A prestigious Oxford professorship in moral philosophy has been endowed following a £2.8 million donation from the Sekyra Foundation.
The White’s Chair of Moral Philosophy was Oxford’s first professorial post in philosophy when it was established 400 years ago. It has now become the Sekyra and White’s Professorship of Moral Philosophy in recognition of the Sekyra Foundation’s gift. The foundation was established by Czech businessman Luděk Sekyra to support human rights, moral universalism, liberal values and civil society.
Professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: 'We at Oxford are proud of the long standing links between our philosophers and Prague, dating back to Jan Hus translating banned works by John Wycliffe in the 14th and 15th centuries. It is wonderful that in its 400th year the chair has become the Sekyra and White’s Professorship of Moral Philosophy. We are very grateful to Luděk and the Sekyra Foundation for this generous gift.'
Mr Luděk Sekyra, founder of the Sekyra Foundation and owner of the Sekyra Group, said: 'Nothing could more aptly characterise the tradition and intellectual excellence that we associate with the name of Oxford University than the professorship of moral philosophy established in 1621 by Thomas White, the oldest university chair in philosophy.
'I often wonder why we so rarely ask ourselves how to live a good life, what constitutes moral progress, what our responsibility is towards future generations, why the public sphere is not also a sphere of morality, and how the continuity of humanity is affected by technology and global climate change. These challenges, which have, among others, been the subject of my discussions with philosophers at Oxford, help us uncover deeper levels of reality, the essence of the lives we lead. I am glad that I could contribute to this dialogue.'
The Sekyra and White’s Professor of Moral Philosophy leads the study and development of moral philosophy within Oxford and supervises doctoral and master’s students in the subject. The postholder also chairs the Oxford Moral Philosophy Seminar, which has hosted the world’s leading moral philosophers in recent decades.
Professor Chris Timpson, Chair of the Philosophy Faculty Board at Oxford University, said: 'The names of the holders of this professorship ring out today as touchstones of rigorous, humane and urgent philosophical enquiry. They have stoked revolutions in our philosophical and moral understanding, and have trained generations of research students to the highest of standards. The Sekyra Foundation’s significant contribution ensures that this work will continue – and advance – long into the future.'
The Sekyra Foundation has previously supported developments across Oxford University and its colleges. These include the construction of Sekyra House, a student centre at Harris Manchester College, and the installation of a bench honouring Václav Havel in University Parks. The foundation also provides stipends for postgraduate students of philosophy and legal theory, including human rights issues.