UTOPISM. *** In the long run, nothing else is realistic. *** Welcome to the English language blog of Morten Tønnessen, Professor of philosophy at University of Stavanger's Department of Social Studies.
Earlier this week, my essay "På sporet av en tapt fremtid" (roughly translating to "In search of a lost future"), which deals with longtermism, was published online in Salongen - nettidsskrift for filosofi og idéhistorie.
Reference:
— Tønnessen, Morten 2026. På sporet av en tapt fremtid. Essay. Salongen – nettidsskrift for filosofi og idéhistorie (Salongen.no). Published March 9th 2026. URL: https://www.salongen.no/essay/pa-sporet-av-en-tapt-fremtid/262022
As part of my "academic updating" at University of Oxford, yesterday I attended a 2-hour lecture organized by Faculty of philosophy at graduate level on Longtermism, at Radcliffe Humanities, and an open lecture by Robert Costanza titled «Overcoming our societal addiction to growth to build a sustainable wellbeing future» at School of Geography and the Environment, followed by a drinks reception.
I am now on my way home to Norway.
Yesterday I followed a philosophy lecture at undergraduate level at University of Oxford, as part of my "academic updating" here during my visit to Oxford, tied to the university´s Faculty of philosophy. I also attended a public talk at University of Oxford´s China Centre, “China’s Ambitions to Explore the Moon and the Prospects for Lunar Governance”, by Prof. Martin Elvis (Harvard University) and Dr Alanna Krolikowski (Missouri University of Science and Technology).
Today I have attended another public talk, “Triangulating a global view on inequality from secondary data sources” by Joe Hasell at INET Oxford.
Today I travel from Stavanger, Norway to Oxford, UK, with a stop on the way in London, where I have met with Professor Paul Cobley (Middlesex University). Right now I am on the train from London Paddington towards Oxford. In Oxford I plan to attend 6 academic events the next four days, including 3 classes/lectures offered by the Faculty of Philosophy at University of Oxford, and 3 more academic events.
