David Thunder, a researcher for the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) project, "Religion and Civil Society", being carried out at the University of Navarra, has organized the second edition of "Ethics & Society Forum". This forum consists of a number of colloquiums sponsored by ICS addressing questions related to the improvement of life among others and society, examined from an interdisciplinary perspective of ethics, legal theory, economy, political and social philosophy, or general social sciences.

The activity is open to all university researchers, professors and postgraduate students. The purpose of the Ethics & Society Forum is threefold: It aims to act as a vehicle that disseminates the work carried out by the ICS among the entire university community, to promote interdisciplinary dialogue, and to enable researchers to receive valuable feedback on their work from other experts.

The inaugural meeting entitled "Who is my Neighbour? A Phronetic Approach to Duties of Beneficence" will be held on October 8. Professor David Thunder will express his thoughts regarding what persons should do for those who are outside their family environment and surrounding community.

Philosophical reflection on helping others

"A certain degree of sensitivity towards the needs of strangers – explains Professor Thunder - is generally viewed as a sign of decency, while indifference to the basic needs of strangers is generally perceived as the sign of a self-centered personality, lacking morals. Indeed, many philosophers have suggested that we have a moral obligation to help strangers in need. However, there is little agreement as to the specifics and the scope of such a duty".

Upcoming events in the "Ethics and Society Forum" include: ‘La crisis antropológica en la investigación científica' taught by Roberto Vargas, Ph.D. Student in Philosophy (October 22); ‘Domando el Leviathan. Una aproximación crítica al concepto de subsidiariedad y su aplicación en el ámbito de la Unión Europea', presented by Joseba Fernández, Ph.D Student in Public Law (November 5); and ‘El perdón. Una perspectiva filosófica', a talk given by Mariano Crespo, a researcher for the Project ‘Natural Law and Practical Rationality' (November 19)

Inaugural session: ‘Who is my Neighbour? A Phronetic Approach to Duties of Beneficence'

• Time & Venue: Thursday, October 8 at 12:30-2pm, ICS Seminar Room, Hall 2842 (2nd floor, Library Building)

• Presenter: David Thunder, researcher for the project "Religion and civil society"