[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] on the morning of the 10th of November
on the morning of the 10th of November
on the morning of the 10th of November 1989 I was sitting at the breakfast
1989 I was sitting at the breakfast
1989 I was sitting at the breakfast table of my parents kitchen in Adelaide
table of my parents kitchen in Adelaide
table of my parents kitchen in Adelaide eating my 12 weet-bix 12
eating my 12 weet-bix 12
eating my 12 weet-bix 12 seriously I had a big appetite the radio
seriously I had a big appetite the radio
seriously I had a big appetite the radio was on as always and we were listening
was on as always and we were listening
was on as always and we were listening to live coverage of thousands of East
to live coverage of thousands of East
to live coverage of thousands of East Germans poring over the Berlin Wall into
Germans poring over the Berlin Wall into
Germans poring over the Berlin Wall into West Germany it was desperately exciting
West Germany it was desperately exciting
West Germany it was desperately exciting and then at one point a rather
and then at one point a rather
and then at one point a rather breathless journalist began to speculate
breathless journalist began to speculate
breathless journalist began to speculate about the end of communism later that
about the end of communism later that
about the end of communism later that day I asked my primary school teacher
day I asked my primary school teacher
day I asked my primary school teacher what communism I was obviously going to
what communism I was obviously going to
what communism I was obviously going to become a political philosopher like the
become a political philosopher like the
become a political philosopher like the consummate pedagogue that she was she
consummate pedagogue that she was she
consummate pedagogue that she was she took the question pretty seriously and
took the question pretty seriously and
took the question pretty seriously and started by painting a picture of the
started by painting a picture of the
started by painting a picture of the Communist ideal sounded pretty good to
Communist ideal sounded pretty good to
Communist ideal sounded pretty good to me a bit like a endless summer holiday
me a bit like a endless summer holiday
me a bit like a endless summer holiday it’s officially good for me to ask her
it’s officially good for me to ask her
it’s officially good for me to ask her but then why the Germans getting rid of
but then why the Germans getting rid of
but then why the Germans getting rid of it to reach her discouraging but wholly
it to reach her discouraging but wholly
it to reach her discouraging but wholly predictable response was it’s a nice
predictable response was it’s a nice
predictable response was it’s a nice idea but it just feasible this is my
idea but it just feasible this is my
idea but it just feasible this is my earliest memory of encountering the
earliest memory of encountering the
earliest memory of encountering the device whereby we reject we’ll try to
device whereby we reject we’ll try to
device whereby we reject we’ll try to get someone else to reject an idea no
get someone else to reject an idea no
get someone else to reject an idea no matter how desirable or undesirable on
matter how desirable or undesirable on
matter how desirable or undesirable on account of being just not feasible I
account of being just not feasible I
account of being just not feasible I want you to think for a second about
want you to think for a second about
want you to think for a second about just how commonly you to encounter this
just how commonly you to encounter this
just how commonly you to encounter this device that just not feasible device as
device that just not feasible device as
device that just not feasible device as I like to call it eradicating poverty
reversing climate change putting shark
reversing climate change putting shark nets on all Australian suburban beaches
nets on all Australian suburban beaches
nets on all Australian suburban beaches getting the kids to bed by 6:00 p.m.
getting the kids to bed by 6:00 p.m.
