Ethics, Museums and Archaeology

This AHRC-funded workshop, generously sponsored by the Ashmolean Museum, is organised within the framework of an AHRC-funded Research Network Group project on ‘The Ethics and Aesthetics of Archaeology’: https://www.dur.ac.uk/philosophy/research/research_projects/aes.eth.arch/

This wider project brings together philosophers, archaeologists and museum and heritage practitioners in order to focus on the relation between ethics and aesthetics, and explore how this relation shapes the understanding and practice of archaeological stewardship. The main premise underlying our multidisciplinary project is the idea that research into the ethics of stewardship (including moral obligations, duties and respect) will be enhanced significantly by an increased understanding of the role played by the aesthetic character of historical objects in influencing the moral relations we have with them and their makers.

The project is directed by Prof. Elisabeth Schellekens Dammann (Philosophy, Uppsala & Durham) and Dr Robin Skeates (Archaeology, Durham). They are assisted by Dr Andreas Pantazatos (Co-Director of the Centre for the Ethics of Cultural Heritage & Philosophy, Durham).

Keynote speaker

Prof. Ivan Gaskell (Bard Graduate Center, New York)

Other speakers

Dr Anna Bergqvist (Philosophy, MMU)

Dr Piotr Bienkowski (Culture, Heritage, Museums)

Sir Mark Jones (St. Cross College, Oxford University)

Dr Janet Marstine (Museum Studies, Leicester)

Dr Andreas Pantazatos (Philosophy, Durham)

Prof. Constantine Sandis (Philosophy, Oxford Brookes University)

Prof. Geoffrey Scarre (Philoosphy, Durham)

Prof. Peter Stone (School of Arts and Cultures, Newcastle University)

Prof. Janet Ulph (Law, Leicester University)

Dr Susan Walker (Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford)

Workshop programme

Our intention is to give this workshop an informal ‘work-in-progress feel, with short presentations from invited presenters and plenty of time for questions and discussions.

 

Wednesday 2nd April

14.30-14.35

Welcome

Prof. Elisabeth Schellekens Dammann (Philosophy, Uppsala & Durham Universities) and Dr. Robin Skeates (Archaeology, Durham University)

14.35-14.45

Introduction

Dr. Susan Walker (Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University)

Session 1

14.45-15.45

Key-note presentation: Stewardship and the Life of Things

Prof. Ivan Gaskell (Bard Graduate Center, New York)

15.45-16.15

Discussion

16.15-16.45

Rethinking Museum Ethics

Dr. Janet Marstine (Museum Studies, Leicester University)

16.45-17.00

Discussion

 

Thursday 3rd April

09.30-09.45

Welcome and summary of Wednesday’s discussions

Dr. Andreas Pantazatos  (Philosophy, Durham University)

Session 2

09.45-10.15

Value and Perspective in the New Museum

Anna Bergqvist (Philosophy, Manchester Metropolitan University)

10.15-10.30

Discussion

10.30-10.45

Tea/coffee

10.45-11.15

Ethical Decision Making in Museums: Who is Involved, and Who Decides?

Dr. Piotr Bienkowski (Culture, Heritage, Museums)

11.15-11.30

Discussion

11.30-12.00

Restitution: Righting Wrongs or Slippery Slope?

Sir Mark Jones (St. Cross College, Oxford University)

12.00-12.15

Discussion

12.15-13.00

Lunch

Session 3

13.00-13.30

The Significance of Public Trust

Prof. Janet Ulph (Law, Leicester University)

13.30-13.45

Discussion

13.45-14.15

The Ethics of Trusteeship and the Limits of Stewardship

Dr. Andreas Pantazatos (Philosophy, Durham University)

14.15-14.30

Discussion

14.30-15.00

Stewardship and the Dead

Prof. Geoffrey Scarre (Philosophy, Durham University)

15.00-15.15

Discussion

15.15-15.30

Tea/coffee

Session 4

15.30-16.00

Cultural Property, Ethics and the Military

Prof. Peter Stone (School of Arts and Cultures, Newcastle University)

16.00-16.15

Discussion

16.15-16.45

Culture, Heritage and Ethics

Prof. Constantine Sandis (Philosophy, Oxford Brookes University)

16.45-17.00

Discussion

The workshop is open to all. It will be of particular interest to philosophers, archaeologists and museum/heritage practitioners.

If you would like to attend, we would be grateful if you would let us know, by sending an email to Elisabeth Schellekens Dammann [email protected] 

Thank you to our sponsors

This is an AHRC-funded workshop, generously sponsored by the University of Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum.