At the talk organised by the Philosophy Sharing Foundation at the University of Malta Valletta Campus on 12 June 2025, Prof. Julie Reshe argued that laughter is not an escape, but a confrontation. Drawing from the disciplines of depressive realism and philosophical pessimism—and referencing thinkers such as Schopenhauer, Critchley, Nietzsche, Bown, and McGowan—Reshe contended that laughter functions primarily as an existential response, rather than as mere comic relief. Humour, she suggests, arises as a glitch in meaning—a momentary rupture that mirrors the cosmic dissonance at the heart of existence. If you're grappling with the age-old philosophical dilemma of whether life is a tragedy or a comedy, this 45-minute talk is well worth exploring.

In this engaging talk delivered to the Philosophy Sharing Foundation at the University of Malta's Valletta Campus, André Callus offers a sharp and passionate critique of how neoliberalism has become a dominant political force — embraced across the political spectrum — and is quietly reshaping our spaces and lives, often without us even realising it. With its calls for the privatisation of land and public spaces in pursuit of economic growth, lower taxes, and deregulation, neoliberalism promotes hyper-consumerism as the organising principle of life. Public and urban spaces are being increasingly shaped to serve individual rather than collective needs and distributed according to the logic of profit and material gain. Yet, as André explains, this model — while concealing deep inequalities and unchecked greed — is not unchallenged. Alternative social, economic, and political visions continue to resist its influence. He concludes by highlighting concrete examples from Malta, where local movements and collective action have successfully pushed back and reclaimed space, sometimes with tangible and lasting results. The withdrawal of the Yacht Marina Plan in Marsaskala remains one of the best examples of successful resistance. This talk will encourage you to stay informed, get involved, and challenge the political status quo.

The 11th Annual Philosophy Lecture, delivered by South African philosopher Rev. Thomas O. Scarborough on Holism, took place on Thursday, 20 March 2025, at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Malta. In his lecture, Rev. Scarborough proposed a new metaphysical approach to holism, arguing that the parts of a whole are interconnected in ways that go beyond the traditional definition of a whole as merely the sum of its constituent parts. In the first part of his talk, Scarborough explained how, in formulating mathematical equations, constructing concepts, devising algorithms, and even forming sentences, we inevitably exclude everything that is not included. He distinguished between the finite whole—which is definable and nameable—and the nameless whole, which exists beyond what we can define. He warned that focusing solely on finite wholes that rely on equations, algorithms and language, leads to excessive pride and the illusion of control. He argued that fundamental aspects of human experience—such as consciousness, identity, and the need for God—cannot be fully grasped within a finite whole. In the second part of the lecture, Scarborough illustrated how humanity, through language, materialism, and attempts to control nature, ethics, and education, has cut itself off from the nameless whole. Scientific progress, he argued, is driven by selective focus, excluding elements that do not fit within cause-and-effect principles. This fragmented approach has been the ultimate culprit responsible behind environmental crises, including ocean pollution, climate change, and species extinction. He also contended that in arguing for God’s existence, we often remove anything that directly connects God to our lives. Scarborough called for a renewed awareness of the nameless whole—urging us to expand our perspectives, rethink our behaviors, and allow nature the space to exist beyond the constraints imposed by human scientific pursuits. He encouraged thinking beyond conventional words, concepts, and frameworks that tend to limit our understanding. During the event, members who had been with the Philosophy Sharing Foundation since the period of its founding in 2012 through 2014 were presented with Scarborough's book This Town as a token of appreciation for their loyal support. Life members were also acknowledged for their support. Moving forward, the Foundation aims to continue recognizing long-term supporters through continued gestures of appreciation, whether through constant subscription renewals or active participation in events. The Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to Rev. Thomas Scarborough for travelling 8,000 km from Cape Town to deliver his thought-provoking lecture in Malta.

In a collaborative event with Humanists Malta at the University of Malta Valletta Campus on November 7, 2024, David Bevan delivered an insightful talk on secular process philosophy. Departing from Heraclitus' renowned statement, "everything flows," David connects this idea with the works of Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, Bergson, Whitehead and Heidegger to explore how such philosophers challenged traditional metaphysical frameworks that posit fixed substances as the foundation of being. Process philosophy emphasizes the dynamic nature of reality, proposing a vision where everything is in constant flux, with entities emerging, evolving, and passing away. This perspective profoundly impacts our understanding of existence, touching upon various philosophical disciplines, including ontology, ethics, and theology. David integrates such philosophical insights with other renowned thinkers such as Gregory Bateson (known for his contributions to anthropology and social science), Henri Frankfort (known for his contributions to the understanding of ancient Near Eastern civilization) and Karen Barad (recognized for her work in quantum physics and biology) to portray a framework for understanding change, novelty, and creativity in the universe, as well as the interconnectedness of all things. 00:07:40 | Heraclitus: Everything flows; You cannot step in the same river twice 00:18:52 | Hegel: Here I see land. There is no proposition which I have not adopted in my logic. 00:20:36 | Marx: The Difference Between the Democritean and Epicurean Philosophy of Nature 00:26:19 | Nietzsche: Everything is in Becoming 00:28:03 | Bergson: The world is primordially biological 00:29:18 | Whitehead: Time is something inseparable from its existential content 00:36:23 | Bateson: Individual behavior resulting from cumulative interaction is a process 00:40:48 | Frankfort: The universe is an intelligible whole 00:43:34 | Heidegger: Philosophical thinking is authentic thinking 00:45:04 | Karan Barad: Quantum Physics & the Entanglement of Matter and Meaning 00:49:51 | American Humanists Association: The 4 Principles of Humanism About the Speaker David Bevan arrived in Malta late in 2018. Since early 2019 he has served as director of postgraduate programs at St Martin’s Institute of Higher Education in Hamrun. He has been a professor of business ethics at business schools and universities in UK, France, Belgium and China since 2002. Prior to his academic work he was engaged in enterprise resource planning and consulting in UK.

