#44,5

Today I have had half a writing day, with my article "The study of past Umwelten" proof-read (pre-print version), and some info gone through regarding my contribution to the book Mars and the Earthlings. 

Google Scholar: 918 citations; "The ethics of laying hen genetics" 4th most cited

According to Google Scholar (cf. my profile) my research has to date attracted 918 citations (+16 since March 31st). Of these 61 are from 2023 (+16 since March 31st). My i10-index remains 34 and my h-index 17.

With 39 citations, including 18 last year and 4 so far this year, "The ethics of laying hen genetics" (2020) is now my 4th most cited text.

With 76 citations, "Umwelt transitions: Uexküll and environmental change" (2009), the key text from my ph.d. work (2011), remains my most cited text. It was cited 13 times last year and has been cited 9 times so far this year.

Abstract for "(Un)Common Worlds III – Navigating and Inhabiting Biodiverse Anthropocenes": "A biosemiotic perspective on the environmental crisis"

I have submitted the abstract below to the organizers of the conference "(Un)Common Worlds III – Navigating and Inhabiting Biodiverse Anthropocenes" (University of Oulu and digitally, October 4-6th 2023).

***

A biosemiotic perspective on the environmental crisis 

Abstract 

Online presentation  

Morten Tønnessen 

***@uis.no  

Professor of philosophy, University of Stavanger, Norway   

ABSTRACT 

In this presentation I will present excerpts of the book chapter “A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis” (Tønnessen, forthcoming). The chapter presents a biosemiotic perspective on the basic situation for human beings and that of other organisms, with an emphasis on the subjective experience of sentient animals, and the sign use of all lifeforms. The human condition is portrayed as traditionally conceived, and then revisited in the new context of the current environmental crisis. In the political philosopher Hannah Arendt´s (1906–1975) book The Human Condition (Arendt 1958), she stresses that “[t]he earth is the very quintessence of the human condition”, and yet argues that “the “human artifice of the world separates human existence from all mere animal environment”. In her view, human reality is distinguished from the reality of any other living being on Earth, despite our shared ecological circumstances. A cornerstone of the chapter is an analysis of the materiality of the environmental crisis, and how the massive changes humans have caused in the physical environment can be understood in light of the semiotic agency of humans and animals. Experiential aspects of the environmental crisis are highlighted.   

REFERENCES 

Arendt, Hannah (1958). The Human Condition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. 

Tønnessen, Morten, forthcoming. A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis. In Lenart Škof, Sashinungla, Sigridur Thorgeirsdottir (eds.), Elemental-Embodied Thinking for a New Era (Sophia Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures). Springer.

Full reference for forthcoming article "The study of past Umwelten"

My article "The study of past Umwelten" will soon be published in a special issue of Discipline Philosopische. Full reference:

Tønnessen, Morten, forthcoming, 2023. The study of past Umwelten. Discipline Filosophische XXXIII(1) (special issue “Jakob Von Uexküll. Biological Theory, Subjectivity And Environment”, ed. Vallori Rasini): 227–247.

Official opening of Cognitive lab chaired; well attended

Yesterday, Tuesday 30th of May, I chaired the official opening of Cognitive and behavioural neuroscience lab (Cognitive lab) at University of Stavanger. The event was well attended, with some 70-80 people turning up. The event featured two external guests, professor emeritus Kenneth Hugdahl, and Jonathan Whitlock, director of the Norwegian Research School in Neuroscience (NRSN).

"Spør filosofen" results for 2022

Last year, in 2022, my one-man philosophy company "Spør filosofen" had 5.914,67 NOK in revenues, 2.858,80 NOK in costs, and 3.055,87 NOK in profits (profit margin 51,67 %). Revenue was mainly from a book honorarium. 

#44

Today I have had a writing day, with some work done on the GDP review article and the article on Arne Næss and his views on economics, both of which co-written with Jan Karlstrøm. I have also reworked some writing plans before and straight after the summer holidays.

