Professor Tom Spector "In Search of Democratic Architecture -Towards a Working Thesis on the Public Good as the Ethical Basis of Architectural Practice"

Duration: 47 mins 59 secs

Share this media item:

Embed this media item:

<iframe width="_width_" height="_height_" src="https://sms.cam.ac.uk/media/1103426/embed" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Choose size:

About this item

Available Formats

About this item

Description:	ABSTRACT: Deriving the ethical justification of the architects actions in the resulting public welfare is a longstanding article of faith amongst architects in most democratic nations. But what is the nature of that good, and what on earth has happened to our concept of the public? As philosopher Jurgen Habermas observes: “Tendencies pointing to the collapse of the public sphere are unmistakable, for while its scope is expanding impressively, its function has become progressively insignificant." This lecture presents the interim results of my investigation into this subject over the last few years with the idea of inviting ideas and discussion of its emerging themes. BIOGRAPHY: Tom Spector, a Visiting Fellow at Clare Hall this tern, is a licensed U.S. architect and professor who received his Ph.D from the University of California, Berkeley helping pioneer the subject of ethics and architecture. He is the author of the 2001 book, The Ethical Architect, a frequent contributor to Harvard Design Magazine on practice-related issues, and has published widely in both architectural and philosophical journals.

Description:

ABSTRACT:
Deriving the ethical justification of the architects actions in the resulting public welfare is a longstanding article of faith amongst architects in most democratic nations. But what is the nature of that good, and what on earth has happened to our concept of the public? As philosopher Jurgen Habermas observes: “Tendencies pointing to the collapse of the public sphere are unmistakable, for while its scope is expanding impressively, its function has become progressively insignificant." This lecture presents the interim results of my investigation into this subject over the last few years with the idea of inviting ideas and discussion of its emerging themes.

BIOGRAPHY:
Tom Spector, a Visiting Fellow at Clare Hall this tern, is a licensed U.S. architect and professor who received his Ph.D from the University of California, Berkeley helping pioneer the subject of ethics and architecture. He is the author of the 2001 book, The Ethical Architect, a frequent contributor to Harvard Design Magazine on practice-related issues, and has published widely in both architectural and philosophical journals.


Created:	2011-02-28 18:31
Collection:	Martin Centre Research Seminar Series - 2010 Michaelmas Term Martin Centre Research Seminar Series
Publisher:	University of Cambridge
Copyright:	T.Spector - Martin Centre
Language:	eng (English)

Available Formats

Format	Quality	Bitrate	Size
MPEG-4 Video	480x360	1.84 Mbits/sec	663.79 MB	View
Flash Video	320x240	504.6 kbits/sec	177.34 MB	View
iPod Video	480x360	505.38 kbits/sec	177.61 MB	View
QuickTime (for download)	384x288	849.11 kbits/sec	298.41 MB	View
QuickTime (for streaming)	480x360	903.51 kbits/sec	317.53 MB	View
QuickTime (for download)	320x240	230.5 kbits/sec	81.01 MB	View
QuickTime (for streaming)	480x360	446.01 kbits/sec	156.75 MB	View
MP3	44100 Hz	125.04 kbits/sec	43.70 MB	Listen
RealAudio		582.18 kbits/sec	203.47 MB	View	Stream
Auto *	(Allows browser to choose a format it supports)