On the evening of 4 July, the Campus Hub at the University of Malta became a gathering place for seekers, skeptics, and thinkers alike as the annual Philosophy Summer Festival unfolded under the theme ‘Philosophy and the Human Search for Meaning’. Far from a traditional academic event, the festival placed conversation and public engagement at its core, transforming formal discussions into shared explorations of life’s deepest questions.
Running from 17:00 onwards, the event offered more than just a series of talks. It invited attendees to become active participants in an unfolding dialogue. Each session opened up space for questions, insights, and challenges from the audience, making the crowd not just observers, but essential voices in the conversation.
The festival began with a welcome address, leading into a compelling panel on the age-old question: “Is there a meaning to human life?†Moderator Claude Mangion facilitated a dynamic exchange of ideas, with panelists offering contrasting perspectives, from Marcin Iwanicki’s theological reflections on the absurd, to Duncan Sant’s argument for meaning without divine grounding. Mark Sultana spoke about prayer as a path to purpose, while Gail Debono brought a secular humanist voice into the mix.
Audience members responded with their own questions and reflections, ensuring the session remained lively, grounded, and deeply human.
After a short break, the evening shifted focus with the discussion What are the different ways of living with others? Here, philosophical ideas met the lived realities of community. Niki Young sparked curiosity by asking whether a community can exist without shared foundations. Robert Farrugia explored neighbourliness, Keith Pisani tackled the structures of democracy, and Robert Govus posed a moral challenge with his reflections on attentiveness.
The audience again played a central role, weaving personal experience and social observation into the debate, revealing just how philosophically rich everyday life can be.
The night concluded with a session that stretched the boundaries of philosophy into art, science, and technology: How do art, science and technology connect to human life? Joe Friggieri opened with his signature poetic insight in ‘Four Ways of Looking at Art’, followed by Adrian Camilleri and Francesco Frendo’s examinations of the changing relationships between creators and audiences.
Annmarie Vincenti introduced a scientific angle through the lens of image-making, while Francois Zammit addressed artificial intelligence and the evolving nature of humanity. Once more, the discussion was enriched—and sometimes challenged—by voices from the floor, who brought real-world concerns and curiosity into the theoretical mix.
As the formal programme ended, the conversations spilled into informal meet-and-greet spaces, where attendees continued engaging with speakers over drinks and shared thoughts.
Far from concluding, the night felt like an opening—a beginning of new questions, new perspectives, and new philosophical friendships.
The 2025 Philosophy Summer Festival reminded all in attendance that philosophy is not confined to lecture halls or ivory towers. It thrives in open spaces, in dialogue, and most importantly, in the questions we dare to ask together.
