Abstract for Henrik Steffens conference in Stavanger September 2023:

Today I have submitted the abstract below to the organizers of a conference on the work of Henrik Steffens that is to be held at Museum of Archaeology, organized by University of Stavanger on September 8-9th, in relation to the 250 year anniversary of his birth. I am an invited speaker.

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Title: Reconstructing the nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene

By Morten Tønnessen

In earlier work, I have addressed “Steffens’ ideas about organic meteorology: From the Totalorganismus to Planetary Health?” (forthcoming chapter, 2023). Here, I noted that discussion of humans´ place in nature has received renewed attention in the two last decades following the rise of the Anthropocene discourse, where the “Anthropocene” designates the current geological era characterized by environmental changes induced by human agency, and observed that this new context for theorizing on humans´ place in nature potentially reactualizes Steffens´ work. In this presentation, I will treat relations between Steffens´ work and the contemporary Anthropocene discourse more in-depth. Particularly, I will ask in how far Steffens´ work can be informative with regard to understanding how humans understood their place in nature around the time when many claim the Anthropocene actually started, in the wake of the industrial revolution following the invention of the steam engine in 1786.

2 appointments including interview with magazine Genialt

Today, on the year´s last official workday, I have had 2 scheduled appointments, including an interview with the magazine Genialt by journalist Truls Petersen of the Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board. The topic was nature views.

Steffens presentation delivered at University of Copenhagen conference

Last week I attended the conference (or research symposium) ""…just as alluring as instructive…” – Henrik Steffens’ Concept of Nature in Science, Humanities and Arts around 1800», which was held at University of Copenhagen, South Campus, October 7th to 9th. My presentation "Steffens’ ideas about organic meteorology. From the Totalorganismus to planetary health?" was delivered on Saturday October 9th, with some 18 people present. I took part as an invited speaker.

Paper presentation on changing nature view at Oslo "Jakt i endring" gathering

The last two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, I have attended the first gathering in the more-than-scientific network "Jakt i endring" (one of six national networks on conservation and utilization of outer pastures funded by MILJØFORSK and BIOFORSK). The gathering took place at Oslo Science Park.

On Tuesday, I presented my paper "Jakten på det gode liv - pågående endringer i natur- og menneskesyn".

Title of presentation for June 5th talk at hunting-themes gathering

On June 5th at 14.30 to 15.15 I will be presenting the paper "Jakten på det gode liv - pågående endringer i natur- og menneskesyn" during the first gathering of the research network "Jakt i endring", in Oslo.

To present on nature view etc. at hunting themed gathering in June

As a member of the Norwegian network "Jakt i endring" [Hunting undergoing change] I have agreed to present a paper on views on nature and animal life at a network gathering June 5th-6th.

Interviewed by NRK P2 about the art of walking

Today I was interviewed by NRK P2´s Jostein Gjertsen for Verdibørsen, on Thoreau and the art of walking.

Deep ecology talk given at contemporary dance seminar

Yesterday I participated in a seminar, "Hva er galt med naturen?" [What´s wrong with nature] arranged by Bærum kulturhus in cooperation with/as part of CODA – Oslo International Dance festival, at Bærum kulturhus in Sandvika. The 2 hour seminar followed a 1 hour contemporary dance show by Roosna and Flak, "Wild Places: Mountain". The seminar featured me, the coreographer/dancer Kenneth Flak and Nikki Schei (Norwegian green Party) and was chaired by Kyrre texnæs. I introduced the seminar with my presentation "Dypøkologien til Arne Næss" [The deep ecology of Arne Næss].

Norway: Second animal ethics conference to be held August 22nd

Last Friday I participated in a meeting in Oslo where Kristian Bjørkdahl, Ann Margaret Grøndahl and I evaluated the first Dyreetikkonferansen [The animal ethics conference] (September 21nd 2012) and made plans for the second. We agreed that the second will take place in Oslo on August 22nd 2013, with the theme "Hvem er villest i landet her? Fra pelsdyr til store rovdyr: Hvordan vi former ville dyr i vårt bilde" [Who is the wildest one in the country here? From fur animals to large carnivores: How we shape wild animals in our own image].

On September 9th the national parliamentary election takes place in Norway. This year's animal ethics conference will therefore treat topics that are currently politically relevant, namely management of large carnivores including wolves and further the Norwegian fur animal business (involving close to a million animals - Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and American mink (Mustela vison), which very existence has the last few years been under debate.

Presentation given at second zoosemiotic research seminar

Today at 10.30-11 I presented 'The nature view and worldview of people in Rendalen municipality in the region of Hedmark', based on my field trip(s) this autumn, in the 2nd Research Seminar of Dynamical Zoosemiotics and Animal Representations.

There were five other talks - by my colleagues Timo Maran, Jelena Grigorjeva, Kadri Tüür, Silver Rattasepp and Nelly Mäekivi.

More uploads

Now available on Scribd.com:

The Nature View Held by Environmentalists (Attitudes in the Norwegian Environmentalist Establishment)

Signs Grow - But Should They? Semioethics and the Dominant Semiosis of Homo sapiens sapiens

Tell me, where is Morality Bred? The Semioethics Interviews I, with John Deely