In the Gospel of Luke, Christ is famously asked the question ‘who is my neighbour?’ His response took the form of a parable that would become one of the framing stories of all Western moral and political thought; ‘The Good Samaritan’. However, through centuries of familiarity it is now possible for us to read this story as a sentimental or parochial fable, completely irrelevant in a time of globalization, uprooted populations and mass media. Is the concept of the neighbour still relevant for a world such as ours? What moral and political demands might this story make on us today as a society? Professor Vrasidas Karalis examines these questions and more in the following recording of the August PEACEtalk.
About the speaker: Vrasidas Karalis is the Sir Nicholas Laurantus Professor of Modern Greek at the University of Sydney. He has taught, and published on a wide range of topics from film studies, to philosophy, to Greek language, religion, and culture. Most recently, he has made numerous appearances in the media discussing the current political and economic challenges facing Greece today.
About PEACE: PEACE stands for Political, Ethical, Artistic, & Cultural Engagement. We hold monthly discussion nights and lectures related to all of these areas on the first Saturday of each month. As a ministry of St George’s Anglican church, we hope to serve the community through providing a context for open and honest discussion, as well as rigorous intellectual engagement in a time where such things are often neglected.