Nominated in 3rd place for UiA Head of Department position

Yesterday I was informed that I am nominated in 3rd place (with 3 persons nominated only) for the position as Head of Department at University of Agder´s Department of Religion, Philosophy and History. There were 13 applicants. A formal decision is due December 16th.

To grade Ex.Phil. papers for University of Bergen

I have agreed to grade some 40 exam papers in the course Examen Philosophicum at University of Bergen, for students at Faculty of Social Sciences. The deadline is in January.

In sum this implies that I will be involved at grading of exam papers at no less than four universities this year (UiS, UiA, UiO, UiB).

Deemed not qualified for philosophy of science position at UiA

On April 7th I received the assessment of the assessment committee for a position as Associate professor in philosophy at University of Agder's Department of Religion, Philosophy and History. The committee consisted of Troels Engberg-Pedersen (University of Copenhagen), Christel Fricke (University of Oslo) and Jan-Olav Henriksen (Norwegian School of Theology/University of Agder). The call for applications particularly stressed competence in philosophy of science.

The assessment included a 3 page evaluation of my entire academic work, which was interesting to read, if not satisfactory from my own point of view. The committee did not shortlist me for the job, despite my quite extensive experience in terms of academic publications, international networking and participation at international conferences. Briefly told, the committee members did not value the quality of my publications very highly.

Excerpts:

"We should [...] point out that many of Tønnessen's publications have appeared in very specialized journals, some of them Estonian, and that it is thus difficult to assess the originality of his work, sometimes even its quality. [...] Tønnessen comes across as a good academic writer." 

"[I]t is not the author's interdisciplinary approach that is the problem, but the way he carries it out. [... H]e too quickly meanders through a number of big philosophical issues and, at each turn, his arguments are much too sweeping. [...] In our view, the problem with the way Tønnessen carries out his interdisciplinary approach is that he often makes strong claims without providing enough evidence for them, or otherwise pursuing them further." 

"It is true that Tønnessen is clear in characterizing his own approach as some form of anti-theory. [...] the status of such a theory is in need of a defence [...] there is a lack of depth in Tønnessen's comparisons with other and more established traditions within his own field of research, or adjacent to it." 

"[I]t is a genuine quality of Tønnessen's work that it combines scholarly ambition and political engagement in an appealing way." 

"[W]e find that Tønnessen rarely discusses issues from philosophy of science and that when he does, he does not pursue these issues in the ways a philosopher of science should do. [... I]n spite of the fact that Morten Tønnessen has several international publications and participates actively on the international scene, we find him not qualified for the job in question."

73 exam papers graded for UiA

Today I have finished my part of the grading of some 73 exam papers (course code EX102) for the University of Agder's Department of Religion, philosophy and history. Topics covered were gender studies and hermeneutics.

See also:

To grade 70 papers in Examen Facultatum

Job application - UiA

February 21st I applied for a permanent position as Associate professor in philosophy at the University of Agder (at the Department of Religion, Philosophy and History, Faculty of Humanities and Education), which is located where I am currently residing (and have been living for a total of 10 years). I was later informed that 20 people have applied for this position - including one professor and 7-8 Associate professors, myself included. 

The position is/was meant to be filled starting August 1st, but given that I have not to date been notified about who's in the evaluation committee (sakkyndig komité), this is not so likely. Personally I have a 3 month  period of notice at the University of Stavanger.

Grading for UiA conducted and in process

Yesterday I graded 6 papers (from a school exam) in the subject of Examen Facultatum (Ex.Fac.) for the University of Agder (UiA). This was, as far as I understand, the lot that had to be graded by two - with me as the second scholar.

Yesterday I further picked up the 163 exam papers (home exam) I will grade in Examen Philosophicum, for the same university. Got started yesterday and continued today, with 33 papers graded so far.

Unlike much other work I've done for UiA, this work pays really well. For the latter category of exam papers, I get paid for 2 hours for each exam paper - in total for 326 hours (plus 4 hours of preparation).

