Scott Lash interviews John Searle, one of the foremost contemporary philosophers. Over the course of the conversation, Searle discusses his research into performativity, language and intentionality, the question of information and his account of social ontology. The conversation initially deals with the early influence of John Austin and Ludwig Wittgenstein as well as Searle's relationship to phenomenology and the rest of the philosophical tradition. This offers a conceptual reconstruction of Searle’s work from multiple perspectives. Crucial concepts are highlighted such as (...) performativity, speech acts, intentionality and natural language. The discussion also touches on Searle’s recent debates around the questions of information and consciousness. The conversation ends with an overview of Searle’s social ontology, his theory of institutions and his relationship with post-structuralism. (shrink)

I consider four waves of globalization. The first is Commercial Capitalism, following the voyages of Columbus and Da Gama. The second is Industrial Capitalism, following the industrial revolution led by the steam engine and mechanization. The third is the Era of Convergence, following the end of the European empires after World War II. The fourth is the New Globalization marked by three decisive trends: the relative rise of Asia, the Information Revolution, and the stark crises of Planetary Boundaries. I argue (...) that modern globalization must urgently establish a new moral basis and the cultivation of virtues in order to achieve Sustainable Development. (shrink)