Professor Angie Hobbs: The Threat to Democracy: Plato Speaks to Our Time

What can a philosopher from the 4th century BC teach us about navigating today’s turbulent political waters? Far from being an abstract lesson from the ancient world, Plato’s insights offer a strikingly relevant lens through which to view the political and social challenges of our own time.

We’re honored to welcome Professor Angie Hobbs, an internationally respected philosopher and public intellectual, for her talk “The Threat to Democracy: Plato Speaks to Our Time,” on Tuesday, November 18 at 5:00 pm at La Casona Event Center (across from Luna de Queso).

Drawing from her book Why Plato Matters Now, Angie will explore how Plato’s vision of civic courage, moral development, and reasoned dialogue can help us confront today’s “snake oil merchants” and purveyors of fake news… and understand how democracies can guard against the slide toward tyranny.

A Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy Emerita at the University of Sheffield, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a member of the Advisory Board of Plato’s Academy Centre, Professor Hobbs has a gift for connecting ancient ideas to modern dilemmas, including the struggle for integrity in leadership. Her BBC and international broadcasts have helped audiences rediscover philosophy as a tool for living thoughtfully and engaging meaningfully with society.