On Thursday 27 August philosopher David Benatar will address the question “Is life meaningless?” as part of the Great Texts / Big Questions public lecture series presented by the Gordon Institute for Performing and Creative Arts.

During each Great Texts / Big Questions lecture a highly regarded thought leader will discuss one of life’s “big questions” or a significant book or artwork.

Professor David Benatar is UCT’s Head of Department of Philosophy. He is best known for his advocacy of antinatalism. In his book Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence Benatar argues that coming into existence is a serious harm and as a consequence it is morally wrong to create more sentient beings. The suggested reading for the lecture is Robert Nozick’s Philosophy and the Meaning of Life an essay which can be found in Nozick’s book Philosophical Explanations and also in Life, Death and Meaning edited by David Benatar.