Professor John Armstrong

Topic: A Philosophical World View

Wednesday, 4 August 2010

Noon for 12.30pm

Graduate House

220 Leicester Street,

Carlton

Acclaimed author and philosopher Associate Professor John Armstrong has been appointed Philosopher-in-Residence at Melbourne Business School. In this unique role, Associate Professor Armstrong will develop the art of leadership among students, alumni, and business at a critical time in human history when leadership needs new ways of thinking.

John Armstrong was born in Glasgow and educated at Oxford, Birkbeck and UCL. In 1997, after completing a Ph.D. in Philosophy, he established and directed a research centre in philosophy of art at the School of Advanced Study in London. He also started a business dealing in 18th and 19th Century European paintings and classic Italian cars – although as his writing career has developed this business has taken a back seat.

John moved to Australia in 2001 with his wife, Helen, and two young children. Since 2003 he has been an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne. He writes frequently for The Age and The Australian on art and culture. He has given many public lectures, including five series of talks at the National Gallery of Victoria.

He is the author of several internationally acclaimed books: The Intimate Philosophy of Art (2000) Conditions of Love (2002), The Secret Power of Beauty (2004) and Love Life Goethe: how to be happy in an imperfect world (2006) – all published by Penguin UK. His next book, The Promise of Civilisation, will be published early in 2009. The books have been translated in to Italian, Dutch, Chinese, Korean and Thai. His writing is noted for its elegance, warmth and clarity.