How The Light Gets In has announced the full lineup for its upcoming festival on September 18 and 19 in London. Proclaimed as the world’s largest philosophy and music festival, the two-day event will host ideas, music, comedy, and expansive schooling for all. Those that cannot attend live can opt to watch the live stream instead.
100 events will pop up across nine stages, with debates and sessions tackling subjects on humanity, war and peace, sex, creativity, debt, the written word, cosmology, and aliens.
A selection of cabaret, disco, electronic, pop, rock, and jazz music will be gifted for everyone to take in. Some of the talent includes the London Afrobeat Collective, Pattern Pusher, Freya Roy, Stay Lunar, and MEI.
Participating comedians include Alex Kealy, Alice Brine, Ivo Graham, and Robin Ince.
Below are the debates and talks we’re interested in checking out.
Saturday, September 18
10:30 AM BST / 7:30 AM EST / 4:30 AM PST
The Search of Meaning with science author Rupert Sheldrake, philosopher of Wittgenstein Maria Balaska and Professor of Metaphysical Philosophy at Keele, James Tartaglia.
11:30 AM BST / 8:30 AM EST / 5:30 AM PST
How to Write and Why we Should with author and creative writing tutor Elise Valmorbida.
2 PM BST / 8 AM EST / 5 AM PST
The Return of Idealism with philosopher James Tartaglia.
5:30 PM BST / 2:30 EST / 11:30 PST
Big Tech and the Loss of Promises
The name says enough. Silkie Carlo, Thangam Debbonaire, Anders Sandberg, Stuart Semple, and Luke Robert Mason hosts.
8 PM BST / 5 PM EST / 2 PM PST
Philosophy Salon – Impossible Realms looks at the role of imagination and fantasy.
Sunday, September 19
12 PM BST / 9AM EST / 6AM PST
Cosmology’s Biggest Questions with internationally-renowned physicist and writer Paul Davies.
1 PM BST /10 AM EST / 7 AM PST
Alien Thinking with acclaimed science writer Philip Ball. He will discuss how non-humans think.
1:15 PM BST / 10:15 AM EST / 7:15 PST
Models, Metaphors, and Minds will look at concepts of the brain, with a panel including senior economist editor and author Kenneth Cukier, cognitive scientist Liane Gabora, and psychedelic philosopher Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes.
4 PM BST / 1 PM EST / 10AM PST
Debt: Crisis or Opportunity with former leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable, senior adviser at HSBC Stephen D King, and bestselling economics author Grace Blakeley.
5:30 PM BST / 2:30 EST / 11:30 PST
Life, the Universe and Everything
“Might philosophy once again find itself centre stage at a time when knowledge and progress are in question? Or is science still the only credible way to improve our circumstances and make sense of the world?”