John N. Gray - John N. Gray is a prominent British political philosopher and author, formerly School Professor of European Thought at the London School of Economics.
Gray contributes regularly to The Guardian, New Statesman, and The Times Literary Supplement, and has written several influential books on political theory, including Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals, an attack on humanism, a worldview which he sees as originating in religious ideologies.
Alan Saunders - Alan Saunders was born and educated in London. He studied philosophy at the University of Leicester where he was also president of the students' union, and Logic and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics. He came to Australia in 1981 to pursue research in the History of Ideas Unit at the Australian National University and was subsequently awarded a PhD.
Having joined the Science Unit of ABC Radio National in 1987, Alan Saunders founded The Food Program which was broadcast weekly until 1991 and then from 1992 to 1997. During 1991 he was co-presenter of Screen, a weekly programme about film and television. Since 1997 he has been presenter of The Comfort Zone, a weekly review of architecture and design, gardens and food.
Celebrated philosopher and critic John Gray is one of Britain's great thinkers. His books include Straw Dogs, Al-Qaeda and What It Means To Be Modern, and Heresies.
His new book is Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia, a powerful and frightening argument about how apocalyptic religion has returned as a major force in global conflict. He speaks with Alan Saunders- Sydney Writers' Festival