Big Ideas

Do you ever think common knowledge doesn’t seem quite as common anymore? Philosopher, Dr Mike Wilby argues common knowledge is essential for a thriving democracy. But, he says it’s undermined by our increasingly polarised politics and society. It’s a dynamic exploited by populist and divisive leaders…like those of the last century in totalitarian Germany and Russia. So, does the past offer lessons about the importance of common knowledge?

Should soil be revered and celebrated? Our food and the air we breathe depend upon an intricate web of billions of healthy soil microbes. They even deliver messages underground between plants. But the best of the dirt beneath us – topsoil – is fast being degraded. Author, farmer and chef Matthew Evans shares his love of soil and growing great food.

We’ve never been so connected, or divided – thanks to the handful of powerful companies that dominate global computation. They bank billions in profit but take little responsibility for disinformation that harms people and democracy. Should they be forced to limit what billions of users can do on their platforms? Who’s afraid of Big Tech? A panel discussion presented by the Sydney Writers’ Festival.

The Troubles that saw Ireland locked in a violent conflict until the late 90s are still shaping community sensitivities today. The even played out in the recent Brexit negotiations. While some of the killings became notorious, many of the more than 3500 individual deaths disappeared into statistics. And - Big Ideas explores: Does religion cause terrorism?

It’s well known that pet ownership is surging as we navigate Covid solitude. But our affection goes way back – dogs are even celebrated on ancient rock art. Now some are treated like people, and author Simon Garfield questions whether it’s healthy. This talk is provided by the York Festival of Ideas. The Festival is led by the University of York, UK.

Should you have your children vaccinated against coronavirus? Is wellness a myth? What happened to "Holy Grail" of regenerative medicine?

With so much conflicting advice around, how do you know what’s really good for you, health-wise? These matters, and more, are covered in this wide- ranging discussion, featuring some the country’s best health and medical minds.

If you have $335,000 spare, you could fly to the edge of space next year. Virgin Galactic has recently heralded the start of the era of space tourism. And they are not the only ones. Blue Origin also accomplished their first real space trip. Writer Nicholas Schmidle followed Virgin Galactic's long journey from vision to successful space travel.

Is climate change inaction and denial about science? Philosopher Stephen Gardiner suggests it can represent moral corruption. To help counter this he proposes making our governments and institutions legally compelled to act for future generations. To achieve momentous change he says we first need a global constitutional convention.

Deaths in custody are a recurring tragedy for many countries, including Australia, the United States and in the United Kingdom. Victims are disproportionately black. They often die after being restrained during a mental health crisis, or while intoxicated. In the UK, barrister Leslie Thomas blames institutional racism for such deaths, and the lack of convictions that follow. We’ll also hear from other experts on how to stop this devastation.

Throughout the millennia, great thinkers and humble citizens alike have grappled with the idea of what it means to live a moral life - from ancient Greece, to the enlightenment, all the way through to modern times.

Way back, it was the gods, or a singular god, that people looked to for guidance and moral certainty.

But what if you don’t believe in god?

Where do you find your truth then?

How do we navigate the moral and ethical quandaries of today?

Paul Barclay asks Kenan Malik, author of "The Quest for a Moral Compass".

Recorded at the Bendigo Writers Festival on August 13, 2017