More assessments for UiA

Today I was asked to grade a further 50 or 60 exam papers in Examen Philosophicum for the University of Agder (UiA), on top of the 90 we have already agreed on. I was further asked to grade 8 papers in Examen Facultatum (general version). I have said yes on both accounts. I now have 8 papers to grade by May 29th, and a further 140-150 formally by June 11th (but in practice a bit before, since I have travel plans).

These latest assignments bring my approximate workload (Full-time equivalent) for UiA in 2012 up from some 8,5% to 12,5%. Adding this to the 62,5% for UiS, my total paid workload increases from perhaps 71% to 75%.

Ten most popular blog posts

These are the ten most read blog posts in Utopian Realism since May 2009. Are there any patterns? I see two, at the top 5: An interest in the local, Norwegian theme of Filosofisk Forum/UiA Philosophy Forum, and a coincidential general interest for the keywords "Play, love etc." Apart from the no. 2, the most read semiotic themes are all in the second half of the top 10 list.

Play, love etc. - UiA Philosophy Forum in preparat... 17. des. 2009: 196 Sidevisninger

Joining the editorial board of Biosemiotics 19. jan. 2010 :169 Sidevisninger

Filosofisk Forum - looking back, and ahead 29. apr. 2010 :140 Sidevisninger

Silent in Filosofisk forum 6. okt. 2010: 132 Sidevisninger

Committee for UiA Philosophy Forum 11. nov. 2009: 126 Sidevisninger

Zoosemiotics email list - how to register 10. apr. 2011: 108 Sidevisninger

A not very flattering invitation 24. okt. 2010, 2 kommentarer: 105 Sidevisninger

The base variants of semiotic causation 28. mai 2011: 98 Sidevisninger

Nordic semiotics conference - program (where are t... 9. apr. 2011: 93 Sidevisninger

Course description: Semiotics and phenomenology 1. mars 2011: 84 Sidevisninger

Formally done as research assistant

My engagement as a research assistent (advisor) for the Norwegian research project "Multimodality, literacy and learning" (MULL), at University of Agder, has formally expired as of September 15th.

Town hall meeting on faith approaching

Tuesday 23rd of March, the Filosofisk Forum of the Agder University will arrange a town hall meeting in Kristiansand, Norway, on the topic of faith. I am involved in the planning of this event (and might take part in the execution of it as well).

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At this event, we'll apply the methodology of "philosophical consultations". Before the general, open dialogue, four representatives will talk about their personal faith, or lack thereof (a Christian professor of ethics, a Christian philosopher, a Muslim imam, and a non-believing philosopher).

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Here's a link to the (Norwegian langauge) Facebook group of the event.

Philosophical consultation

Today in Filosofisk Forum the topic was philosophical consultations (filosofiske samtaler). Here's a collection of relevant papers, about the methodologies in question. While today a group conversation w/facilitator-method was applied, a session on March 2nd will feature me in the role as a facilitator critically questioning fellow philosopher Håvard Løkke (there's also sessions February 16th and not least (a public one, out of are university-wise) March 16th).

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The session is entitled 'To filosofiske samtaler (hardcore)' [Two philosophical consultations (hardcore)]. I will see whether I can get inspired beforehand by the work of enfant terrible Oscar Brenifier.

Animal play talk

I have omitted mentioning that February 18th (Tuesday this week) I gave a talk in "Filosofisk Forum" (University of Agder - Kristiansand, Norway) entitled "Lek som sivilisasjonens opphav" [Play as the origin of civilization].

15 people were there, pretty much as expected - and the discussion following my talk was lively and engaged enough.

Course work on Uexküll - meetings at UiA - the philosophy business

I'm following the TÜ course "Readings of Juri Lotman and Jakob von Uexküll", and the first half, considering the work of Uexküll, has now finished. A couple of days ago I submitted the (first) term paper, "An Uexküllian Theory of Evolution?" (7 pp). I have further - since I literarily take the course as a reading course, from a distance - submitted 6 c3 pp papers with Q&As, covering the reading material.

