HowTheLightGetsIn, the world’s largest philosophy festival, is back with thought-provoking debates, talks and courses investigating the edge of digital controversies and technological advance.
22ND MAY- 1ST JUNE
Our theme this year is Heresy, Truth and the Future. We’ve just announced our full programme featuring over 500 events across ten days. We’ll be joined by figures from the worlds of politics, technology and culture to debate everything from big data to the future for online anonymity, and discover which of today’s heresies will become the truths of tomorrow.
Highlights include:
Saturday 24 May
The Open Society and Its Enemies
Oligarchs and government spies know where we are, what we want, and even our innermost thoughts. Who can protect us? Are whistleblowers the white knights of our digital age? Or the real threat we face?
Former GCHQ director David Omand, Wikileaks Chief Spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson, former Energy Sectretary Chris Huhne, and the Observer’s John Naughton to debate the limits of openness.
Thursday 29 May
The World After Tomorrow
In cyberspace, where geographical boundaries collapse, India, China and Brazil can compete on an equal footing with the West. Can technology become a force for global equality?
Editor of the world’s most widely read blog Cory Doctorow, BBC broadcaster and host of Click Kate Russell and Economist data and technology guru Kenneth Cukier envisage a new global order.
A Web of Evil?
Is security lost to cyberspace? BBC technology presenter Kate Russell puts the internet on trial.
Political Power and the End of an Ethernet Cable
Editor of the world’s most read blog Cory Doctorow on how networks can make us free.
Friday 30 May
The End of Theory
Big data is the phrase on everyone’s lips. But in an age when we can collect information in unimaginable quantities will we replace simplifying theories with complex real patterns? Might big data be the end of theory?
The Economist’s Kenneth Cukier and American author of The End of Science John Horgan put the big data revolution on trial with journalist Angela Saini.
Sunday 1 June
The Voice of Openness
Social media had all the appearance of a democratic revolution, hailed after the Arab Spring as the power of the people. But there’s now a growing army of government and corporate propaganists seeking to control and influence opinion. Has social media become a threat to democracy? Or is it still the voice of freedom?
Chief political commentator for the Independent Steve Richards, BBC international correspondent Lyse Doucet, and Demos research director Carl Miller investigate openness.
For more information see: www.howthelightgetsin.org
‘Back to Big Thinking’ The Guardian
