Professor ponders politics and ethics at the Rose Bowl

The public lecture, held at the University's Rose Bowl and entitled 'Beyond the Impasse of the Modern Moral Point of View: Towards an Ethical Marxism', will examine the notion of a democratic socialist alternative to capitalism for modern society.

Professor Blackledge commented: "Modern life is beset by difficult moral questions, about issues as diverse as equality, freedom, and justice through debates over the rights of gays to marry and of women to have abortions, to questions of bankers' bonuses. Because debates on these issues appear irresolvable, views on them are typically dismissed as mere value judgements - little more than personal opinions. The problem with this perspective is that through it we lose the ability to judge right from wrong and good from bad. Unfortunately, this does not mean that these debates go away, far from it - they are resolved in the worst possible way, by power."

In his lecture, Professor Blackledge discusses the works of Marx and Aristotle to help navigate a way out of this situation. He argues that the dominant modern ways of thinking about morality are inadequate because they fail to fully understand the dehumanising consequences of capitalism. Professor Blackledge suggests that the virtues required in modern society can only develop in opposition to capitalism.

Professor Blackledge's research is within the classical Marxist tradition. A believer in the unity of theory and practice, he has been a member of the SWP since 1985 and a UCU (previously NATFHE) activist since joining Leeds Met, becoming branch secretary in 2010.

The lecture will take place from 5.30-7.30pm in Lecture Theatre B, Rose Bowl. For further information and to reserve a place, please contact eventsteam@leedsmet.ac.uk