Social Sciences & LAW Stream
Fri 21 March (9:30 am - 9:00 pm) and Sat 22 March (9:00 am - 2:00 pm)
Magdalen College, Oxford
Conveners: Paul Billingham, Associate Professor of Political Theory, Magdalen College; Timothy Endicott, Vinerian Professor of English Law, All Souls’ College; Steve Puttick, Associate Professor of Teacher Education, St Anne’s College; Tom Simpson, incoming Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy, Wadham College
The Social Sciences and Law Stream is one of five disciplinary streams that make up Seeking Wisdom, the spring conference of Developing a Christian Mind. It includes law, business, and all other subjects in the University of Oxford Social Sciences Division. Past attendees are encouraged to come, listen to new talks, and take part in discussion with new attendees.
**Please note our eligibility criteria: This event is for University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes postgraduates, postdocs, academic staff. If you do not fit this criteria, are DCM Alumni, or in a continuing education program, please complete this form and we will review your request **
*** Please note: the conference dinner is currently full and we are running a waiting list, though we expect more places will become available. We will contact registrants on the waiting list on the day of the conference if this is the case.***
Friday 21st March: The Social Sciences and the Christian WorldView
What does it mean to be human? How should societies be governed? How should we situate our Christian worldview within a pluralistic society? Two sessions with breakout groups to discuss these issues.
9:30 am Registration in Magdalen College’s Old Kitchen Bar with coffee & tea
10:00 am Introductions and gathering in breakout groups
10:30 am Social scientific and Christian understandings of human beings in society - Steve Puttick, Associate Professor of Teacher Education, St Anne’s College
This talk has focuses on comparing (and contrasting) Christian anthropology with rational choice theory (including behavioural economics and cooperative game theory), social theory/constructionism, and persons/agency (including the social theory of Christian Smith).
12:00 pm Interview with Iyiola Solanke, Jacques Delors Chair of European Law, Somerville College, conducted by Bethan Willis, the Oxford Pastorate Chaplain
1:00 pm Lunch in the Old Kitchen Bar
2:00 pm Part One: Social ethics in the social sciences: theological and secular approaches - Tom Simpson, incoming Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy, Wadham College
The talk considers the implicit commitments in social sciences about the way society should be structured, considers whether there is a Christian view and if so, what constitutes that view, and then presents a critique of the dominant secular proposals. The talk starts with a case study, to focus attention on the questions that need to be addressed.
3:30 pm Coffee & tea in Room
4:00 pm Part Two: The role of the political authorities - Tom Simpson, incoming Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy, Wadham College
The talk will consider a range of views about the role of the political authorities in the Christian tradition, and contrast these with contemporary understandings in social and political thinking in the social sciences and law.
The following events are held jointly with all streams at New College.
6:00 pm Prayer at New College Chapel
6:30 pm Drinks at the New College Bar
7:30 pm Dinner in the New College Dining Hall - please note we are currently running a waiting list for the dinner
Saturday 22nd March: Faith in Public Life in a Polarised Age
What role can faith play in politics and public life in a time of polarisation? What implications might polarisation have for how we approach public engagement as Christians? How might polarisation affect the way we navigate our academic careers?
9:00 am Registration in Magdalen College Old Kitchen Bar with coffee & tea
9:05 am Prayer in Magdalen College Chapel
9:30 am Introduction to the Roundtable discussion - Jane Green, Professor of Political Science and British Politics, Nuffield College
What do we mean by polarisation? Understanding polarisation to assess what’s changing, why, and what that means for political and civic culture, transformation, and debate.
10:00 am Roundtable Discussion featuring the following presenters:
Paul Billingham, Associate Professor of Political Theory, Magdalen College
Marilie Coetsee, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Hope College, Michigan
Richard Ekins, Professor of Law and Constitutional Government, St John’s College
Jane Green, Professor of Political Science and British Politics, Nuffield College
John Inazu, Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion, Washington University, St Louis
Chaired by Timothy Endicott, Vinerian Professor of English Law, All Souls’ College
11:30 am Coffee & tea in room
12:00 pm Roundtable Discussion Continued
How might polarisation affect the way we navigate our academic careers? How can we navigate polarisation as students and academics?
1:00 pm Lunch in the Old Kitchen Bar
2:00 pm Closing