Welcome to the Giving Thought Podcast, a bi-weekly exploration of trends in global philanthropy and civil society from the Charities Aid Foundation’s in-house think-tank, Giving Thought.
In each episode your host Rhodri Davies (formerly with co-host Adam Pickering) explores a big issue, theme or trend and analyses what it means for philanthropy and civil society around the world.
Be sure to check the show notes for each podcast and find blogs, reports and videos from Giving Thought and do get in touch if you have questions or suggestions at givingthought@cafonline.org.
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In episode 62, we chat to Andrew Rudd from the University of
Exeter about representations of charity and philanthropy in
literature and how literature and the humanities can inform
practice. Including:
Which famous authors and poets have written about charity
issues?
What are some of the main positive themes about charity &
philanthropy that can we identify in literature?
What are some of the key critical themes about charity &
philanthropy that can we identify in literature?
What have famous writers said about the distinction between
charity and justice?
The tension between head and heart, between an emphasis on
empathy and rationality, has long been a major source of debate
within charity. What has literature had to say about it?
What was Dicken’s notion of “telescopic philanthropy” and why
does it remain pertinent to debates about international aid
today?
The idea of poorly-aimed, ‘indiscriminate’ charity that
perpetuates poverty and reliance has been a huge source of concern
for many throughout history. How is this reflected in
literature?
Has any literature notably influenced public discourse,
politics or the way charities operate? If so, how?
Does the study of literature and the humanities currently play
a significant role within the wider academic study of philanthropy?
If not, why not?
Can philanthropists and people who work in the
charity/non-profit sector learn anything from literature? If so,
what?
How can practitioners best find and make use of insights from
literature?
Which current issues facing charities and philanthropy would
most benefit from some literary insight?
This is the podcast from CAF’s think tank Giving Thought, where we look at big issues, themes and news stories that relate to philanthropy and the work of civil society.
Our host, Rhodri Davies, leads you through a wide range of fascinating topics, and also speaks to great guests who bring their own insight and expertise on civil society issues.