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

Silent in Filosofisk forum

Since the autumn semester started six weeks ago or so, I've tried to schedule a first autumn meeting with the other members of Filosofisk Forum, Kristiansand. So far not successfully.

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This spring Filosofisk Forum had a number of events.

Play, love etc. - UiA Philosophy Forum in preparation

I have previously mentioned the UiA Philosophy Forum (Filosofisk Forum) - see here, and here. Today the committee of the forum gathered for the second time. We have made a draft of the spring programme, which looks more or less like this:

1) Tuesday, January 19th (16-18)
Morten Tønnessen: "Lek som sivilisasjonens opphav" (Play as the origin of civilization), followed by discussion

2) Tuesday, February 16th (16-18)
To filosofiske samtaler (Two philosophical dialogues)

3) Tuesday, March 16th (18-20)
Filosofisk samtale om tro (Philosophical dialogue on faith), led by Håvard Løkke

4) Tuesday, April 13th (16-18)
Håvard Løkke: Kjærlighet som moralsk følelse (Love as a moral emotion)

5) Tuesday, May 25th (18-20)
Public lecture with invited lecturer, in town. Name and title T.B.A.

In addition, there will be a course session in "philosophical dialogue" (filosofisk samtale) - in preparation of the February dialogue and the public event in March - February 2nd.

While events 1, 2 and 4 are "internal" (university area) events - though open to all - the 3rd and 5th event will take place outside of campus, and aim at engaging a wider audience, in each their way (strictly speaking, this may apply to event 3 more than to event 5, which will nevertheless be made available for a general audience). The methodology for the dialogic events has in the Norwegian context been further developed by amongst others Øyvind Olsholt.

Besides talking at event 1, I will coordinate contacts for event 3, where we hope to gather individuals from different faiths etc. - protestants, catholics, muslims, agnostics and atheists - for a common philosophical dialogue.

Filosofisk Forum: Only next year

I have now had the chance to meet with both of the (other) senior members of Filosofisk Forum (cf. previous posts). It is already late in the semester, and we all have full schedules at the moment (for my part no less after I was asked to teach Philosophy in Antiquity). We have therefore agreed to postpone activities until next year.

Filosofisk Forum - looking back, and ahead

Today Filosofisk Forum (Agder University) had what turns out to be our last event for the semester (a seminar-style talk/discussion about love). Unfortunately Camilla Serck-Hanssen (University of Oslo) has had to cancel her planned talk in May - but we expect to host a lecture by her this autumn in stead.

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I have agreed to continue as a member of the steering group this autumn. We'll have to find new student representatives from the fresh one-year philosophy students come September.

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Next week we'll have a steering group meeting. Following that, we'll conduct a report on the activities of this semester.

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).

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.

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.

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.