by Jo Wolff (@JoWolffBSG), the Alfred Landecker professor of values and public policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, and governing body fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford!
Democracy is a battle of ideas, but one that depends on treating opponents as legitimate adversaries not treasonous enemies. – Jo Wolff (Oxford)
@aj_wendland launched and runs the philosophy column in TheNew Statesman called Agora, which is a space for academics to address contemporary social, political and cultural issues from a philosophical point of view.
Wishing everyone a safe and restful holiday season! – King’s Department of Philosophy (@kingsphilosophy)
Statistics can illuminate the world, but narratives explain why the numbers matter – Alex Prescott-Couch (Oxford).
See this new article by @prescottcouch on storytelling in the social sciences in @aj_wendland‘s Agora series @NewStatesman. @aj_wendland launched and runs the philosophy column in TheNew Statesman called Agora, which is a space for academics to address contemporary social, political and cultural issues from a philosophical point of view.
In a new 15 minute Masterclass Youtube video, Professor Bill Brewer (@mbillbrewer), Susan Stebbing Professor of Philosophy at King’s College London, asks whether we perceive the physical world directly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRmDqOOYs2k
‘Why are there beings at all instead of nothing? That is the question,’ said philosopher Martin Heidegger.
In 1929, German philosopher Martin Heidegger gave a lecture at the University of Freiburg. He spoke at length — poetically and densely — about nothing. Many were enthralled by his talk, but scientist-philosopher Rudolf Carnap thought his talk of nothing, added up to… nothing. (Shutterstock / Jared Romanowicz)
Charles Mills, who died earlier this year, was a model for a political philosophy engaged with subjects the discipline had systematically ignored, first among them race and racism.
You can also read Sophie’s (@DrSophieSmith) most recent article, “Historicising Rawls”, which elaborates on Charles Mills’s contributions to the history of 20th-century political philosophy.
Dr. Aaron James Wendland (@aj_wendland), new Media Fellow at the Marc Sanders Foundation and Vision Fellow in Public Philosophy at King’s College London
King’s College London is pleased to announce that Vision Fellow in Public Philosophy, Dr. Aaron James Wendland, has been appointed to the inaugural class of Media Fellows at the Marc Sanders Foundation. The Marc Sanders Foundation is committed to using philosophy to help the world approach larger personal and social issues with the thoughtfulness, care, and rigor needed to drive understanding and change, and their Media Fellowships are designed to increase the presence of philosophically inspired discourse in the public sphere. As a Media Fellow at the Marc Sanders Foundation, Dr. Wendland will sharpen his podcasting skills and build on his current public work for The New Statesman,The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and The Centre for Philosophy and Art.
“Big Data’s hubristic claim that it understands humanity opens the door to dangerous forms of manipulation and control” –@Firdebrabander on Rationalism, Politics, and Big Data in @aj_wendland‘s Agora series @NewStatesman
“Deep and lasting connections come in many forms. As we push the boundary beyond traditional romance, we need a new language to talk about love” –@hirjisukaina and @mkrishnamurthyX on Murdoch, Foot, and romantic friendship in @aj_wendland‘s Agora series @NewStatesman
Dr. Aaron Wendland, KCL Vision Fellow in Public Philosophy
Abstract: “A virtuous circle: Academic expertise and public philosophy”
This essay examines the relationship between academic and public philosophy through the lens of Heidegger studies. Specifically, this essay: shows how Heidegger uses technical terminology within the context of the academy to break new philosophical ground; explains how suitably clarified technical terminology can be used to introduce people to Heidegger’s philosophy and to apply Heidegger’s ideas to current affairs; and illustrates how the application of Heidegger’s ideas to contemporary issues results in new forms of academic research. Ultimately, this essay argues that there is a dialectical relationship between academic and public philosophy: i.e., public philosophy translates esoteric ideas developed in the academy into publicly accessible prose and then applies those ideas to daily life; but in doing so, public philosophy inspires new lines of academic inquiry.
From Sivan: Over the last two years I have been collaborating with Dr. Sarah Fine in the development of a new dance work, Dance No 2°. This is the culmination of my research exploring migration, our relationship to our environment, and the climate crisis. I have worked with dance and student communities across the world, and with cultural and academic partners including King’s College London.
I am hugely grateful for your support and participation in the early development of this work when I was Artist in Residence at King’s, and I would love to see you at the première on Tuesday 2nd or Wednesday 3 November.
To book a ticket and for more information follow this link. Alternatively, discounted educational group tickets can be booked here.
Venue:The Place (17 Duke’s Road, London WC1H 9PY UK)
About Dance No 2°
Led by its cinematic soundtrack, a minimal setting, and danced with raw and sustainable fashion, Dance No 2° refers to the 2° tipping point in the rise of global temperatures and examines how the land we live on and the planet we inhabit shapes us.
Rediscover how human existence is influenced by the water, land, and elements we live with, Dance No 2° is set in an infinite landscape of waves and rolling hills, hypnotic oceans and vivid deserts.
Dance No 2° will premiere at The Place during the time the UK will host the COP26 UN Conference on Climate Change, offering a danced response to some of the issues the world will be discussing in a very important year for the planet.
Free Post-Show Talk, Tue 2 Nov:Join choreographer Sivan Rubinstein after the show for a discussion about the work, chaired by Christina Elliott, Senior Producer at The Place (approx. 20 mins)
Click HERE to read our interview with Sivan Rubinstein to find out more about the inspiration behind the creation of Dance No 2°.
About Sivan Rubinstein
Sivan Rubinstein is a London-based choreographer whose art uncovers contemporary cultural issues which facilitate creative public conversations. Her work is deeply rooted in collaboration with academics, artists, communities and methods of alternative learning. Sivan is a Work Place artist (2021-26), Artist in Residence at King’s College London (2019-20) and a Co-founder of OH Creative Space. Sivan was chosen as the UK artist for Pivot Dance commissioned by Creative Europe, selected by The Place for Exit Visa, right after she graduated from Trinity Laban with a First-Class Honours in 2013. Her work has been presented at Bloomsbury Festival (Wellcome Collection, London), Being Human Festival (London), Sotheby’s, Sadler’s Wells, Migration Museum, The Place, JW3 (London), Turner Contemporary (Margate), Dance4 & The Attenborough Arts Centre (Midlands), European Dancehouse Network, B.Motion Festival, (Italy), The Dutch Dance Festival (Netherlands) and the 2019 YAP Residency Program in Beijing, China. Sivan also shares her practice in academic conferences, teaches in university settings across the UK and creates new ways of collaborating with multimedia, fashion artists and researchers. Sivan Rubinstein is currently a Work Place artist at The Place.
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