Dummett Symposium

The Righteous Anger Symposium celebrating the lives of Sir Michael and Ann Dummett took place at 2pm on Monday 21st November 2022. 

Professor Sir Michael Dummett died in December 2011, and his wife Ann on 7th February 2012. This event focused on Michael, but also commemorated Ann, and their joint contribution to the struggle against injustice in the areas of race and immigration. 

There were keynote addresses from Prof Robert Bernasconi of Penn State University and Alfie Steer of Hertford College, before a panel discussion and Q&A. Attendees then had a drinks reception and were shown around a special exhibition of items relating to the lives of Michael and Ann. 

Our thanks to everyone involved for a wonderful, interesting, and inspiring afternoon!

Michael Dummett is recognised as a philosopher of huge stature. But his role in British politics and social thinking is also critically important, if not enough remembered. Nor has it been much related to his academic life. 

The Symposium sought to explain and contextualise him as someone whose righteous anger against racism in our society found its way into many practical, and often courageous, actions - well beyond what normally would be expected of an Oxford academic. 

Panel Chair

Mr Miles Young, New College

Keynote Speakers

Professor Robert Bernasconi, Penn State University

Mr Alfie Steer, Hertford College

Participants

Professor William Emmanuel Abraham

Professor Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York University

Professor John Haldane, University of St Andrews

Dr Kimberley Ann Harris, Marquette University

Dr Daniel Isaacson, Wolfson College

Dr Anat Matar, Tel Aviv University

Dr Ian Patel, London School of Economics

Dr Paolo Fait, New College

The symposium was one of a trio of initiatives commemorating the 10th anniversary of the death of former fellow Professor Sir Michael Dummett, delayed by one year due to the pandemic. 

The others are a book - Righteous Anger - and a new visiting fellowship encouraging diversity among the SCR community. 

Find out more about the Dummett initiatives.