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

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.