Pictured above: Sir Jonathan giving the Keith Murdoch Oration at the State Library of Victoria (credit: State Library Victoria)
St Paul’s College alumnus, Professor Sir Jonathan Mills AC, returned to the intellectual stage with a compelling address at the 2025 Keith Murdoch Oration at the State Library of Victoria on 24 September 2025. His lecture, delivered with characteristic eloquence and insight, explored the profound question: What does it mean to be human in an age shaped by artificial intelligence and digital acceleration?
“In an age defined by algorithms and acceleration, disruption and digitised experiences, synthetic personalities and simulations,” Sir Jonathan began, “it is both timely and necessary to pause and reflect on what it means to be human.” This reflection formed the foundation of an oration that examined the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and human creativity, particularly through the lens of the arts.
Central to his thesis was the assertion that artistic intelligence—rooted in intuition, emotion, and memory—stands in stark contrast to the transactional nature of artificial systems. “Art is never just a series of transactions,” he stated. “It exists in a fusion, as intuition, as emotion, as memory. It is, above all, about feeling. Here lies the fundamental distinction between artificial and artistic intelligence.” He further argued that “art is not a luxury, but a necessity,” underscoring its essential role in shaping human understanding and cultural continuity.
Sir Jonathan Mills, who resided at St Paul’s in 1981, is an internationally celebrated composer and cultural leader. His distinguished career spans music, architecture, and the directorship of major arts institutions. Most notably, he served as Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the Edinburgh International Festival from 2006 to 2014, where he significantly enhanced the Festival’s global reputation.
His compositional oeuvre includes acclaimed works such as The Eternity Man, The Ghost Wife, and Sandakan Threnody, the latter earning the prestigious Prix Italia. His contributions to the arts have been recognised globally: he was knighted in the United Kingdom in 2013, awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France, and in 2024, appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).
Sir Jonathan’s oration was not only a meditation on the nature of intelligence but also a reaffirmation of the arts as a vital force in human development. His words resonate deeply with the College’s commitment to fostering intellectual inquiry, cultural engagement, and the pursuit of excellence. For more about the Keith Murdoch Oration CLICK HERE. The full text of Sir Jonathan’s address can be found in The Australian, 25 September 2025.
