Joanna Kavenna

Join philosopher David Chalmers, explorer Ed Stafford, and novelist Joanna Kavenna as they delve into the concept of 'self.' Chalmers analyzes consciousness while Stafford shares his personal tales from isolation, highlighting the effects on identity. Kavenna challenges Western notions, bringing in Aboriginal wisdom to underscore a holistic understanding of self. Together, they explore how personal experiences and social contexts shape our identities, ultimately questioning the relevance of the 'self' in today’s world.

Renowned guests Joanna Kavenna, Rory Sutherland, and Rebecca Roache debate the importance of reason in an increasingly chaotic modern age. They question its value in decision-making, explore the complexity of human behavior, discuss the role of serendipity in discovery, and highlight the unintended consequences of pushing rationality to extremes. The podcast explores the balance and limits of reason, reflecting on the parallels between science and the online world, and the value of embracing irrationality.

In this discourse, Joanna Kavenna, an award-winning writer and seasoned traveler, Jonathan Webber, a moral philosophy professor and UK Sartre Society president, and author Marie-Elsa Bragg unravel the philosophical showdown between Sartre and Baldwin. They debate how much we can truly understand about others' experiences. Love, language, and identity are explored, juxtaposing Baldwin's view of connection against Sartre's insistence on individual subjectivity. They tackle whether language can bridge human experiences and the complexities of understanding in a polarized world.

Filmmaker Mike Figgis explores the intricate representations of evil, emphasizing how contemporary narratives can shape audience perceptions. Philosopher Robert Eaglestone discusses the moral implications of portraying violence in theater and the responsibilities artists bear. Author Joanna Kavenna reflects on the evolution of shock in art, wondering if real horrors evoke deeper emotional responses compared to fictional tales. They all examine art's role in commenting on historical atrocities and its significance in our understanding of evil.

Sally is reading A Field Guide to Reality, the debut novel by the Granta Best of Young British author Joanna Kavenna, originally published in 2016 and set in a surreal, quantum alternative Oxford University.  Sally will be in conversation with Joanna Kavenna and fellow writer Elizabeth Lowry at Blackwell's Bookshop in Oxford, from 6pm on September 5th. They will discuss many of the themes of the podcast; reading, writing and the intersection with life and living - and it's free to attend! More details here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/s-bayley-e-lowry-and-j-kavenna-a-reading-life-a-writing-life-tickets-688044298017 You can find out more about Joanna's writings here: http://www.joannakavenna.com/ And Elizabeth Lowry here: https://elizabethlowry.co.uk/