getting the kids to bed by 6:00 p.m. these are just some of the countless
these are just some of the countless
these are just some of the countless ideas that we reject and try to get
ideas that we reject and try to get
ideas that we reject and try to get others to reject for being just not
others to reject for being just not
others to reject for being just not feasible a Google search for the
feasible a Google search for the
feasible a Google search for the locution not feasible reveals more than
locution not feasible reveals more than
locution not feasible reveals more than 8 million hits and of course that
8 million hits and of course that
8 million hits and of course that doesn’t account for the private
doesn’t account for the private
doesn’t account for the private conversations that we have and it
conversations that we have and it
conversations that we have and it doesn’t account for what happens inside
doesn’t account for what happens inside
doesn’t account for what happens inside our own heads and it doesn’t account for
our own heads and it doesn’t account for
our own heads and it doesn’t account for when we use they’re just not feasible
when we use they’re just not feasible
when we use they’re just not feasible device by using other words that’s not
device by using other words that’s not
device by using other words that’s not realistic that’s not viable I can’t do
realistic that’s not viable I can’t do
realistic that’s not viable I can’t do that that’s not an option I suggest to
that that’s not an option I suggest to
that that’s not an option I suggest to you that at some point in the last week
you that at some point in the last week
you that at some point in the last week and probably in the last day you will
and probably in the last day you will
and probably in the last day you will have encountered the just not feasible
have encountered the just not feasible
have encountered the just not feasible device in some shape or form for it is
device in some shape or form for it is
device in some shape or form for it is utterly ubiquitous in argument and in
utterly ubiquitous in argument and in
utterly ubiquitous in argument and in thought in political and personal life
thought in political and personal life
thought in political and personal life with respect to matters momentous and
with respect to matters momentous and
with respect to matters momentous and mundane it’s not hard to see why after
mundane it’s not hard to see why after
mundane it’s not hard to see why after all it’s a powerful and valuable tool it
all it’s a powerful and valuable tool it
all it’s a powerful and valuable tool it can help us to avoid wastage and
can help us to avoid wastage and
can help us to avoid wastage and potentially to avert catastrophe indeed
potentially to avert catastrophe indeed
potentially to avert catastrophe indeed it might strike you as sufficiently
it might strike you as sufficiently
it might strike you as sufficiently common sensical that no remotely sane
common sensical that no remotely sane
common sensical that no remotely sane and sensible person could dream of
and sensible person could dream of
and sensible person could dream of questioning it and yet that’s exactly
questioning it and yet that’s exactly
questioning it and yet that’s exactly what I’m about to do I want to try to
what I’m about to do I want to try to
what I’m about to do I want to try to persuade you that the sanguine attitude
persuade you that the sanguine attitude
persuade you that the sanguine attitude that you probably have to the just not
that you probably have to the just not
that you probably have to the just not feasible device is entirely unwarranted
feasible device is entirely unwarranted
feasible device is entirely unwarranted granted that there are real dangers from
granted that there are real dangers from
granted that there are real dangers from which the just not feasible device can
which the just not feasible device can
which the just not feasible device can help to protect us there are also very
help to protect us there are also very
help to protect us there are also very real dangers associated with using
real dangers associated with using
real dangers associated with using they’re just not feasible device dangers
they’re just not feasible device dangers
they’re just not feasible device dangers that are all too often ignored so what
that are all too often ignored so what
that are all too often ignored so what are these dangers I’m a philosopher so
are these dangers I’m a philosopher so
are these dangers I’m a philosopher so the dangers that are of most interest to
the dangers that are of most interest to
the dangers that are of most interest to me are the ones that result from certain
me are the ones that result from certain
me are the ones that result from certain features of our feasibility judgments
features of our feasibility judgments
features of our feasibility judgments themselves I’d like to ask you to
themselves I’d like to ask you to
themselves I’d like to ask you to reflect with me about for the
reflect with me about for the
reflect with me about for the in particular consider first the fact
in particular consider first the fact
in particular consider first the fact that our feasibility judgments can be
that our feasibility judgments can be
that our feasibility judgments can be self-fulfilling prophecies an idea might
self-fulfilling prophecies an idea might
self-fulfilling prophecies an idea might be perfectly feasible so long as we
be perfectly feasible so long as we
be perfectly feasible so long as we judge it to be first war don’t judge it
