What’s Really Wrong with Fake News? A Spinozist Perspective

Presented by Professor Emerita of Philosophy Susan James

About the Atkins Public Lecture

Thank you to Dr John Atkins for his generous funding of the Atkins Visiting Professorship since 2014.
About the lecture

The University of Queensland's School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry invites you to join us for the 2025 Atkins Public Lecture delivered by Professor Emerita of Philosophy Susan James.

Fake news is nothing new. For many generations, philosophers have discussed it and asked themselves what’s wrong with it. In this lecture I’ll consider whether their conclusions can deepen our own understanding of its dangers. Focusing on the work of one insightful opponent of fake news, the seventeenth-century Dutch philosopher Benedict de Spinoza, I’ll explore his view that it undermines our attachment to truthfulness. This is its most harmful effect, and it has radical political implications. What might they mean for us?

About the presenter

Susan James completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge. She has taught at the Universities of Connecticut, Cambridge and London and held visiting positions in Australia, Europe and the United States. Her research focuses on three overlapping areas - the history of early modern European philosophy, social and political philosophy and feminist philosophy - concentrating particularly on the ideas of Margaret Cavendish and Benedict de Spinoza.

These interests are reflected in some of her publications, including Margaret Cavendish: Political Writings; Passion and Action: The Emotions in Seventeenth-Century Philosophy; Spinoza on Philosophy, Religion and Politics; The Theologico-Political Treatise; and Spinoza on Learning to Live Together.

Susan James is a Fellow of the British Academy and Chair of the British Society for the History of Philosophy.

Event details

Date: Wednesday 3 September 2025

Time: 5–6:15pm for light refreshments. Followed by the lecture from 6:15pm–7:15pm.

Venue: Global Change Institute Atrium (Building 20), UQ

RSVP: Friday 29 August 2025

Enquiries

engagement@hass.uq.edu.au

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