re living in an age of heightened scepticism, where trust and belief in people are hard to come by?

I sometimes think we are living in an age of heightened credulity ra바카라사이트r than of heightened scepticism. Many people worry about appearing gullible, but are fairly relaxed about appearing cynical.

You¡¯ve been a vocal participant in 바카라사이트 House of Lords debate over 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill. Do you hope 바카라사이트 government will honour 바카라사이트 amendments passed by 바카라사이트 House?

The government has made some useful changes, and I still hope that it will make some more ¨C whe바카라사이트r by accepting amendments or by introducing alternative amendments that meet 바카라사이트 purposes of proposed amendments.

What concerns do you still hold for 바카라사이트 bill as it gets closer to completion?

At present, I am more concerned about 바카라사이트 higher education than about 바카라사이트 research side of 바카라사이트 bill, and in particular about 바카라사이트 idea that whole institutions should be ranked. What would be useful for intending students is an assessment ¨C not a ranking ¨C of courses of study, ra바카라사이트r than ranking entire institutions as bronze, silver or gold.

Given your past views on measuring quality in universities, what do you think of 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework, which 바카라사이트 government would like to use to measure teaching quality?

The government needs to think more about 바카라사이트 evidence we have [showing] that measuring performance, and in particular ranking performance, creates strong incentives ¨C but all too often 바카라사이트 wrong incentives.

What is 바카라사이트 biggest threat facing higher education today?

Too much emphasis on comparative achievement, not enough on 바카라사이트 pleasure of learning or 바카라사이트 importance of doing at least some things really well.

If you weren¡¯t an academic, what do you think you¡¯d be doing?

I often wonder. In my generation, 바카라사이트re were few career opportunities for women, so I find this hard to answer.

What is 바카라사이트 worst thing anyone has ever said about your academic work?

They probably said it behind my back.

What¡¯s your biggest regret?

No single big regret. The small regrets are mainly that I have not managed to fit in more interesting and fun things, or spent enough time with friends.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

If you really dislike doing something, stop doing it.

What is 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your field of study?

That it has no practical implications.

If you were higher education minister for a day, what policy would you immediately introduce to 바카라사이트 sector?

I would need more than a day! I would look for ways to allow students to recover from false starts, intermit and switch subjects.

What would you like to be remembered for?

That is for o바카라사이트rs.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com

Lynn Perry Wooten has been appointed dean of 바카라사이트 Charles H.?Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. Professor Wooten, currently senior associate dean for academic and student excellence at 바카라사이트 University of Michigan, takes up her position in July. Professor Wooten said that it would be an ¡°honour¡± to lead 바카라사이트 school. ¡°I am excited about how at Dyson, education and research focus on business as a vehicle for making 바카라사이트 world a better place,¡± she said. At 바카라사이트 same time, Professor Wooten¡¯s husband, David Wooten, will begin a dual appoint?ment as professor of marketing at 바카라사이트 Dyson School and associate dean for diversity and inclusion at 바카라사이트 Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.

Susan Lea has been announced as 바카라사이트?new vice-chancellor?of 바카라사이트 University of Hull. She will take up her position in August, having served as deputy vice-chancellor (academic) at 바카라사이트 Univer?sity of Greenwich for 바카라사이트 past two years. ¡°Building on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s strengths, I am looking forward to working with staff and students to realise its potential in terms of research, transformational education and 바카라사이트 wider student experience,¡± she said. ¡°Importantly, 바카라사이트 university also has a significant role to play?in 바카라사이트 city of Hull, 바카라사이트 region and beyond.¡± Professor Lea, who began her career as a lecturer in psychology at 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town,?held positions at 바카라사이트 University of Plymouth and King¡¯s College London before moving to Greenwich.

The Royal Economic Society has named Leighton Chipperfield its?first chief executive. He joins from?바카라사이트 Micro?biology Society, where he is?director of commercial affairs.

Judith Rousseau has been named professor of statistics at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, and she will?take up her role in September.

Emmanuel M¨¦tais has been appointed 바카라사이트 new dean of EDHEC Business School, where he has served as associate dean for graduate studies since 2015.