Unique Lecture at VUB: How Identities Underlie Global Conflicts

World-Renowned Prof. Dr. Appiah Opens ‘Ties that Bind Us’

17 juin 2024

On Monday, June 24, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) welcomed the world-renowned philosopher Prof. Dr. Kwame Anthony Appiah for a unique lecture titled ‘Speaking of Identity.’ The lecture was based on his acclaimed book ‘Lies that Bind: Rethinking Identity.’

Prof. Dr. Kwame Anthony Appiah is an internationally recognized philosopher. Throughout his career, he has challenged Western notions of difference and “moral superiority,” proposing a concept of culture that is inclusive, participatory, and convivial. In 2018, he published ‘Lies that Bind: Rethinking Identity,’ a groundbreaking exploration of how identities—nationality, class, culture, race, religion, gender, and sexuality—form the basis of global conflicts and are simultaneously perpetuated by them. Blending philosophical arguments with historical narratives, he unveils the tangled contradictions within the stories that appear to define humanity.

In his book, Prof. Dr. Appiah delves into the modern origins of deeply ingrained conceptualizations of race, highlights the inherent flaws in the idea of the "sovereign nation," and dismantles the notion of “Western culture” as an illusion. This critical examination formed the foundation for his lecture, ‘Speaking of Identity.’

‘Ties that Bind Us’: A New VUB Initiative

‘Speaking of Identity’ launched a new series of events organized by VUB under the banner ‘Ties that Bind Us.’ The initiative responds to the urgent need to advocate for the value of an open society capable of accommodating diversity in an ever-changing world. It aims to create a platform for a wide range of perspectives, lived experiences, and knowledge systems about forms of kinship, solidarity, and conviviality as a counterbalance to the increasingly widespread but dangerously reductive binary thinking.

‘Ties that Bind Us’ will feature speakers and formats that engage with or reflect the complexity and diversity of human experiences—past and present—through art, literature, criticism, and discourse. By fostering these conversations, the series seeks to affirm the value of a pluralistic society that thrives on diversity and inclusivity.