Quentin Skinner, one of the world’s pre-eminent political theorists and intellectual historians, will address a timely question, “How Should We Think about Freedom?,” when he delivers the annual George S. Parthemos Lecture Oct. 17 at 11 a.m. in the Larry Walker Room of Dean Rusk Hall. The lecture is open to the public.
During his two-day residency at UGA Oct. 16-17, Skinner will deliver a public lecture, teach an undergraduate class, interact with faculty and meet with a reading group of graduate and Honors students who have been meeting weekly to discuss his work. The residency is hosted by the School of Public and International Affairs’ political science department.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for students, faculty and the public to engage with one of the leading scholars of the past half century,” said John Maltese, head of the political science department.
“Skinner is a true rock star in the world of political theory,” Maltese said. “He is an expert on Hobbes and Machiavelli, but much of his work focuses on issues of contemporary relevance such as concepts of liberty. He has influenced a broad range of disciplines: political science, history, philosophy, law and-through his work on rhetoric-English. I’ve never been prouder to bring anyone to our campus.”
Skinner taught for more than 40 years at Cambridge University’s Christ College and is known as one of the founders of the “Cambridge School” of intellectual history. He also spent four years at Princeton University’s Institute for Advanced Study. He has returned to Princeton this year to serve as the Laurance S. Rockefeller Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University Center for Human Values. He is also the Barber Beaumont Professor of the Humanities at Queen Mary, University of London.
The Parthemos Lecture honors the late political science professor George S. Parthemos, who taught at UGA from 1953 until his death in 1984. During his career at the university, Parthemos served as an Alumni Foundation Distinguished Professor, head of the political science department and vice president for instruction.
His wife, Georgia Parthemos, who passed away last year, helped to ensure the long-term success of this lecture series, which began in 1987.