The Continental Philosophy Seminar Series will examine hard truths about dementia care in its latest online seminar from 3.30pm to 5pm on Thursday 17 September.

The lecture – ‘Truthfulness and Sense-making: Two Requirements of Respect for Agency’ – will be presented by Jeanette Kennett, Professor of Philosophy at Macquarie University. Her research in moral psychology and applied ethics has focused on issues of moral and criminal responsibility and the impacts on agency and the self of addiction, mental illness and neurodiversity.

Professor Kennett’s presentation will focus on the morally troubling choice facing carers of people with dementia about whether to be completely truthful to those in their care. Surveyed care-workers are almost unanimous in admitting they have deceived or lied to those in their care, typically to alleviate the person’s agitation or confusion. While such a decision is usually motivated by beneficence, concerns remain that this practice is patronising and shows a lack of respect for the person being shielded from the truth.

Professor Kennett will describe the concept of sense-making, its link to self-image, its centrality in diachronic agency and ways in which we facilitate each other’s sense-making in interpersonal relationships.

Online bookings can be made through Eventbrite.