Ideas Matter: The Hidden Persuaders

Seventh lecture in series Psychology and Democracy from The Academy 2020 organised by Battle of Ideas (boi) charity.

Our focus in this episode is The Hidden Persuaders, the 1957 study by Vance Packard, American journalist, social critic and best-selling author. The Hidden Persuaders is Packard’s foray into the role of our unconscious desires and how psychological methods are exploited by arenas such as advertising. This talk explores Packard’s background and work, and reflects on what he pioneered and also his legacy.

Lecturer: James Woudhuysen, visiting professor of forecasting and innovation at London South Bank University, a regular broadcaster, writer and author including co-author of Energise! A future for energy innovation

THE ACADEMY 2020: PSYCHOLOGY AND DEMOCRACY
The Academy Online was a mixture of lectures and seminars offering an opportunity to place contemporary events in a historical and philosophical context. The full programme and some background reading can be found at theboi.co.uk/the-academy-online…logy-and-democracy

THE ACADEMY
In the context of today’s instrumental approaches to knowledge, The Academy summer school is a modest attempt to demonstrate the value of scholarship, and of the worth of the university as a place of free enquiry dedicated to the pursuit of truth.

DONATING TO THE BOI CHARITY
The BOI charity is committed to continuing to host discussion and debates throughout this period when society is restricted by measures to tackle coronavirus. In order to realise events such as the Academy Online, none of our staff are furloughed and instead remain working. If you can, then please consider a donation, small or large.
Visit: theboi.co.uk/donate

IDEAS MATTER PODCAST
Ideas Matter is a podcast that takes the most important issues of our times and explores the ideas and intellectual trends that have shaped where we are today.

You can subscribe and listen to Ideas Matter on Apple Podcasts, Podbean, Spotify or SoundCloud. For full details of all episodes, visit the podcast page on our website

Keep up-to-date with Ideas Matter and all the initiatives organised by the Battle of Ideas charity by following us on Twitter (@theboi_uk) and on Facebook (battleofideas).