The Gifford Lectures – a thought-provoking series which brings a unique perspective to philosophy and religion – starts today at the University of Aberdeen.
Leading thinker Stephen Pattison will take to the stage at King's College Centre at 6pm to controversially discuss the relationship between humanity and visual artefacts in the first lecture of a series entitled 'Seeing Things: From Mantelpieces to Masterpieces'.
The world is increasingly full of "things" made by people, but many everyday objects are effectively invisible. Professor Pattison will argue for repositioning artefacts of all kinds at the centre of human perception, responsiveness and responsibility.
The prestigious Gifford Lectureships were established under the will of Adam Lord Gifford (1820-1887), a Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland. His bequest to the four ancient universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and St. Andrew's sought to promote the study of Natural Theology in the widest sense of the term - in other words, the knowledge of God.
Professor Pattison is Head of the School of Religious and Theological Studies at Cardiff University and has published extensively in health care ethics, practical theology and management studies.
Educated at Cambridge University and the University of Edinburgh, as well as the University of Birmingham and the Open University, he is a practical theologian by training and has worked as a health care chaplain and as an NHS manager.
His book entitled Seeing Things: Deepening Relations with Visual Artefacts will be published later this year.
February lecture dates and times:
- Tuesday 20th, 6pm - King's College Centre, University of Aberdeen
- Thursday 22nd, 6pm - King's College Centre, University of Aberdeen
- Tuesday 27th, 6pm - King's College Centre, University of Aberdeen
March lecture dates and times:
- Thursday 1st, 6pm - King's College Centre, University of Aberdeen
- Tuesday 6th, 6pm - King's College Centre, University of Aberdeen
- Thursday 8th, 6pm - Cowdray Hall, Schoolhill, Aberdeen (followed by a reception at the Aberdeen Art Gallery)