Social Sciences & LAW Stream
Fri 20 March (9:30 am - 9:00 pm) and Sat 21 March (9:00 am - 2:00 pm)
New College (Friday) and Jesus College (Saturday), 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, Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy, Wadham College, Andrew Dilnot, former Warden of Nuffield College and Chairman of the UK Statistics Authority.
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.
Registration for the conference is now closed.
Friday 20th 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 New College 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 Dinesha Samararatne, Professor at the Department of Public and International Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Independent Expert to the Constitutional Council of Sri Lanka, conducted by Bethan Willis, Oxford Pastorate Chaplain.
1:00 pm Lunch in New College Dining Hall
2:00 pm Part One: Social ethics in the social sciences: theological and secular approaches - Tom Simpson, 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 - Paul Billingham, Associate Professor of Political Theory, Magdalen 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 (currently full and we are running a waiting list)
Saturday 21st March: Democracy
We will discuss the value of constitutional arrangements that give governmental power to the people of a community, and the implications of Christianity for a true understanding of the theory and practice of democracy. What should the people decide? What justifications can there be for distancing or protecting public decisions from influence by the people? How is public opinion formed, and deformed, and what are the implications for good governance? Is democracy a way in which each of us can meet the commandment ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Matthew 22:39)? Or is democracy only the worst form of government except for all the others, in a fallen world? We aim to involve participants in a discussion that will build on the sessions on Friday 20 March concerning human beings, society, and political authorities.
9:00 am Registration in Jesus College Digital Hub with coffee & tea
9:05 am Prayer
9:30 am Introductory Talk: Justifying Democracy Theologically: An Overview - Jonathan Chaplin, Fellow of Wesley House, Cambridge
10:30 am Coffee and tea
11:00 pm Roundtable Discussion
Chaired by Paul Billingham, Associate Professor of Political Theory, Magdalen College
Panellists: Laura Biron-Scott, Chaplain and Fellow, Balliol College
Timothy Endicott, Vinerian Professor of English Law, All Souls’ College
Luke Bretherton, Regius Professor of Moral & Pastoral Theology, Christ Church College
1:00 pm Lunch
2:00 pm Closing