judge it to be first war don’t judge it
judge it to be first war don’t judge it to be infeasible but infeasible insofar
to be infeasible but infeasible insofar
to be infeasible but infeasible insofar as we judge it to be infeasible let me
as we judge it to be infeasible let me
as we judge it to be infeasible let me tell you a story from my own life on the
tell you a story from my own life on the
tell you a story from my own life on the 7th of July 2008 I was surfing on the
7th of July 2008 I was surfing on the
7th of July 2008 I was surfing on the New South Wales South Coast and I broke
New South Wales South Coast and I broke
New South Wales South Coast and I broke my neck I was completely on my own a
my neck I was completely on my own a
my neck I was completely on my own a long way from shore severely concussed
long way from shore severely concussed
long way from shore severely concussed and with life-threatening multiple
and with life-threatening multiple
and with life-threatening multiple displaced unstable fractures to my top
displaced unstable fractures to my top
displaced unstable fractures to my top two vertebrae somehow I made it to the
two vertebrae somehow I made it to the
two vertebrae somehow I made it to the shore I honestly can’t tell you what was
shore I honestly can’t tell you what was
shore I honestly can’t tell you what was going through my mind but I figured that
going through my mind but I figured that
going through my mind but I figured that I must have thought at some level I can
I must have thought at some level I can
I must have thought at some level I can make it at the very least I must not
make it at the very least I must not
make it at the very least I must not have thought I can’t make it suppose
have thought I can’t make it suppose
have thought I can’t make it suppose that I had thought I can’t make it
that I had thought I can’t make it
that I had thought I can’t make it that’s just not feasible in that case my
that’s just not feasible in that case my
that’s just not feasible in that case my judgment would have been a
judgment would have been a
judgment would have been a self-fulfilling prophecy and I wouldn’t
self-fulfilling prophecy and I wouldn’t
self-fulfilling prophecy and I wouldn’t be here today so here is a first danger
be here today so here is a first danger
be here today so here is a first danger associated with using the just not
associated with using the just not
associated with using the just not feasible device we may we may reject as
feasible device we may we may reject as
feasible device we may we may reject as infeasible an idea that is only
infeasible an idea that is only
infeasible an idea that is only infeasible insofar as and because we
infeasible insofar as and because we
infeasible insofar as and because we judge it to be infeasible a second
judge it to be infeasible a second
judge it to be infeasible a second danger results from the fact that we
danger results from the fact that we
danger results from the fact that we often confuse what’s feasible with other
often confuse what’s feasible with other
often confuse what’s feasible with other things
things
things what’s sufficiently likely or what’s not
what’s sufficiently likely or what’s not
what’s sufficiently likely or what’s not too costly or what’s not too difficult
too costly or what’s not too difficult
too costly or what’s not too difficult and so on let’s focus on what’s
and so on let’s focus on what’s
and so on let’s focus on what’s sufficiently likely so think about the
sufficiently likely so think about the
sufficiently likely so think about the idea of making pharmaceuticals free to
idea of making pharmaceuticals free to
idea of making pharmaceuticals free to those in the third world this is widely
those in the third world this is widely
those in the third world this is widely rejected for being just not feasible why
rejected for being just not feasible why
rejected for being just not feasible why here’s one reason many of us judge alas
here’s one reason many of us judge alas
here’s one reason many of us judge alas that it’s virtually said not to happen
and that might seem to mean that it’s
and that might seem to mean that it’s just not feasible it’s just not feasible
just not feasible it’s just not feasible
just not feasible it’s just not feasible in as much as and because it’s virtually
in as much as and because it’s virtually
in as much as and because it’s virtually certain not to happen that shouldn’t
certain not to happen that shouldn’t
certain not to happen that shouldn’t sound outlandish to you we make
sound outlandish to you we make
sound outlandish to you we make feasibility judgments in that way all
feasibility judgments in that way all
feasibility judgments in that way all the time and yet it involves a very
the time and yet it involves a very
the time and yet it involves a very serious confusion it’s just not true
serious confusion it’s just not true
serious confusion it’s just not true that’s something that is virtually
that’s something that is virtually
that’s something that is virtually certain not to happen is not feasible it
certain not to happen is not feasible it
certain not to happen is not feasible it matters why it’s virtually certain not
matters why it’s virtually certain not
matters why it’s virtually certain not to happen so suppose that a child is
to happen so suppose that a child is
to happen so suppose that a child is drowning in a swimming pool while I’m
drowning in a swimming pool while I’m
drowning in a swimming pool while I’m sunning myself on the grass suppose that
sunning myself on the grass suppose that
