Is there a difference between how we know things today, and how we knew things in the past? We remember (or perhaps hark back to) a steady state: Shakespeare was a fixed text that we read in school; Joyce was a difficult author we wanted to read but didn’t always get round to; the OED was a monolithic authority that could not be questioned. But the steady state has been disrupted by digital knowledge: it can be more fragmented, but also more dynamic. Things can change rapidly; old icons can fade, or we can understand them differently. What should we be certain about today?  

This lecture is followed by a drinks reception. All are welcome to attend this free event.