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3Jun

Molyneux's Problem

Hosted by the Forum for Philosophy
Old Theatre, Old Building
Monday 03 Jun 2019 6.30pm - 8pm

William Molyneux posed the following question: Consider a person who has been born blind and who has learnt to distinguish a globe and a cube by touch. If this person could suddenly see, would they be able to distinguish these objects by sight alone? This seventeenth-century thought experiment, known as ‘Molyneux’s problem’, received attention from some of philosophy’s greatest minds. We discuss how thinkers like Locke and Leibniz, as well as artists with visual impairments, responded to Molyneux’s challenge.

Marjolein Degenaar is the author of Molyneux’s Problem: Three Centuries of Discussion on the Perception of Form.

Barry Ginley is Equality and Access Adviser, Victoria & Albert Museum.

Brian Glenney is Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Norwich University.

Clare Moriarty (@quiteclare) is a Fellow, Forum for Philosophy and a Teaching Fellow in Philosophy, UCD

The Forum for European Philosophy (@ForumPhilosophy) is an educational charity that organises a full and varied programme of philosophy and interdisciplinary events in the UK.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEForum

Podcast

A podcast of this event is available to download from Molyneux's Problem.

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LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of the London School of Economics and Political Science.