sunning myself on the grass suppose that I’m a perfectly capable swimmer such
I’m a perfectly capable swimmer such
I’m a perfectly capable swimmer such that if I were to try to save the child
that if I were to try to save the child
that if I were to try to save the child then I usually succeed but suppose that
then I usually succeed but suppose that
then I usually succeed but suppose that I’m virtually certain not to try because
I’m virtually certain not to try because
I’m virtually certain not to try because being selfish Pratt I don’t want to get
being selfish Pratt I don’t want to get
being selfish Pratt I don’t want to get chlorine on my new swimmers if we equate
chlorine on my new swimmers if we equate
chlorine on my new swimmers if we equate what’s feasible with what’s sufficiently
what’s feasible with what’s sufficiently
what’s feasible with what’s sufficiently likely we’ll be forced to say that it’s
likely we’ll be forced to say that it’s
likely we’ll be forced to say that it’s just not feasible for me to save the
just not feasible for me to save the
just not feasible for me to save the drowning child so here is a second
drowning child so here is a second
drowning child so here is a second danger associated with using the just
danger associated with using the just
danger associated with using the just not feasible device we may reject as
not feasible device we may reject as
not feasible device we may reject as infeasible an idea that is merely
infeasible an idea that is merely
infeasible an idea that is merely unlikely to happen because we are
unlikely to happen because we are
unlikely to happen because we are unlikely to try to make it happen
unlikely to try to make it happen
unlikely to try to make it happen there’s a third danger as well this
there’s a third danger as well this
there’s a third danger as well this results from the fact that our
results from the fact that our
results from the fact that our feasibility judgments have a very
feasibility judgments have a very
feasibility judgments have a very complex internal structure that is very
complex internal structure that is very
complex internal structure that is very often hidden from view at least in part
often hidden from view at least in part
often hidden from view at least in part for one when we judge that an idea is
for one when we judge that an idea is
for one when we judge that an idea is feasible not feasible we implicitly have
feasible not feasible we implicitly have
feasible not feasible we implicitly have in mind a certain temporal horizon
in mind a certain temporal horizon
in mind a certain temporal horizon within which the idea is to be brought
within which the idea is to be brought
within which the idea is to be brought about to today or this week or this year
about to today or this week or this year
about to today or this week or this year or this parliamentary term for another
or this parliamentary term for another
or this parliamentary term for another we implicitly have in mind certain ways
we implicitly have in mind certain ways
we implicitly have in mind certain ways of bringing about the idea and
of bringing about the idea and
of bringing about the idea and implicitly rule out certain others so
implicitly rule out certain others so
implicitly rule out certain others so those are the only way to save a ship
those are the only way to save a ship
those are the only way to save a ship that’s caught in a storm is to throw all
that’s caught in a storm is to throw all
that’s caught in a storm is to throw all the passengers overboard
the passengers overboard
the passengers overboard most of us judge that it’s just not
most of us judge that it’s just not
most of us judge that it’s just not feasible to save the ship that’s because
feasible to save the ship that’s because
feasible to save the ship that’s because we’re implicitly ruling out saving the
we’re implicitly ruling out saving the
we’re implicitly ruling out saving the ship by doing something so
ship by doing something so
ship by doing something so horrid so now think about an idea that’s
horrid so now think about an idea that’s
horrid so now think about an idea that’s a bit closer to home think about the
a bit closer to home think about the
a bit closer to home think about the idea say of a carbon-neutral economy
idea say of a carbon-neutral economy
idea say of a carbon-neutral economy this too is widely rejected for being
this too is widely rejected for being
this too is widely rejected for being just not feasible how so we on a
just not feasible how so we on a
just not feasible how so we on a charitable interpretation what’s going
charitable interpretation what’s going
charitable interpretation what’s going on is that we’re judging that a carbon
on is that we’re judging that a carbon
on is that we’re judging that a carbon neutral economy isn’t going to be
neutral economy isn’t going to be
neutral economy isn’t going to be brought about anytime soon say within
brought about anytime soon say within
brought about anytime soon say within the next five years perhaps and we
the next five years perhaps and we
the next five years perhaps and we judged that it’s not feasible to bring
judged that it’s not feasible to bring
judged that it’s not feasible to bring it about without incurring certain costs
it about without incurring certain costs
it about without incurring certain costs higher energy prices perhaps higher
higher energy prices perhaps higher
higher energy prices perhaps higher taxes higher transition costs a various
taxes higher transition costs a various
taxes higher transition costs a various kind it’s suppose that’s correct
