BIOGRAPHY
A.C. Grayling is one of the UK’s most prolific philosopher and authors. He is Master of the New College of the Humanities, and a published author and editor of over thirty books on philosophy and other subjects. Grayling believes that philosophy should be integrated in society, taking on an active and useful role.
He has written about the work of Descartes, Berkeley, Russell, Wittgenstein and Quine, the scientific revolution of the 17th Century, the Enlightenment period, and the evolution of conceptions of rights during the modern period. He has published “The Good Book”, “Ideas That Matter”, “Liberty in the Age of Terror”, “To Set Prometheus Free”, “The God Argument”, “Friendship” and “The Challenge of Things”, to name a few. Grayling is also a frequent contributor to the Literary Review, the Observer, Independent on Sunday, the Times Literary Supplement, Index on Censorship and New Statesman.
He is also a frequent broadcaster on BBC Radio 4, 3 and the World Service. He was also, for a number of years, a columnist for The Guardian. In 2013, he was awarded the Forkosch Literary Prize and in 2015, the Bertrand Russell Award.
Grayling sits on the editorial boards of several academic journals, including being appointed as director and contributor at Prospect magazine from its foundation until 2016.
His philosophical work focuses on the problems of scepticism and epistemology with questions about ‘meaning’ within the philosophy of language and logic. A principal theme in his work considers metaphysics, relating to what exists. Until 2011, he was Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is also a Supernumerary Fellow of St Anne’s College, Oxford and in 2003 he was a judge on the Man Booker prize. He then was appointed Chairman of the Judges for the 2014 Man Booker Prize and proceeded to be a judge on the Wellcome Trust Book Prize and the Art Fund prize. Additionally, he was a chairman of June Fourth, a human rights group concerned with China, and is a representative to the UN Human Rights Council for the International Humanist and Ethical Union.
A.C. GRAYLING’S TALKS
A.C. Grayling has dedicated his career to discussing the biggest questions facing humanity: What does a good life look like? How should we treat each other and our environment?
As the world faces global challenges such as the financial crisis, COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of climate change, these deep questions are more relevant than ever to business and society.
With a wonderful blend of critical insight and humour, A.C. Grayling shows audiences how they can think more effectively about these issues and lead a happier, more fulfilling life.