We live in troubled times where billions struggle every day and no one else is free from suffering. Gloomy though it sounds, pessimists have been shown to have a more realistic view of the world than optimists. But this need not be a recipe for depression. Julian will show how it is possible to be a cheerful pessimist, a cynical romantic, light in the darkness of the world.
Philosopher Dr Julian Baggini is the author, co-author or editor of over 20 books including The Virtues of the Table, The Ego Trick, Freedom Regained (all Granta) and, most recently, The Edge of Reason (Yale University Press) . He was the founding editor of The Philosophers’ Magazine and has written for numerous newspapers and magazines, as well as for the think tanks The Institute of Public Policy Research, Demos and Counterpoint. He has also appeared as a character in two Alexander McCall-Smith novels. His website is www.microphilosophy.net.