Our second Philosophy Tea focuses on Fredrika Bremer’s An Invitation to a Peace Alliance, in which she calls for a worldwide peace organization of women. Issued in the midst of the Crimean War (1853-1856), it was considerably ahead of its time and met with a hostile reception. However it can be seen as anticipating the creation of the more successful International Conference of Women in Washington D. C. in 1888 and helping to pave the way for such prominent Swedish women peace activists as Elin Wägner, Alva Myrdal and Maj-Britt Theorin. In addition to the Invitation itself, we discuss how Bremer’s experiences in the United States (1849-1851), recounted in Hemmen i den nya världen; and England, in England om hösten 1851, as well as her reform activities in Sweden helped form the ideas and the practical proposals she puts forward in the Invitation.

Philosophy Tea - Fredrika Bremer - 2021 03 09

Our third and final Philosophy Tea discusses John Maynard Keynes’ important work of political economy, The Economic Consequences of the Peace. Critical of the harsh reparation payments imposed on Germany after World War I by the Treaty of Versailles (1919), Keynes argues that these will lead to increased suffering by the German people and to economic and political instability. He instead proposes financial assistance to rebuild Germany and war-ravaged Europe, much like the Marshall Plan would do after WW II. Throughout his long and distinguished career Keynes challenged conventional economic thinking, including leaving the gold standard and advocating state intervention to end the Great Depression in the 1930’s. Keynes’ unique ability to sense how the world economy was changing and to develop new economic policies to deal with it speaks to us today as we gradually emerge from the Corona pandemic that has radically altered our world.

Philosophy Tea - John Maynard Keynes - 2021 - 05 - 19

In this Philosophy Tea we scrutinize the life, achievements and legacy of the icon of nonviolent action Mohandas K. Gandhi, better known as Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948). His work began with Asian resistance against White rule in South Africa and led to a number of campaigns for India’s self-determination in the 1920s and 1930s, contributing to the country’s independence in 1947. In his book My life is My Message he summarised his thinking about nonviolence and its role in social change. Undoubtedly he is one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century but at the same time remains enigmatic: not easy to follow or. We will attempt to illuminate some aspects of his life as well as his contribution to providing a role for the marginalised around the globe.

Philosophy Tea - Mahatma Gandhi: My Life is My Message - 2021-10-05

In our second Philosophy Tea we discuss Naomi Klein’s timely and controversial contribution to the climate change debate, This Changes Everything (2014). The book is a valuable account of the debate at that time, as well as an excellent introduction to today’s climate crisis. This summer’s extreme weather occurrences, the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warning about climate tipping points, and the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, which has been billed as the last chance to get runaway climate change under control, has made her 2014 analysis more relevant than ever.

Philosophy Tea - Naomi Klein: ”This changes everything” - 2021-11-03

Building on his background in British Intelligence John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold was a global success. It has been followed by a series of other best-selling works, many of which have been filmed with prominent directors and actors. In this Philosophy Tea we focus on the role of the spies, particularly during the Cold War: Do they contribute to war or peace? Do they add to transparency and tension reduction or to conspiracy, deceit, danger and fear ? It seems le Carré seldom provide answers, but such reflections are necessary, not the least as he in 2019 was awarded the Olof Palme for making “an extraordinary contribution” to “freedom, democracy and social justice”.

Philosophy Tea - John le Carré: What is the point of spies? - 2021-11-23

Welcome to Philosophy Tea at Regina Theatre. Scones, tea and interesting discussions led by Professor Peter Wallensteen and Foreign Lecturer Daniel Ogden.

"For peace is not mere absence of war, but is a virtue that springs from force of character” 

Spinoza, Theological-Political Treatise, 1670

Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) was a very controversial Dutch philosopher. As a young man, he was expelled from the Jewish congregation of Amsterdam for his unconventional ideas on God and religion; views that he would later put forth in his Ethics, published only after his death in 1677. When his Theological-Political Treatise was published in 1670, critics called it, “a book forged in hell”. Our talk will examine Spinoza’s ideas on God, humanity and the world; and his radical proposals for a society based on peace; not war.

Philosophy Tea is supported by Uppsala University.

