Who ever would have thought that this footage existed? Assuming it is authentic, it has a rather macabre feel…Just in case you were wondering, this is Nietzsche toward the end. I’m not sure why Einstein pops up at the end of the clip.
The Editors of an ambitious new series on contemporary social and political issues welcome book proposals from suitably qualified individuals (normally a PhD in Philosophy or related discipline).
The series, published by Continuum Press, will address such topics as terrorism, extremism, multiculturalism, wars of intervention, advancements in technology, civil liberties, globalization, the rise of the far right, nationalism, fair and free trade, animal rights, religious fundamentalism, and new topics in medical ethics. We have a strong preference for humanistic, rather than overly technical writing – the intention is that the books should contribute to the discussion outside academe – as well as a desire for genuinely polemical philosophy. No doubt some books will offer overviews of current debates and established positions, but the books should also carry the debates further. We hope authors will push the boat out a little, defend and articulate their own positions. The books might be provocative, might stimulate public debate.
The first round of books will be published early next year. The publishers are putting rather a lot into the series. The books – of no more than 60,000 words – will be published in both the United States and Europe, with the possibility of translations into other languages.
Editors: Jeremy Stangroom and James Garvey.
A great article by Ben Goldacre can be found here. Most people are, of course, quite ignorant of the details of science. As someone who is doing a PhD, it obviously rankles me to see someone who bought theirs on the internet being recognised as some sort of authority. The interesting thing is that the only way she has been able to do this (according to Goldacre) is through the threat of litigation.
Channel 4 has produced a lot of these kinds of lifestyle gurus in recent years, including McKeith (‘You Are What You Eat’), Nickly Hambleton-Jones (‘10 Years Younger’) and Gok Wan (‘How To Look Good Naked’). What links these shows is the authoritarian manner in which advice is dolled out, reducing the hapless members of the public to quiverin, teary goo before rebuilding them in some finer, meticulously composed and controlled upgrade.
This seems to appeal to something quite masochistic in the pysche of the participants. Goldacre suggests that there’s something quite individualistically right-minded going on, but I’m more inclined to take a Foucauldian stance on it. Could this be bio-power?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6330631.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/05/nphilo105.xml
“Teachers will use pictures and stories to stimulate debate, rather than imparting theories or the views of particular philosophers.”
Well, that’s pretty much fair enough seeing as most undergraduates don’t really engage with particular philosophies in any depth. However, what are they going to be talking about? Here are the ten ‘themes’:
Happiness – Goodness – Service – Beauty – Patience
Knowledge – Wisdom – Justice – Myself – Truth
So, we won’t be doing Nietzsche’s critique of Judaism, then? Maybe ressentiment is a bit much for primary school. Perhaps worringly, the programme aims at increasing ‘emotional intelligence’, which seems to amount to the same moral lesson as was being taught religiously: more emotion than intelligence. No real harm there, but iIf you really wanted the kids to think for themselves, why not get them to ponder something a bit more controversial than ‘goodness’, ‘patience’ and ’service’?
“The Philosophy of Communication Section of ECREA (European Communication
Research and Education Association, www.ecrea.eu) was established in the
fall of 2006. We aim to provide a European platform for a wide range of
research interests at the intersection of philosophy, communication studies
and communication theory. The founders and current board members, Prof. Dr.
Colin Grant (Surrey), Vice-Chair Dr. Tino Meitz (Essen/London) and Vice-
Chair Dr. Johan Siebers (London/Lancashire) invite all members and
prospective members to a one-day inaugural meeting, to be held on 2 March
2007, at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom.
We are currently organising a conference on “Landmarks – At the Crossroads;
Contemporary Communication Theory and Philosophy”, to be held in November
at the University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. The conference will be on the
agenda as well.
The meeting will take place in the morning, and will be followed by an
informal afternoon symposium on Paradigms in the Philosophy of
Communication. The symposium consists of a number of short presentations
and a plenary panel discussion. The aim of the symposium is to provide an
overview of current fundamental approaches and themes in the philosophy of
communication, and to discuss desired future developments. Those interested
in submitting an abstract for a presentation (15 mins. max) are encouraged
to do so by 9 February, to johan.siebers@philosophy-of-communication.eu.”
CFP: Parrhesia: A Journal of Critical Philosophy – Submissions for volume 3 now being taken.
The editors of Parrhesia are now pleased to advise that volume 2 is online and submissions for volume 3 are now being considered. Parrhesia is dedicated to publishing the latest work in the areas of continental philosophy and literary theory, featuring both refereed articles and exclusive translations and essays from leading international figures. Volume 2 inludes feature articles from Costas Douzinas and exclusive translations of Alain Badiou’s latest work. Alan Milchman and Alan Rosenberg, Daniel W. Smith, Julian Wolfreys and Matthew Sharpe.
Submissions for volume 3 are now being considered. Please send abstracts for potential articles to contact@parrhesiajournal.org. by the 27th of September 2007.
Parrhesia is an online open-access journal.
www.parrhesiajournal.org
I don’t think it’s accurate to describe Zizek as “a Dennis Leary from Slovenia”.
From The Guardian, 3rd February 07
“I play them compulsively, enjoying the freedom to dwell in the virtual space where I can do with impunity all the horrible things I was always dreaming of – killing innocent civilians, burning churches and houses, betraying allies… Plato was right: there are only two kinds of people on this earth, those who dream about doing horrible things and those who actually do them.
My favourite game? Stalin Subway, a Russian one: Moscow 1952, the player is a KGB investigator, called by Stalin Himself to unearth the plot to kill Stalin and other members of the Politburo. One can arrest and kill suspects at one’s will. If one wins, one gets a medal from Stalin and Beria! What more can one expect in this miserable life?”
He’s clearly a man after my own heart… but he can’t really be that into gaming if he’s found the time to publish almost 100 books. Put it another way: he clearly never got his hands on a Final Fantasy game (though the Final Fantasy series seems primed for a deep Lacanian reading).
Filed under: Call for Papers, Critical Theory, Hegel, Philosophy, Research
Please be aware that in response to a number of recent enquiries we have extended the deadline for abstract submissions for the 10th International Graduate Conference in Philosophy at the University of Essex. We will now be accepting abstracts of up to 500 words until 14th February 2007. The conference will be held on Saturday, 28th April 2007 at the university campus in Colchester. The conference provides a forum for postgraduate students to present their research in a friendly and challenging environment.
The text from the call for papers may be found below. You can download a .pdf poster with the call for papers here.
* All abstracts/queries should be addressed to: pygradc@essex.ac.uk *
