Institute of Criminology Big Ideas Lecture - Professor Angie Hobbs 'Flourishing, character and justice: why Plato matters now'

Speaker: Professor Angie Hobbs, University of Sheffield
Series: Institute of Criminology
Admission (organiser's words): These events are free and everyone is welcome. Please register to attend either in-person or online by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. Please click here to register to attend in-person.
Also open online: the joining details are on the talk's page.

This event is part of the Institute of Criminology's Public Guest Seminar Series for Michaelmas Term 2026. A drinks reception follows the talk. These events are free and everyone is welcome. Please register to attend either in-person or online by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.

About

What might it mean to live a flourishing life? And what is the relationship between flourishing and the virtues, especially justice? In this talk based on her recent book, Professor Angie Hobbs explores how Plato can help us with these urgent questions, and how he addresses the key issue of character formation, and why it never benefits us to return wrong for wrong. She shows how she has used his methodology, ideas and arguments in a variety of sectors to address contemporary issues in education, faith–secular debate, health care and the civil service, and invites the audience to discuss with her what further lessons can be applied. We are living in fast-moving and uncertain times and need ancient wisdom more than ever. Plato really does matter, right now!

Why Plato Matters Now (Bloomsbury 2025). angiehobbs.com

Angie Hobbs is Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy Emerita at the University of Sheffield. She gained a degree in Classics (First Class) and a PhD in Ancient Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. Her chief interests are in ancient philosophy and literature, and ethics and political theory from classical thought to the present. She has published widely in these areas, including Plato and the Hero; Why Plato Matters Now, written for the general public,was published by Bloomsbury in 2025. She contributes regularly to TV, radio, podcasts and other media around the world, including 27 appearances on In Our Time on Radio 4. She works in a number of policy sectors, including the U.K. Civil Service, National Health Service and Health Research Authority. She has spoken at the World Economic Forum at Davos, the Athens Democracy Forum, the Symi Symposium, the Houses of Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and Westminster Abbey, and been the guest on Desert Island Discs and Private Passions. She was a judge of the Man Booker International Prize 2019 and was on the World Economic Forum Global Future Council 2018-9 for Values, Ethics and Innovation.

angiehobbs.com

X: @drangiehobbs

BlueSky: @profangiehobbs.bsky.social

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Contact

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