MBS appoints Philosopher-in-Residence

Feb, 2008


Acclaimed author and philosopher Associate Professor John Armstrong has been appointed Philosopher-in- Residence at Melbourne Business School. In this unique role, Associate Professor Armstrong will develop the art of leadership among students, alumni, and business at a critical time in human history when leadership needs new ways of thinking.

About John Armstrong

John Armstrong was born in Glasgow and educated at Oxford, Birkbeck and UCL. In 1997, after completing a Ph.D. in Philosophy, he established and directed a research centre in philosophy of art at the School of Advanced Study in London. He also started a business dealing in 18th and 19th Century European paintings and classic Italian cars – although as his writing career has developed this business has taken a back seat.

John moved to Australia in 2001 with his wife, Helen, and two young children. Since 2003 he has been an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne. He writes frequently for The Age and The Australian on art and culture. He has given many public lectures, including five series of talks at the National Gallery of Victoria.

He is the author of several internationally acclaimed books: The Intimate Philosophy of Art (2000) Conditions of Love (2002), The Secret Power of Beauty (2004) and Love Life Goethe: how to be happy in an imperfect world (2006) - all published by Penguin UK. His next book, The Promise of Civilisation, will be published early in 2009. The books have been translated in to Italian, Dutch, Chinese, Korean and Thai. His writing is noted for its elegance, warmth and clarity.

From this month John has been appointed Philosopher-in-Residence at the Melbourne Business School.

How did this role come about?

My engagement with Melbourne Business School flows on from my role as Knowledge Transfer Fellow at the University of Melbourne, where I have been guiding the University essentially in “how ideas become active in the world.”

Serious Business education is always going to have its innovative, experimental side, and innovation depends on a willingness to explore possibilities before you can be sure of the results. I think the interest from Melbourne Business School in having me on board is an expression of this spirit of creative curiosity.

In researching my most recent book – Love Life Goethe: How to be happy in an imperfect world – I was impressed by the way my hero, the German poet, novelist and dramatist, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, managed to combine his amazing literary achievements with a very successful worldly career. He was a government minister, but politics in the 18th Century was like a large business today - for many years he ran a state mining company. In today’s terms it’s as if he were the CEO of a large corporation. This wasn’t just to pay the bills (he did quite well out of writing): he thought that the experience of business and government made him a better writer; in his greatest novel, the central character is an entrepreneur. I’ve been inspired by Goethe to look more closely at points of contact between creativity and business.

Although I’ve mainly worked as an academic and a writer, I’ve always been drawn to the idea of a business career. Unlike many people in the arts, humanities and philosophy, I’ve generally had very positive associations to business. So coming to MBS is the fulfillment of a personal dream.

What does the role of Philosopher-in-Residence actually involve?

It’s a unique role - there’s no existing map of the territory. While I am here I will be:

  • Contributing to the curriculum by teaching the equivalent of an MBA subject. This may result in a new elective subject offered later in the year addressing such issues as Corporate Social Responsibility, ethics and sustainability.
  • Contributing to the life and spirit of the School - and the wider community – by speaking at Alumni functions nation-wide, attending classes, and meeting with faculty, staff, business leaders and students,
  • And the knowledge I gather while at MBS will be incorporated into a new book I am writing about money and imagination.


Join Associate Professor Armstrong in a fascinating discussion on ‘Philosophy for business’ at a Brisbane Alumni Chapter breakfast on Friday 14 March.