Sydney
Humanities Salons
My current research project, Truths Past and Present, explores the intersection between ancient and modern conceptions of truth and truthfulness. As part of the project, I am hosting a series of Humanities Salons that bring together current University of Sydney students and contemporary stakeholders in truth – including lawyers, politicians, scientists, journalists, artists, doctors, teachers, and members of the wider public.
Drawing on perspectives from both antiquity and the present, these one-off sessions create a space for lively and thoughtful exchange about the role of truth and truthfulness in society today. The Salons are intentionally discussion-based and conversational rather than formal or lecture-style. Participants are encouraged to share their perspectives, engage respectfully with differing views, and reflect together on the challenges surrounding truth and truthfulness in both the past and the present.
No prior preparation is required, only curiosity and a willingness to engage in open and constructive conversation.
The Salons are supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the School of Humanities (SOH) at the University of Sydney.
If you would like to participate in a Salon or receive invitations to upcoming sessions, please join the mailing list.
2026 Salons
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2025 Salons
Held jointly with the Honourable Justice Anthe Philippides, Queensland
Truths Past and Present: Athenian Democracy and Greek Ethical Philosophy in the Age of AI
This Humanities Salon examined how classical ideals of democracy and ethics can guide us in navigating the challenges of an AI-driven world. Drawing on Athenian notions of civic virtue, deliberation, and moral responsibility, the session explores how emerging technologies – from AI governance to digital citizen assemblies – might be harnessed to strengthen participation, accountability, and trust in contemporary democratic institutions.
Frank and Equal Speech – Past and Present
This Humanities Salon explored the intertwined ideals of frank speech (parrhesia) and equal speech (isegoria) in classical Athens, examining how these principles shaped civic life and public discourse. We traced their philosophical and dramatic representations, including Michel Foucault’s influential reflections on parrhesia, and considered how these ancient modes of truth-telling and openness might inform our understanding of free expression, accountability, and power in today’s digitally mediated and AI-influenced political landscape.
Democracy, Truth, and Decision Making: Ancient and Modern
What factors influence collective decision making, past and present? What do mis- and disinformation look like in the ancient and the modern worlds? And how do public institutions as ‘stakeholders of truth’ deal with them now and then? This masterclass compared similarities and differences in collective decision making in ancient and modern democracies. The aim was to analyse how groups harness or hinder the effective use of shared intelligence and what kind of strategies they employ to bring together different viewpoints in well-informed decision-making processes. Overall, then, this masterclass invited participants to reflect on how insights from the ancient world and modern strategies can be synthesized to improve effective democratic governance in a time of increasing polarization, groupthink, and misinformation.