“Uexküll and evolution” for many sounds like a topic that spells out a contradiction in terms. That, I believe, does not necessarily have to be the case. Whereas some biosemioticians (e.g. Stjernfelt 2001) have asserted that Uexküll was anti-evolution, others (e.g. Salthe 2001; Kull 2004) have concluded that he was anti-Darwinian, but not hostile to the idea of evolution as such. Here I must agree with the latter group, as I hope will shine through in the rest of this exposition. And not only do I think Uexküll was not anti-evolution (though, as I explain in Tønnessen 2009, he was programmatically not historically-minded) – more than that; I believe that an Uexküllian perspective might actually prove to be enriching within the field of evolutionary theory. There’s proof that Uexküll did not only have negative, but also positive, thought about evolution in his dictum (1928: 198) that “each new appearing functional cycle verifies [the appearance of] a new animal species” (my translation).

Meanwhile, the committee for the UiA Philosophy Forum has held its first meeting (this Monday).

So has - today - UiA's "Fagfilosofisk seksjon" (Academic philosophical section), consisting of the philosophers at Department of religion, philosophy and history. The topic, which has been discussed at one previous meeting as well and will be discussed further at the institute level in December, concerns establishing new (more advanced) courses in philosophy as part of a revised bachelor degree (which is today a bachelor in religion). One day, some say, we might offer a master in philosophy. That would truly be of great value for the philosophy milieu at UiA, and its attraction for students and scholars alike. Today only a one-year studium is offered (apart from the broader introductory course, Examen Philosophicum).

Meanwhile ... I have finished (yesterday) a catalogue, or leaflet (4 pp), presenting the paid services offered by my one-man company, SPØR FILOSOFEN (Ask the philosopher) - ranging from lectures and courses via writing and editing to consultancy activities. You'll find it on Scribd.

And thus the world advances...

Committee for UiA Philosophy Forum

The committee for the University of Agder Philosophy Forum (styringsgruppa for Filosofisk Forum) now seems to be in place, counting the following members:

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Håvard Løkke

Olav Andreas Opedal

Hege Stensland

Morten Tønnessen

Ralph Henk Vaags

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The first meeting of the committee is likely to be arranged this Monday. The first Forum in this round will likely take place in January.

Philosophy in Kristiansand

Today I met with Ralph Henk Vaags at UiA. We have agreed to restart 'Filosofisk fagforum' [Forum for academic philosophy], as well as 'Filosofisk forskerforum' [Philosophical research forum] at the University of Agder (in both cases it's the first time I'm partaking). For now the plan for the former is to arrange monthly 2-hrs seminars next spring. The two of us expect to form the responsible committee, along with a student representative.

Independently of these activities, the town of Kristiansand also features a near-monthly 'philosophical café', Kristiansand Filosofikafé, dating back to 2001.

Not bad for a mid-size Norwegian town whose biggest celebrity is a chimpanzee called Julius (who happens to be one of the town's best painters, as well).

Research assistant (UiA) - multimodality

I have been assigned as a research assistant of the UiA (Agder University) research project "Multimodalitet, leseopplæring og læremidler (MULL)" - "Multimodality, reading training and educational materials". In this position I will have some work to do this autumn and next spring, related first of all to dissemination of results. The project sorts under the Department of Nordic and media Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Education.

Norwegian language project site here.

University teacher

Today I wrote the contract for teaching in the history of philosophy at Agder University (UiA), Kristiansand, Norway this autumn. Hopefully I will be reassigned for next spring (Kristiansand) and summer (Lesvos, Greece) at a later point.

First lecture took place this Monday, in the biggest auditorium of the university, named after Henrik Ibsen, with some 200 students present - the second on Tuesday. At the very first one, I took some time telling about the history of examen philosophicum (which started out in Copenhagen in the 17th century) in Norway, not least Arne Næss' role in modern times; and the ongoing debate on the place of Ex.phil. in the Norwegian education system (after decades and centuries of revisions and cuts).

I am now a:
- Ph.D. student
- Researcher (in 3 research projects)
- University teacher ("universitetslektor")