Ragged Uni: History of Scottish Witches + The Demarcated Economy

Come along to this informal event, enjoy listening to two talks; join others with some free Artisan Roast coffee and Organic Clipper tea, some small bites and good company. You are invited to bring along an item of food to put on the table to share and take away what is left at the end.

A History of Scottish Witches: The Devil’s Handmaidens is a compelling talk that explores the persecution of alleged witches in Scotland between 1563 and 1736. It examines how a potent mix of religion, politics, and fear created the conditions for one of the most intense witch-hunting periods in Europe. Drawing on the influence of figures such as John Knox and James VI of Scotland, the talk considers how authority and belief combined to shape attitudes toward witchcraft.

At the heart of the discussion is the transformation of everyday magical and fairy beliefs into something far more sinister. What had once been part of ordinary life became recast as evidence of Devil worship, driven in large part by the Scottish Kirk’s growing obsession with demonic influence. Using vivid examples from trial records and so-called witch confessions, the talk reveals how these ideas were enforced and sustained through both religious and legal systems.

The talk also highlights the social dimensions of the witch hunts, particularly the ways in which societal expectations of women left them especially vulnerable to accusation. It explores how the instability of the Reformation and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms intensified these pressures, creating an atmosphere in which suspicion and fear could thrive. Ultimately, it asks why so many people came to believe that the Devil was an ever-present threat, how this widespread panic took hold, and what finally brought it to an end.

In reflecting on the impact of this period on ordinary people, the talk offers a thoughtful consideration of its lasting significance. It invites audiences to think about what these events reveal about the power of belief, the dangers of moral panic, and the lessons this history might still hold for society today.

For more information: https://raggeduniversity.co.uk/2026/04/10/28th-june-2026-edinburgh-a-history-of-scottish-witches-by-mary-craig/

Followed by a half hour break for conversation and refreshments before the next talk:

I plan on doing a presentation around 40 minutes long followed by a discussion with those in the room. John Dewey once said “Education is not preparation for life, it is life itself”; it is in this vein that I am exploring the importance of learning and education in the context of the lives of people against a backdrop of a set of economic circumstances.

Over the last 15 years I have been involved in developing methods and ideas in education which relate to the concept of human development. By asking what happens when our habitat no longer supports opportunities to develop skills and knowledge essential both for functioning within human communities or for maintaining psychological and physical health, we can start to get a sense of the roles which learning activities play in our development.

Britain has evolved significantly through the force of industrialisation; taking products and activities, scaling them up to reduce costs through achieving economies of scale. Britain’s colonial past has helped forge the template for multinational businesses. These habits of organisational behaviour are legacies which structure our sociological landscape producing classes divided by what they can financially afford to engage in. These histories are old wine in new bottles as new technologies are introduced to deliver education and organise work opportunities.

In this presentation I am going to raise some questions about how the system of formal education we have re-produces myths of elite meritocracy where people who have the resources get the to develop and demonstrate their capabilities; conversely people who have least resources are often undermined by a culture of credentialism which reinforces that impoverishment.

Finally I will be looking at recent global histories of deregulation and how they have affected education restructuring it from a public good to becoming a commodity increasingly determined by the machinations of the stock market. I will be reviewing how the European Round Table of Industrialists identified Education as a financial target before contrasting this consumerist view with the conception of Education as an altruistic behaviour found throughout large ranges of living species. The presentation will end with a discussion on the ramifications of this attempted transformation of an altruistic behaviour to an instrumental product.

For more information please visit: https://raggeduniversity.co.uk/2026/04/12/june-28th-2026-1pm-4pm-the-narrow-economy-demarcated-workfulness-and-the-disappearing-everyday-by-alex-dunedin/

The event is in the workshop on the third floor of St Margaret's House. Here is a video showing how to find it:

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

151 London Rd, 151 London Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

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