Audio technician: Mattias Hammarsten

Philosophy Tea - Spinoza 20170118

‘Government is an institution which prevents injustice other than such as it commits itself.’
Ibn Khaldun, al-Muqaddima (Prolegomena).
Ibn Khaldun was an early path-breaking Arab historian and sociologist. He lived 1332-1406 (732-808 according to the Muslim calendar) and his major work An Introduction to World History (al-Muqaddima or Prolegomena) from the late 1300s has a number of systematic ideas on civilizations, the rise and fall of dynasties and the uses of power; as well as unique  historical records. He was born in Tunisia into an Arab family with an Andalusian background and Berber roots. He lived a dramatic life in the Arab world of the time from Morocco to Mecca, both as a scholar and as a policy maker. For instance, he negotiated with the Mongol conqueror Timur Lenk/Tamerlane during the siege of Damascus in 1401. 
In this third Philosophy Tea of the autumn of 2017 Peter Wallensteen and Daniel Ogden will discuss Ibn Khaldun’s thinking on peace, war, power and change, as well as his relevance today.
Daniel Ogden is a researcher and teacher of utopian ideas, for many years at Uppsala University and now at Mälardalen University. Peter Wallensteen was the first holder of the Dag Hammarskjöld Chair in Peace and Conflict Research (1985-2012) and is now Senior Professor at Uppsala University.

Philosophy Tea - Ibn Khaldun 20171212

On Perpetual Peace (1795)
Immanuel Kant's Philosophical sketch for World Order.

Immanuel Kant's Philosophical sketch for World Order became important to peace movements in the 19th century and inspired world organizations, such as the League of Nations and the United Nations, in the 20th Century. This Philosophy Tea discusses its role in the 21st century with inputs also from Kant specialist Rebecka Lettevall, Malmö University.

Philosophy Tea - Immanuel Kant 20191118

Nathan Söderblom and World Peace.

In our third Philosophy Tea we take up the Uppsala-based theologian, Archbishop Nathan Söderblom (1866-1931). We examine his ideas for forging cooperation between different Christian denominations and for using religion to promote peace. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1930. We discuss why he received the award and how the impact of his work has shifted since then.

Philosophy Tea - Nathan Söderblom 20200212

Inspired by George Orwell’s iconic dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-four, Margaret Atwood set about in 1984 to write a dystopia from, as she has said, “the female point of view”. That such a dystopia was needed can be seen by the popularity of the novel itself and the HBO TV series by the same name (2017-). In our first Philosophy Tea of autumn 2020, we focus on Atwood’s novel and how it treats a number of highly relevant issues, not least among these being what happens when authoritarian governments use the suppression of women’s rights to help maintain their hold on power.

Philosophy Tea - Margaret Atwood - 20200912

Philosophy Tea - Alva Myrdal – 2020-11-17

In this Philosophy Tea we discuss Camus’ highly topical, The Plague (La Peste). Camus was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957. The Plague has often been seen as an allegory of the Nazi Occupation of France during World War II. But it is also part of a longer tradition of plague literature, a genre pioneered by Daniel Defoe in his A Journal of the Plague Year (1722), a work that Camus quotes in the epigraph to his own novel. In a more general sense it is about the human condition and our vulnerability to life threatening circumstances, be they caused by viruses or the actions of our fellow humans. How we respond to these circumstances defines us as human beings.

Philosophy Tea - Albert Camus - 2020-12-01

» Tuesday February 2nd – Martha Nussbaum, The Monarchy of Fear

In our first Philosophy Tea we discuss a recent work by celebrated American philosopher, Martha C. Nussbaum (b. 1947). Her book The Monarchy of Fear from 2018 is not only an engaging reaction to the Trump presidency but also a way of synthesizing many of her insights into the role of emotions in society. Thus the book discusses the origins and impact of fear and blame on anger, disgust and envy. These are emotions that politicians can appeal to, with disastrous results, not the least for those discriminated against and marginalized in the US. They form the basis for continued racism, anti-gay sentiments, sexism and misogyny. Despite the power of these negative emotions, Nussbaum still sees a chance for hope and love.

Philosophy Tea - Martha Nussbaum - 2021 02 02

Reginateatern är en av Sveriges ledande gästspelscener.

Vi erbjuder ett rikt och noga utvalt utbud av underhållning och scenkonst från det bästa av Uppsala kulturliv, högkvalitativa framträdanden från övriga delar av Sverige samt förnämliga gästspel från hela världen.

Regina offers a carefully selected repertoire of entertainment chosen from the best of Uppsala’s culture life, excellent shows from the rest of Sweden and exciting performances from the whole world. In this uniquely intimate theatre we offer a rich mix of plays, musical shows, dance and stand-up.

Reginateatern, Podcast

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