John Gray - The Silence of Animals: On progress and other modern myths

Philosopher John Gray stopped by The RSA last week to talk about his new book, The Silence of Animals: On Progress and Other Modern Myths (due in June in the U.S.). Gray is a political philosopher and author, formerly School Professor of European Thought at the London School of Economics. He has written several influential books on politics and philosophy, including 'False Dawn: The Delusions of Global Capitalism' (1998), 'Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals' (2003) and 'Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia' (2007).

The Silence of Animals: On progress and other modern myths

4th Mar 2013

Listen to the audio
(full recording including audience Q&A)

RSA Keynote

Are we all just 'deluded animals'?

John Gray, one of Britain's most provocative philosophers, visits the RSA to discuss the ideas raised in 'The Silence of Animals' - the much-anticipated sequel to 'Straw Dogs'.

Gray will discuss the religious origins of modern ideas of progress in civilisation and suggest that the prevailing belief in gradual improvement is a myth. Examining the lives of people who abandoned or never subscribed to it, he will ask what might replace the ruling myth.

Along the way he will consider Naples in 1944 and flying saucers...

Speaker: John Gray, political philosopher and author.
Chair: Jonathan Derbyshire, culture editor, New Statesman