How are truths made?
Prof. Lisa DicksonWhat you believe about the world depends on the lens you view it through. What does Shakespeare's Henry V have to tell us about different perspectives and where the real truth lies?
Learn about this Garden Talk
What can Shakespeare’s Henry V reveal about the world we live in today?
In today's world, we often find ourselves in echo chambers, hearing only one version of events from people who share our views and perspectives. To break down these echo chambers, we must first understand how they work and the ways in which they restrict us.
In this Garden talk, Dr Lisa Dickson explores what lessons can be learned from Shakespeare. Reflecting on Henry V, the session will examine how the text presents multiple versions of what it means to be an English soldier, in doing so exposing how our understanding of ‘truth’ is determined by the information we receive and the biases we hold.
Talk outline
50 minutes
Shakespeare's Relevance
About the Fellow
Dr Lisa Dickson is a professor of in the Department of English at the University of Northern British Columbia where she specializes in Renaissance Literature and Pedagogy. She explores the concepts of critical hope and empathy.
Thank you notes from Garden members
Shakespeare's Relevance Collection
Shakespeare isn't just a dead white guy. His plays and ideas are still relevant today. In this collection, your Fellows will bring Shakespeare to life and make you consider his relevance as a guide to the world we live in today.Romeo and Juliet are often held up as the romantic ideal, willing to risk it all for their one great love. But if Shakespeare really agreed that this is what true love looks like, why are so many of his favourite couples distinctly... middle-aged?
What you believe about the world depends on the lens you view it through. What does Shakespeare's Henry V have to tell us about different perspectives and where the real truth lies?
The modern world is increasingly polarised; we see things in black and white. How can Shakespeare teach us to hold two conflicting ideas in our heads simultaneously?
Scientists have long used thought experiments to further their understanding of the world. But was Shakespeare the first person to do it?
