What does a 2,400-year-old philosopher have to say about fake news, political polarization, and artificial intelligence?

The Philomathean Society cordially invites you to the Bicentennial Annual Oration, marking the 200th consecutive address hosted by the oldest literary society in the United States.

This year, the Philomathean Society is honored to welcome Dr. Angie Hobbs, Professor of Ancient Philosophy and Advisor to the United Kingdom Cabinet Office. In her address, "Why Plato Matters Now," Dr. Hobbs will bridge the gap between ancient theory and modern crisis. She will discuss how Plato's insights remain crucial in today's most pressing challenges, and share her firsthand experience using classical philosophy to advise the UK government and health system.

Cosponsored by the Media, Inequality & Change Center; Penn New Student Orientation and Academic Initiatives (NSOAI); Penn's Departments of English, History, and Legal Studies and Business Ethics; the Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy; the Campaign for Community; the Student Allocations Commission; and Wolf Humanities Center.

Angie Hobbs gained a First Class Honours Degree in Classics and a PhD in Ancient Philosophy at New Hall (now Murray Edwards College), University of Cambridge. After a Research Fellowship at Christ’s College, Cambridge, she moved to the Philosophy Department of the University of Warwick; in 2012 she was appointed Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, a position created for her and the first of its kind in the U.K. (and, as far as can be ascertained, the world). Her chief interests are in ancient philosophy and literature, and in ethics and political theory from classical thought to the present, and she has published widely in these areas, including Plato and the Hero (Cambridge University Press). Her most recent publication for a general audience is Why Plato Matters Now (Bloomsbury 2025); she also narrated the audiobook. She contributes regularly to radio and TV programmes and other media (including 27 appearances on BBC Radio 4 In Our Time); she lectures and gives talks around the world. She has spoken at the World Economic Forum at Davos, the Athens Democracy Forum, the Houses of Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the United States Air Force Training Academy in Colorado. She has been the guest on Desert Island Discs, Private Passions and Test Match Special.

The Philomathean Society of the University of Pennsylvania exists for those who feel that college should be about more than getting a degree. Their mission is to increase the learning of the members and the academic prestige of the University.

Founded in 1813, the Society has pursued its mission of learning outside the classroom in whatever ways struck its membership best; a common answer to the question “what is Philo?” is “whatever Philos want it to be.” Over the centuries it has maintained its student autonomy.

Thus, Philos have at one time or another embarked on major works of scholarship (like producing the first English translation of the Rosetta Stone), advocated for the creation of the Comparative Literature, Religious Studies, and American Civilization departments, launched campus publications (the longest-lived of which is the Daily Pennsylvanian, its scenier brother 34th Street, and its dumber sibling the Punch Bowl), and staged major dramatic productions (the Masque of the American Drama involved every undergraduate then enrolled at Penn).Today the Society regularly organizes and hosts talks, lectures series, intimate professor teas, as well as poetry readings, film screenings, dramatic performances, art shows, debates, exhibits, and special classes. All efforts are run, planned, and organized completely by Philos. The Society’s flagship event is the Annual Oration, where Philo invites an public intellectual to speak to the public. Past Annual Orators have included Jane Goodall, Ayn Rand, the President of Haiti, Margaret Mead, Tony Auth, Hans Morgenthau, Jared Diamond, Judith Butler, Daniel Dennett, Salman Rushdie, Arthur Miller, and Richard Dawkins. Most of Philo’s events and activities take place in our historic Philomathean Hall. All events are free and open to the public.

Philo’s structure, activities, and future are determined by its undergraduate and graduate student membership. Members elect a Cabinet each semester led by a Moderator who, among other things, chairs Philo’s general meetings held on alternate Fridays at 8:30pm. Membership in Philo is eternal; it continues long past one’s time at the University.