Five Minutes with Professor Rob Brooks from the IQ2 Debate

I’m hoping to find that out from the opposition on the night. I favour the unfashionable view that we who live in happy, lucky places like 21st century Australia inhabit the safest, healthiest and most liberated societies that ever existed. That’s not to say there isn’t way too much misery, violence and inequity. We’re just coming off a very low base.

Is sexual liberation a symbol of the 20th century?

Sexual freedom is nothing new – it has long been enjoyed by a lucky few, particularly men with money and power. 20th century technology and economics allowed more people to enjoy a degree of sexual freedom, and that trend toward liberalisation still has a long way to run.

There are some impressive minds speaking for and against the motion. Where do you come in?

Near the rear of the field. But luckily I’m on the right side – I’d hate to be defending chastity.

Can you really stop people from thinking with what’s inside their pants, not their brains?

One of our problems is our brain. Scientists have spent forever trying to understand what those gargantuan, jelly-like organs are for. We do know they are capable of wild, varied, erotic fantasies and scenario-planning. If we were a bit stupider, sex would be more prosaic and probably straightforward.

If not chastity, what else will save the 21st century?

The 21st century will carry on regardless. I’d like to think we might opt out of trying to control the sex that other people are or are not having. But that might be too much to ask. As a scientist I’m compelled to say more science. A better understanding of why sex, power and money are so entangled might help us address poverty, inequality and sexism in more meaningful ways than we have achieved thus far.