George Soros: Central European University Lecture Series
| Location: | Budapest, Hungary | |||
| Event Date: | October 26, 2009 - October 30, 2009 | |||
| Contacts: | |
Open Society Institute founder and chairman George Soros will unveil his latest thinking on economics and politics during a lecture series hosted by the Central European University. These lectures are the culmination of a lifetime of practical and philosophical reflection.
Soros will discuss his general theory of reflexivity and its application to financial markets, providing insights into the recent financial crisis. The third and fourth lectures examine the concept of open society, which has guided Soros’s global philanthropy, as well as the potential for conflict between capitalism and open society. The closing lecture focuses on the way ahead, closely examining the increasingly important economic and political role that China will play in the future.
The lectures will be held at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest. Each day will feature an hourlong lecture. Then, after brief comments from the moderator, Soros will answer questions from global audiences at partner institutions participating by videoconference as well as the audience in Hungary.
The lectures will be made available on the Financial Times website at www.ft.com/soroslectures each evening.
Lecture Schedule
General Theory of Reflexivity Monday, October 26, 2.00-4.00 pm CET
Moderator: Colin McGinn
Videoconference with the London School of Economics
Videoconference Moderator: Mary Kaldor, Centre for the Study of Global Governance
George Soros will present the fundamentals of his guiding philosophy, laying the foundation for his four subsequent lectures. This session discusses historical understandings of objective reality, scientific inquiry, and the limits of human perception. It discusses the gap between perceptions and reality, illustrating how actions based on these flawed perceptions then reshape reality in a reflexive system.
Financial Markets Tuesday, October 27, 2.00-4.00 pm CET
Moderator: Anatole Kaletsky
Videoconference with Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Videoconference Moderator: Ricardo Caballero, Department of Economics
This lecture applies the general theory of reflexivity to financial markets, challenging the prevailing paradigm of the efficient market hypothesis. Soros will discuss bubbles and the recent financial crisis in detail, testing his theory against major financial events.
Open Society Wednesday, October 28, 4.00-6.00 pm CET
Moderator: Ivan Krastev
Videoconference with Columbia University
Videoconference Moderator: Rob Garris, School of International and Public Affairs
In this session, Soros discusses the concept of open society, which guides his philanthropy and is central to his political and social thinking. Over the past quarter century, Soros has devoted over seven billion dollars to promoting the underpinnings of this concept—from equal access to justice to freedom of expression—around the world, from South Africa to Poland to the United States. Here, he describes the historical and philosophical roots of open society. Soros builds on Karl Popper’s thinking while stressing the central importance of fallibility, relating this to reflexivity, and applying these concepts to political and social reality. The lecture concludes by discussing the balance between individual freedom and regulation to protect the common good.
Capitalism versus Open Society Thursday, October 29, 2.00-4.00pm CET
Moderator: Mark Danner
Videoconference with the Department of Posts, New Delhi, India
Videoconference Moderator: Dr. Uday Balakrishnan
In this lecture, George Soros will explore the conflict between capitalism and open society, market values and social values. Focusing on the principal-agent problem, he will use contemporary economic and political examples to challenge market fundamentalism while presenting ideas for protecting the public good more effectively.
The Way Ahead Friday, October 30, 1.00-3.00 pm CET
Moderator: Howard Davies
Discussants: Paul Collier, Joschka Fischer, Cristovam Buarque
Videoconference with Hong Kong University
Videoconference Moderator: Rusty Todd, Director of Business Journalism
Turning his attention to the future, Soros will focus on the increasingly important role that China is likely to play on the world stage. He will outline key global trends and discuss their major economic and political implications for the years ahead.
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