In a collaborative event with Humanists Malta at the University of Malta Valletta Campus on November 7, 2024, David Bevan delivered an insightful talk on secular process philosophy. Departing from Heraclitus' renowned statement, "everything flows," David connects this idea with the works of Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, Bergson, Whitehead and Heidegger to explore how such philosophers challenged traditional metaphysical frameworks that posit fixed substances as the foundation of being. Process philosophy emphasizes the dynamic nature of reality, proposing a vision where everything is in constant flux, with entities emerging, evolving, and passing away. This perspective profoundly impacts our understanding of existence, touching upon various philosophical disciplines, including ontology, ethics, and theology. David integrates such philosophical insights with other renowned thinkers such as Gregory Bateson (known for his contributions to anthropology and social science), Henri Frankfort (known for his contributions to the understanding of ancient Near Eastern civilization) and Karen Barad (recognized for her work in quantum physics and biology) to portray a framework for understanding change, novelty, and creativity in the universe, as well as the interconnectedness of all things. 00:07:40 | Heraclitus: Everything flows; You cannot step in the same river twice 00:18:52 | Hegel: Here I see land. There is no proposition which I have not adopted in my logic. 00:20:36 | Marx: The Difference Between the Democritean and Epicurean Philosophy of Nature 00:26:19 | Nietzsche: Everything is in Becoming 00:28:03 | Bergson: The world is primordially biological 00:29:18 | Whitehead: Time is something inseparable from its existential content 00:36:23 | Bateson: Individual behavior resulting from cumulative interaction is a process 00:40:48 | Frankfort: The universe is an intelligible whole 00:43:34 | Heidegger: Philosophical thinking is authentic thinking 00:45:04 | Karan Barad: Quantum Physics & the Entanglement of Matter and Meaning 00:49:51 | American Humanists Association: The 4 Principles of Humanism About the Speaker David Bevan arrived in Malta late in 2018. Since early 2019 he has served as director of postgraduate programs at St Martin’s Institute of Higher Education in Hamrun. He has been a professor of business ethics at business schools and universities in UK, France, Belgium and China since 2002. Prior to his academic work he was engaged in enterprise resource planning and consulting in UK.

In this talk held by Philosophy Sharing, Godfrey Baldacchino, Professor of Sociology at the University of Malta and Malta's Ambassador-at-Large for islands and small states, shares his life's entire journey that has been grappling with smallness. He spent the first 20 years of his adult life fascinated by meteors, the smallest particles in the solar system. He observed, plotted and analysed their features and built knowledge on how they throw light on the origins and constitution of our solar system. He then spent the next 20 years of his adult life fascinated by small islands and small states, the smallest members of the community of nations. He visited, observed, analysed their features and built knowledge on how small islands and states can throw light in international relations, sustainable development and climate action and indeed the future of our planet. Prof Baldacchino also spent 40 years working on and with workers and trade unions, looking at alternative forms of industrial relations that can survive in spite of an economic system dominated by large multinational corporations. Prof Baldacchino's concluding assessment in this talk is that small size does not exclude agency or vote. Being effectively agentic depends on competence and confidence, smartly sensing opportunities, being prepared to surprise others rather than being cowed by them, and cultivating in the process even unlikely alliances.

In his latest exploration following the publication of The Political Brain, Professor Matt Qvortrup from Coventry University delves deeper into the fascinating intersection between neuroscience and political philosophy. In this insightful lecture delivered to Philosophy Sharing's annual event, he elaborates on how modern brain imaging technologies can differentiate individuals with conservative leanings from those with liberal perspectives. Yet, by analysing the active pathways of the brains when it engages in problem solving and integrating this analysis with the works of Plato and Aristotle, Professor Qvortrup unveils a more profound truth: our brains are inherently designed to work out solutions, possessing a unique ability, unparalleled in the animal kingdom, to absorb knowledge through listening and exchange of views and opinions. However, Professor Qvortrup raises a crucial alarm - our brains are likewise wired for conflict and predisposed towards hate, making it alarmingly easy for us to fall into the trap of divisive, partisan politics. Such regression, he warns, is a step backwards on the evolutionary ladder. The core of Professor Qvortrup's argument is the need to discuss policy not politics. This shift, he suggests, is essential for progress and harmony in society. Listen to this insight lecture as Professor Qvortrup shares his compelling insights, urging us to prioritize problem-solving over winning political arguments, and to embrace the power of listening and learning for the betterment of all.

In this talk held by Philosophy Sharing at the University of Malta Valletta Campus on the 8th of January 2024, speaker Francois Zammit argued in favor of a political philosophy of technology. Francois Zammit pointed out the need to discuss theories based on specific technologies rather than treating technology as a simple homogeneous metaphysical concept. He also cautioned on how dominant technologies offer forms of discourse that can easily be manipulated for other political agendas. Watch this interesting talk in just 45 minutes with accompanied power point presentations !

Prof Christian Colombo takes the stage to highlight how humanism continues to thrive internationally as a movement despite facing its fair share of criticism since the Enlightenment. Nevertheless the very essence of humanism has come under deeper scrutiny in our post-modern, post-truth world. The burning question remains: How can we justify Humanism as a movement when the very concept of "the human" is being challenged? In this talk, Prof. Christian Colombo delves into the conflicting viewpoints surrounding Humanism and unearth the elements that make it invaluable to our contemporary society.