OU's 2025 Burke Lecture to explore philosophy through a comedic lens

Multipublished author and MIT’s Peter de Florez Professor of Philosophy Kieran Setiya, Ph.D. will visit Oakland University’s campus to deliver this fall’s Richard J. Burke Lecture in Philosophy, Religion and Society at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the Oakland Center Gold Rooms A, B and C. 

Titled “Laughter in the Dark: Stand-Up Comedy as Consolation,” this lecture will explore philosophy through a comedic lens, evaluating the ethics of drawing on other’s suffering for humor.

“Dr. Setiya’s perspective will be important to OU students, faculty and the broader community because his work in philosophy tackles some of the questions that matter most: about the meaning of life, how philosophical thinking can help us cope with hardship, and how to approach our plans and goals in life,” Oakland Professor of Philosophy and Women and Gender Studies Ami Harbin, Ph.D. said.

At MIT, Setiya focuses on ethics and related questions about human agency and knowledge. He is the author of “Reasons with Rationalism,” “Knowing Right From Wrong,” and “Practical Knowledge.” His latest book, “Life is Hard,” combines philosophy with personal essay and was recognized by The Economist and The New Yorker as one of the best books of 2022. 

The lecture series is named after Richard J. Burke, the first faculty member hired by Oakland University. He taught in OU’s philosophy department for 46 years (1959-2005), where he shared his passion for philosophy and left a lasting mark on the department and the university.

“This lecture series gives us a chance to engage directly with world-class philosophers on questions that matter for our personal lives and our shared society,” said Mark Navin, professor and chair of philosophy at Oakland University. 

Following his passing in 2012, Burke left an endowment to establish the Richard J. Burke Lecture Series in Philosophy, Religion, and Society. Since then, the annual series has brought prominent philosophers to OU campus and encouraged philosophical thinking and discussion within the community.

“We encourage all students, faculty and community members to attend this lecture to hear about some interesting questions about comedy – including whether it is unethical to draw on someone else’s suffering in telling jokes,” Harbin said.

This lecture series is open to the public with free admission. 

To learn more about the Philosophy Department at OU, check out the university’s website.