Festival of Dangerous Ideas

By Benjamen Judd

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Our ability to think creatively, abstractly and even conceptually is one of the primary trademarks of civilisation and being human. Even if you don’t agree with certain thoughts, the fact that said thoughts are being had and made and expressed is a fascinating condition of the species. The Sydney Opera House’s Festival of Dangerous Ideas celebrates our power to think – even controversially – and is taking place for two intense days this August, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31.

Entering its 6th year, The Festival of Dangerous Ideas (FODI), presented in association with St James Ethics Centre, is part of the year-round Ideas at the House program of the Sydney Opera House.

Over one weekend, leading thinkers and culture creators from around the world will take to the stage to bring contentious ideas to the fore and challenge mainstream thought and opinion.

Speakers at the festival are asked to take their ideas to its extreme to create lively and thought-provoking discussions. Our aim is for audiences to leave each session having experienced the excitement of dangerous ideas being brought to life, and having heard arguments being debated that have made them look at things in a different light.

This year, our speakers will be tackling issues that will have us questioning our view of ourselves and our place in the world. Whether they are ideas about loneliness, masculinity, narcissism, complicity in modern slavery, the buying and selling of women or the return of the class system in Australia—they will jolt our view of who we are and where we fit in. Joining the panels are world renowned author, Salmon Rushdie, political wild card Mark Latham, climate expert John Hewson and the venerable Malcolm Fraser.

This is the kind of festival that is intended to provoke a response and not necessarily one that agrees with what is being said. But that’s not the point – the point is to get you thinking.

Multipack tickets to the Sydney Opera House Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Saturday and Sunday 30 – 31 August go on sale tomorrow, June 30 and single tickets are up for grabs July 2.