ResearchGate stats: More than 20.000 reads to date

According to Researchgate (cf. my profile) my listed research there has to date attracted 21.730 reads and 523 citations, and resulted in a Research Interest Score of 493.0. As the graph below shows, the annual number of reads passed 1.000 in 2017, and 2.000 in 2018, and has amounted to around 4.000 reads per year for the last 3 years. 

Text on the free will of animals published in "Wonderful world" festival newspaper

A text by me titled "Har dyr fri vilje?" (Do animals have free will?) has been published in the festival newspaper of Wonderful world - Den nordiske festivalen for filosofi & vitenskap (half page, on p. 21), which is to be held in Stavanger June 1-4th. The text plays up to an event that will take place on June 3rd as part of the festival.

To contribute to book "Mars and the Earthlings"

I have agreed to contribute with parts of a co-written chapter for the book Mars and the Earthlings, which is intended for the Springer book series Space and Society. I am tasked with covering experiential and behavioral challenges with settling on Mars.

Complaint grading - BSOBAC

I have recently taken part in the complaint grading of 2 bachelor theses in bachelor in social work.

#43

Today I have had half a writing day (vs. a full day planned), devoted to our article on Arne Næss and his views on economics, and a possible co-written article in neuroscience. Number of writing days this Spring is up to 43.

#42,5

Today I have had half a writing day (vs. a full day planned; this week I have only been capable of going through with two half writing days, vs. 2 full days planned) devoted to our GDP review article for Samfunnsøkonomen, with some 100 words added net.

#42

Today I have had what ended up as only half a writing day, with some re-planning done for writing plans before the Summer, and some readings done related to our article on Arne Næss and his views on economics.

#41,5

Today I have had a writing day, no. 41,5 this Spring, with my article "The study of past Umwelten" proof-read, and a couple of things added to our article on Arne Næss and his view on economics. I also pondered upon two new article ideas, one on "The wolf Umwelt" and another one on extraterrestrial Umwelten (astrobiology).

#40,5

Today I have had a writing day, no. 40,5 this Spring, devoted to revising my article "Wasted GDP in the USA", with some 400 words added net.

«A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis» to be presented at 23rd Gathering in Biosemiotics, Copenhagen

I have been notified that my paper «A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis» has been accepted for oral presentation at the 23rd Gathering in Biosemiotics, which is to be held in Copenhagen July 31st – August 4th.

#39,5

Today I have had a writing day, #39,5 this Spring, devoted to revising my article "Wasted GDP in the USA", with some 500 words written and chunks of text moved to an Appendix.

Peer review

I recently did a peer review for Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science. 

Last Council for animal ethics meeting in this round attended

Last Friday, May 5th, I attended the last in-person meeting of Norway´s Council for animal ethics in this round. A new Council is soon to be appointed. The last meeting was devoted to discussing the council´s proposals to the ministries of agriculture and fisheries related to the government´s forthcoming animal welfare parliamentary notice (stortingsmelding). I chaired the discussion.

#38,5

Today I have had a writing day, # 38,5 this Spring, mainly devoted to my article co-written with Joakim Jiri Haaland "Friluftsliv in child and youth care homes: Taking adolescents out to find a way in", with some 100 words added net.

#37,5

Today I have had half a writing day or so devoted to the revision of my article "Wasted GDP in the USA", with some -300 words written logged. I am working on separating some text for an appendix.

To discuss "future humans" at Wonderful world festival

I am scheduled to take part in a panel discussion at the philosophy and science festival "Wonderful world" which is to take place in Stavanger June 1st-4th, titled "Fremtidsmennesket?" (cf. description in the festival program), along with Anders Sandberg (who also offers a brief lecture/introduction), Leonora Onarheim Bergsjø and Einar Duenger Bøhn. Hannah Winter will chair the event, which takes place June 1st at 8-9 p.m. at Scene 2, Tou (in Stavanger, Norway).

Recommendations concerning the University of Stavanger´s "Klima- og miljøplan"

I have just submitted my recommendations concerning the "Klima- og miljøplan" (Climate and environmental plan) for University of Stavanger. See this post in my Norwegian-language blog Utopisk Realisme: 

Innspill til klima- og miljøplan for UIS (May 2nd)