Philosophy Speaker Series

Every year, Laurier’s Department of Philosophy hosts a speaker series that explores different questions, theories and topics. Each session is hosted by a Laurier faculty member or guest speaker. All sessions are open to the public. Students, staff and community members are all welcome. 

• Time: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Location: P327

Please join us at 3 p.m. for refreshments before the talk at 3:30 p.m.

2018/19 Speaker Series

March 22, 2019: Dr. Maya Goldenberg, University of Guelph

"Public Trust and the Scientific Consensus on Childhood Vaccines"

Abstract:

Because vaccine hesitancy has been framed as a problem of public misunderstanding of science, vaccine outreach has focused on educating the misguided publics. Where efforts to change vaccine attitudes have failed, cynicism has bred the harsher view that the publics are anti-science and anti-expertise. Yet research into science and the publics lends strong support rather than engagement with science itself. It follows that it is poor trust in the expert sources that engender vaccine hesitancy. This consideration redraws the lines of responsibility, where vaccine hesitancy signals a problem with scientific governance rather than a problem with the wayward publics. In order to improve vaccine communications, we should focus on building that trust rather than educating the misinformed publics or puzzling over the moral and epistemic failings of the publics. Doing this does not discount that public health agencies have the science on their sides. It does mean recognizing that the best science is not enough to ensure public uptake of health recommendations.

Upcoming Speakers

• The Laurier Philosophy MA students will hold a conference on May 2, 2019 where they will be presenting their own work