The Isaiah Berlin Day in Riga 2015
It has already become a good tradition to organise an annual Isaiah Berlin Day in Riga on the occasion of his birthday on June 6. This year the Isaiah Berlin Day in Riga will take place on June 4 in the Column Hall of the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation.
Isaiah Berlin is a prominent liberal thinker and historian of ideas, whose ideas on freedom and value pluralism we wish to promote in Latvia. We believe that individual freedom and value pluralism are essential elements of a democratic society and culture.
Isaiah Berlin Day in Riga 2015 will feature three events:
– a youth debate on a topical issue;
– An episode of BBC2's The Late Show about Isaiah Berlin, with Berlin interviewed by Michael Ignatieff, not about his life, but about nationalism and the fall of Soviet Communism in 1991;
– The seventh annual Isaiah Berlin Memorial Lecture. Lecturer: Henry Hardy, editor of the writings of Isaiah Berlin.
Henry Hardy’s most significant contribution to scholarship has been his editing of the writings of Isaiah Berlin. When Hardy met Berlin in 1972, Berlin was at the height of his fame as an intellectual figure; but he was viewed as not having written very much, and many doubted if he would leave a lasting contribution to scholarship beyond a small number of scattered essays. Hardy’s research revealed that Berlin had published well over 150 pieces by the late 1970s.
His subsequent editing of Berlin’s essays made Berlin’s most important work widely available. In 1990 Hardy abandoned his career in publishing to work full-time on Berlin’s unpublished essays, lectures, and correspondence. He has thus far (co-)edited 17 volumes of Berlin’s writings (plus new editions of 10 of these volumes), as well as a 4-volume edition of Berlin’s letters whose last volume will be published later this year, and 3 books about Berlin.
Admission is free, but registration is required. Only registered participants can attend the event!
Languages: English with simultaneous translation into Latvian
Registration for the event is closed!
Our friends and partners: Isaiah Berlin Association of Latvia, Representation of the European Comission in Latvia, www.satori.lv
Should you have any questions, please, contact Lelde Pruse: lelde.pruse@fondsdots.lv, 26466509