CHASS April Newsletter: Message from the Executive Director The theme of this year’s CHASS National Forum is “Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences and the Public Good.” It is the right theme at the right time, but making the connection between HASS and public policy issues is not always easy. For example, most of us would find it difficult to connect Shakespeare with trafficking in human organs. Yet, that is exactly what Michael Sandel, Harvard Professor of Philosophy, managed to do at an event held in New York City last year. In “What Are We Worth? Shakespeare, Money and Morals,” actors including Alan Alda and Matt Damon read snippets from Shakespeare’s plays, which Sandel used to stimulate debate on topics of public interest—the storage of nuclear waste, paying students to study and the sale of human organs. “Should people be legally allowed to buy and sell human kidneys?” asked Sandel. One member of the audience was all in favour, as long as “the practice was highly regulated.” Another demurred, fearing that poverty could turn poor people into “walking organ” shops. Here is where Shakespeare comes in. Actress Vanessa Redgrave read the lines spoken by the impoverished apothecary from Romeo and Juliet. The suicidal Romeo has come to he seeking to buy poison. After some discussion, and the offer of a large sum of money, the apothecary reluctantly agrees to sell Romeo the illegal potion explaining that “my poverty, but not my will, consents.” Gradually the audience comes to see the parallels between the apothecary and organ selling. In cases of extreme poverty, the exchange between an organ seller and buyer may not be a free market transaction; it may be poverty consenting, not the will. The Aspen Institute was one of the sponsors of the New York event. According its website, the Institute “brings together artists, advocates, educators, managers, foundations and government officials to exchange ideas and develop policies and programs that strengthen the reciprocal relationship between the arts and society.” This is precisely the purpose of year’s CHASS Forum. We are bringing together David Malouf, Michael Kirby, Frank Furedi, Deb Verhoeven, Hugh Mackay, Denise Meredyth, George Brandis, Tim Wilson, Karen Farquharson, Les Murray, David Christian, Graeme Turner, Julie Hare, Susannah Eliott, Andrew Jaspan, Jo Lindsay, Anthony Elliott, Christina Parolin, and some of Australia’s leading social scientists and policy makers to explore, debate and develop future strategies for HASS to contribute to the public good. The CHASS Forum is not just another academic conference. It includes entertainment, exhibitions, art, design, the CHASS Australia Prizes, debates, a speed-dating contest for senior researchers, and much more. So, be sure to mark the date: 8-9 October 2014, the University of Melbourne. Emeritus Professor Steven Schwartz AM
Posted on: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 00:55:41 +0000
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