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.
Today, at the first day of the 26th Gathering in biosemiotics, which is held at the University of Sheffield, in Sheffield, UK July 27th to 31st, I have presented my paper «Life in Earth – a new look at the nature of life» as part of the session «Ecological biosemiotics», which was chaired by Sara Cannizzaro. The presentation took place in the building The Wave and was attended by about 40 people.
Today I have had an article writing day, with some 2900 words added to the manuscript while finishing (and then submitting) my book chapter "Ecosemiotic questions: Towards a comprehensive description of the complexity and creativity of life". This brings the number of writing days this Spring up to 62 including 35,5 article writing days.
This was the most productive writing day this Spring in terms of words written (not coincidentally, today was also my longest workday this Spring - before my summer vacation which starts tomorrow). Altogether I logged 15.864 words written in June, over 18,5 writing days (the most any month this Spring). This Spring I logged a total of 29.942 words written, which is more than any Spring since 2019 except 2020 and 2025.
Today I have had an article writing day, with some 1000 words added to my book chapter "Ecosemiotic questions: Towards a comprehensive description of the complexity and creativity of life". This brings the number of writing days so far this Spring up to 61 including 34,5 article writing days.
Today I have had half an article writing day, with some 600 words added to my book chapter "Ecosemiotic questions: Towards a comprehensive description of the complexity and creativity of life". This brings the number of writing days so far this Spring up to 60 including 33,5 article writing days.
Today I have had half an article writing day, with some 500 words added to my book chapter "Ecosemiotic questions: Towards a comprehensive description of the complexity and creativity of life". This brings the number of writing days so far this Spring up to 58 including 31,5 article writing days.
Today I have had half an article writing day devoted to my book chapter "Ecosemiotic questions: Towards a comprehensive description of the complexity and creativity of life", with some 450 words to the manuscript. This brings the number of writing days so far this Spring up to 56,5 including 30,5 article writing days.
Today I have had half an article writing day devoted to my book chapter "Ecosemiotic questions: Towards a comprehensive description of the complexity and creativity of life", which will appear in the book Creativity – Complexity – Intelligence, Semiotic Perspectives on the Emergence of Meaning (Palgrave Macmillan). In the process I added some 300 words to the manuscript. Moreover, I received good news concerning a Live Better article I am involved with (see link below).
This brings the number of writing days so far this Spring up to 56 including 30 article writing days.
See also:
My paper «Life in Earth – a new look at the nature of life» has been scheduled for oral presentation at the 26th Gathering in biosemiotics, which is to be held July 27–31st at the University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK, on Monday July 27th at 14.30–15.00 as part of the session «Ecological biosemiotics».
My chronicle «Livet i Jorden» (literally: Life in Earth) has been published as my annual guest commentary in the magazine of Dyrebeskyttelsen, a Norwegian animal protection NGO, Dyrenes forsvarer no. 4, 2025, (pp. 4–5). The same text was previously published by forskning.no with a different headline.
See also:
Popular science chronicle on life on and in Earth published at forskning.no
Today a chronicle of mine, titled «Vi har et ansvar for livet vi ikke ser» (literally, We have responsibility for the life we don´t see), was published in Forskersonen at forskning.no.
I have been scheduled to take part in a research talk after screening of the Danish documentary "Life and Other Problems" at Odeon cinema in Stavanger on Wednesday April 23rd, which is organised in collaboration with Kåkå - Kverulantkatedralen in the run-up to the Wonderful World philosophy and science festival which is held in the end of May. I will be talking with Tomas Drønen (professor at VID) and chaired by Jørg Arne Jørgensen (Kåkå).