kind it’s suppose that’s correct
kind it’s suppose that’s correct clearly it doesn’t follow that we’re
clearly it doesn’t follow that we’re
clearly it doesn’t follow that we’re entitled to reject the idea of a carbon
entitled to reject the idea of a carbon
entitled to reject the idea of a carbon neutral economy as such and the most
neutral economy as such and the most
neutral economy as such and the most were entitled to reject the idea of a
were entitled to reject the idea of a
were entitled to reject the idea of a carbon neutral economy within a
carbon neutral economy within a
carbon neutral economy within a particular temporal temple horizon
particular temporal temple horizon
particular temporal temple horizon without incurring a certain costs so
without incurring a certain costs so
without incurring a certain costs so here is a third danger associated with
here is a third danger associated with
here is a third danger associated with using that just not feasible device we
using that just not feasible device we
using that just not feasible device we may reject as infeasible an idea that is
may reject as infeasible an idea that is
may reject as infeasible an idea that is perfectly feasible within a broader
perfectly feasible within a broader
perfectly feasible within a broader temporal horizon and give them a a more
temporal horizon and give them a a more
temporal horizon and give them a a more permissive understanding of the ways in
permissive understanding of the ways in
permissive understanding of the ways in which it might be brought about this
which it might be brought about this
which it might be brought about this brings me to a fourth and final danger
brings me to a fourth and final danger
brings me to a fourth and final danger this one results from the fact that our
this one results from the fact that our
this one results from the fact that our feasibility judgments don’t set all the
feasibility judgments don’t set all the
feasibility judgments don’t set all the question of what we ought to do
infeasible ideas should not always
infeasible ideas should not always necessarily be rejected as such think
necessarily be rejected as such think
necessarily be rejected as such think about the idea of eradicating extreme
about the idea of eradicating extreme
about the idea of eradicating extreme poverty let’s grant that this really is
poverty let’s grant that this really is
poverty let’s grant that this really is infeasible and let’s grab that this
infeasible and let’s grab that this
infeasible and let’s grab that this means that it’s not true so we ought to
means that it’s not true so we ought to
means that it’s not true so we ought to bring it about it’s not literally true
bring it about it’s not literally true
bring it about it’s not literally true that we ought to eradicate extreme
that we ought to eradicate extreme
that we ought to eradicate extreme poverty does this mean that we’re
poverty does this mean that we’re
poverty does this mean that we’re entitled to reject the idea of
entitled to reject the idea of
entitled to reject the idea of eradicating extreme poverty altogether
eradicating extreme poverty altogether
eradicating extreme poverty altogether certainly not
certainly not
certainly not they can be valuing trying to eradicate
they can be valuing trying to eradicate
they can be valuing trying to eradicate extreme poverty doing so can motivate us
extreme poverty doing so can motivate us
extreme poverty doing so can motivate us and others you can send very powerful
and others you can send very powerful
and others you can send very powerful signals extreme poverty is so important
signals extreme poverty is so important
signals extreme poverty is so important that I’m going to try to eradicate it
that I’m going to try to eradicate it
that I’m going to try to eradicate it even though I realize that I have no
even though I realize that I have no
even though I realize that I have no prospects of success there can be value
prospects of success there can be value
prospects of success there can be value in approximating this idea and of course
in approximating this idea and of course
in approximating this idea and of course there can be value in using it as a
there can be value in using it as a
there can be value in using it as a yardstick with a respect to measure
yardstick with a respect to measure
yardstick with a respect to measure ourselves and our performance and to
ourselves and our performance and to
ourselves and our performance and to note just how far we’re falling short
note just how far we’re falling short
note just how far we’re falling short for ideals can be important and valuable
for ideals can be important and valuable
for ideals can be important and valuable not just to what we ought to do but
not just to what we ought to do but
not just to what we ought to do but concerning how things ought to be so
concerning how things ought to be so
concerning how things ought to be so here is the fourth danger associated
here is the fourth danger associated
here is the fourth danger associated with using the just not feasible device
with using the just not feasible device
with using the just not feasible device we may reject altogether an idea even if
we may reject altogether an idea even if
we may reject altogether an idea even if it is really infeasible that nonetheless
it is really infeasible that nonetheless
it is really infeasible that nonetheless has value and that should somehow be
has value and that should somehow be
has value and that should somehow be kept alive I’ve been trying to persuade
kept alive I’ve been trying to persuade
