Religion debate - Oxford, 25 November

Speaking against the frankly indefensible motion "This House Believes that a World Without Religion is a World Without Meaning", alongside Andrew Copson, Robert Hinde and Susan Blackmore. Proposing the motion are Martin Beckford, Anil Bhanot, Bishop Tim Stevens and presumably A.N. Other. Kick-off is 20:30 and full details are here.

The Shrink & The Sage: Status

"The way to deal with the “fact” that status matters is not simply to accept as inevitable the importance of our position on the economic league table. A better approach might be to try to change the assumptions we have about what should be valued. Status is not simply a given of nature: it is something that we confer."

Latest column in this weekend's FT magazine (13/14 November)

How Should I Live? - London, 15 November

In discussion with Robert Eaglestone on ethical philosophy today, at the Idea Store, Canary Wharf, 7pm. Full details here.

Big Thoughts in Small Packages - Southwold, 14 November

Talking at the Ways with Words festival at Southwold this Sunday. Full details here.

The Shrink & The Sage: The stiff upper lip

"You only need to think about when a stiff upper lip is most admired to recognise that it can be a moral virtue, not an emotional failure. We admire people who control their feelings in order to minimise the extent to which others are forced to share their suffering. Such self-sacrifice is based on the truth that a problem shared is often just a problem doubled."

Latest column in the weekend's FT Magazine (6/7 November).

Nightwaves - BBC Radio Three

I offered up a seven-minute potted version of happiness in the history of philosophy on last night's programme, which you can listen to here until next Monday, 8 November.