"Uexküllian phenomenology and existential phenomena" presented at IHSRC in Molde

I have just presented "Uexküllian phenomenology and existential phenomena" at the International Human Sciences Research Conference at Molde University College, which this year has the theme "Joy, suffering and death - understanding contrasting existential phenomena in the lifespan". Some 15 people attended.

In Molde for IHSRC

Today I have arrived in Molde, where I will the next few days attend the International Human Sciences Research Conference, with the theme "Joy, suffering and death - understanding contrasting existential phenomena in the lifespan". This is my second visit to Molde, with the first one being activist-related, not academically motivated.

Presentation with Joakim Haaland scheduled for June 25th at IHSRC 2019, Molde

My joint presentation with Joakim Jiri Haaland, "Joy in the open air - outdoor life at residential care" has been scheduled for presentation on Tuesday June 25th at 16.15-16.45 at the International Human Science Research Conference in Molde June 24-28th (follow link for day program and abstract). 

My solo presentation "Uexküllian phenomenology and existential phenomena" is strangely missing from the program.

IHSRC abstract accepted for presentation (Molde)

Joakim Jiri Haaland has been notified that our abstract for IHSRC 2019, to be held in Molde in June, has been accepted for oral presentation.

See also:

Abstract for IHSRC2019: "Joy in the open air - Outdoor life at residential care"

Abstract for IHSRC2019: "Uexküllian phenomenology and existential phenomena"

Today I have composed and submitted the abstract below for the International Human Sciences Research Conference 2019, to be held in Molde, Norway, in June, and which has the theme "Joy, suffering and death - understanding contrasting existential phenomena in the lifespan".

Title: Uexküllian phenomenology and existential phenomena

·       Individual presentation

·       Author/presenter: Morten Tønnessen (Professor of philosophy)

·       Affiliation: Department of social studies, University of Stavanger

“Uexküllian phenomenology” is the phenomenology that is implicit in the Umwelt theory of theoretical biologist Jakob von Uexküll (1864–1944). This is a theory that posits that all living beings relate to meaning by using and relating to signs in their environment, and that all humans and animals are endowed with an Umwelt, i.e. a subjective, experiential lifeworld. A key advantage with making use of an Uexküllian perspective is that Umwelt theory, and the Uexküllian phenomenology derived from it, is applicable in the study of humans as well as animals.

Existential phenomena are usually regarded exclusively human phenomena, and yet few would doubt that many animals too experience e.g. joy and suffering. In normative ethics, joy and suffering are typically presented as central experiential features of sentience. While both humans and individuals of many animal species experience some of “the same” existential phenomena, it is clear that there are at times significant differences with regard to how these phenomena appear to different species and also to different individuals within the same species.

One reason why it is important to understand how existential phenomena are perceived, felt and lived through, is that such phenomena evidently affect human and animal welfare. The contributions Uexküllian phenomenology can make in this context is first, that it makes it possible to study human and animal experiences in all its diversity and complexity within one and the same framework, and second – in extension of this – that it is suitable for studying human–animal interaction and relations. 

Abstract for IHSRC 2019: "Joy in the open air - Outdoor life at residential care"

Along with Joakim Jiri Haaland, I have submitted the abstract "Joy in the open air - Outdoor life at residential care" for International Human Sciences Research Conference (IHSRC) 2019, to be held in Molde, Norway in June with the theme "Joy, suffering and death - understanding contrasting existential phenomena in the lifespan".