kept alive I’ve been trying to persuade you that the just not feasible device
you that the just not feasible device
you that the just not feasible device comes with some serious dangers and I
comes with some serious dangers and I
comes with some serious dangers and I trust you’re all persuaded but you might
trust you’re all persuaded but you might
trust you’re all persuaded but you might reasonably ask what’s the upshot am i
reasonably ask what’s the upshot am i
reasonably ask what’s the upshot am i saying that we should get rid of they’re
saying that we should get rid of they’re
saying that we should get rid of they’re just not feasible device No
just not feasible device No
just not feasible device No so just not feasible device can misfire
so just not feasible device can misfire
so just not feasible device can misfire but so can any device social media can
but so can any device social media can
but so can any device social media can be and has been used to hatch terrorist
be and has been used to hatch terrorist
be and has been used to hatch terrorist plots that doesn’t mean that we should
plots that doesn’t mean that we should
plots that doesn’t mean that we should get rid of social media social media is
get rid of social media social media is
get rid of social media social media is also valuable in certain respects and so
also valuable in certain respects and so
also valuable in certain respects and so is there just not feasible device am i
is there just not feasible device am i
is there just not feasible device am i at least saying that we should revise
at least saying that we should revise
at least saying that we should revise and reform the just not feasible device
and reform the just not feasible device
and reform the just not feasible device replace it with a new and improved model
replace it with a new and improved model
replace it with a new and improved model as it were not necessarily a number of
as it were not necessarily a number of
as it were not necessarily a number of my colleagues and I are in effect
my colleagues and I are in effect
my colleagues and I are in effect exploring that possibility but it’s
exploring that possibility but it’s
exploring that possibility but it’s worth bearing in mind that it’s a more
worth bearing in mind that it’s a more
worth bearing in mind that it’s a more sophisticated device isn’t necessarily
sophisticated device isn’t necessarily
sophisticated device isn’t necessarily going to be better for us as we actually
going to be better for us as we actually
going to be better for us as we actually are after all more sophisticated devices
are after all more sophisticated devices
are after all more sophisticated devices can go wrong in more sophisticated ways
can go wrong in more sophisticated ways
can go wrong in more sophisticated ways the upshot is simply this
the upshot is simply this
the just not feasible device is not
the just not feasible device is not quite as straightforward and not quite
quite as straightforward and not quite
quite as straightforward and not quite as unproblematic as you might have
as unproblematic as you might have
as unproblematic as you might have thought so next time when you find
thought so next time when you find
thought so next time when you find yourself tempted to use it or when you
yourself tempted to use it or when you
yourself tempted to use it or when you notice someone else using it
notice someone else using it
notice someone else using it pause slow down remember that history is
pause slow down remember that history is
pause slow down remember that history is full of ideas that were mistakenly
full of ideas that were mistakenly
full of ideas that were mistakenly rejected for being just not feasible
rejected for being just not feasible
rejected for being just not feasible abolishing slavery franchising women
abolishing slavery franchising women
abolishing slavery franchising women introducing universal education the
introducing universal education the
introducing universal education the consequences of these mistakes were not
consequences of these mistakes were not
consequences of these mistakes were not trivial above all be open to the
trivial above all be open to the
trivial above all be open to the possibility that those ideas that are
possibility that those ideas that are
possibility that those ideas that are injected in our own time for being just
injected in our own time for being just
injected in our own time for being just not feasible might be perfectly feasible
not feasible might be perfectly feasible
not feasible might be perfectly feasible after all and even if they really are
after all and even if they really are
after all and even if they really are infeasible be open to the possibility
infeasible be open to the possibility
infeasible be open to the possibility there should be somehow kept alive
there should be somehow kept alive
there should be somehow kept alive rather than rejected altogether for any
rather than rejected altogether for any
rather than rejected altogether for any feasible ideas can have value there can
feasible ideas can have value there can
feasible ideas can have value there can be a reminder that the status quo is not
be a reminder that the status quo is not
be a reminder that the status quo is not inevitable they can spur creativity
inevitable they can spur creativity
inevitable they can spur creativity foster empathy and pave the way for
foster empathy and pave the way for
foster empathy and pave the way for transformation
transformation
transformation [Applause]
”
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