Cogtalk: "It's (not) fair!”: The fluidity of fairness in an (un)just world

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

In this month’s CogTalk, John Bird MBE and Dr Michaela Gummerum will discuss fairness and how it is shaped both by biology and society. They will ask who decides what is a "fair share" and who’s entitled to it? Do all people have a similar understanding of fairness and how fluid is that notion? And how, in this so-called “age of austerity” can we maintain our sense of fairness and justice for all.

John Bird, 66, was brought up in an orphanage and served time in a young offenders institution before he was out of his teens. During the turbulent times of a difficult youth he often slept rough with London’s homeless.

Twenty-one years ago, John harnessed his knowledge of the print industry with a social vision which led to the foundation of the now world-famous Big Issue, sold by the homeless and vulnerably housed with publisher and vendor splitting the proceeds of each sale. Although strictly non-political, John has been consulted by both Labour and Coalition governments on how best to lift people out of poverty through harnessing their own energies.