Paper presented at "Phenomenology in research" seminar featuring Scott Churchill

Today I have presented my paper "More-than-human phenomenology and phenomenological triangulation" in the research seminar "Phenomenology in research», held by and at the University of Stavanger´s Department of social studies. The research seminar featured three lectures by Scott Churchill, along with my presentation, a presentation on reflexivity by Olga Lehmann, and a concluding panel/discussion session. The seminar was opened by head of department Liv Sand. Some 20 people attended.

Programme for Churchill seminar; scheduled to give talk "More-than-human phenomenology and phenomenological triangulation"

The program for the research seminar «Phenomenology and Research», featuring Scott Churchill (mainly) along with Olga Lehmann, Liv Sand and myself, has now been finalized. The research seminar will take place on University of Stavanger November 19th. I am scheduled to give the talk "More-than-human phenomenology and phenomenological triangulation" at 12:45-13:30.

Programme

09:00- 09:10  - Welcome by Head of Department Liv Sand and Introduction  

09:10 – 10:00  Basics of phenomenology and its relation to qualitative research methods - prof. Churchill

10:00- 10:10  Break  

10:10 – 11:00  Intro: Existential Phenomenology and psychology - prof. Churchill  

11:00- 11:20  Q&A  

11:20-12:00  - Existential phenomenology in practice – Examples from prof. Churchill’s work.  

12:00-12:45 LUNCH (Attendants cover their own lunches)  

12:45-13:30 More-than-human phenomenology and phenomenological triangulation - prof. Tønnessen 

13:30-13:45 Break  

13:45-14:30  - Phenomenology and reflexivity statements in research - A.Proff. Lehmann  

14:30-14:45 Break  

14:45-15:30  Dialogue and questions – Prof. Churchill, prof. Tønnessen, A.proff. Lehmann 

See also:

Scheduled to contribute at "Phenomenology in Research" research seminar with Scott Churchill Nov. 19th

Scheduled to contribute at "Phenomenology in Research" research seminar with Scott Churchill Nov. 19th

On Wednesday November 19th I will take part in a research seminar on "Phenomenology in research", which is to be held at University of Stavanger featuring Scott Churchill along with Olga Lehmann and myself. You can register for the seminar (in-person) here.

Talk on phenomenological triangulation given in Cognitive Semiotics research seminar

On Thursday June 1st I gave a talk on phenomenological triangulation in the Cognitive Semiotics research seminar at Lund University, Sweden (online, via Zoom). The title of the talk was "Phenomenological triangulation in the study of animals as subjects of phenomenology – perspectives from cognitive semiotics and biosemiotics" (see event info and abstract here). Some 13 people attended the event, which lasted almost 2 hours including a 1-hour talk.

To offer The Greenhouse Research talk Wednesday April 26th at UIS

On Wednesday this week, I will offer the weekly Research talk at the The Greenhouse Research talk series, with the topic «Semiotic agency – science beyond mechanism». I will present the book by the same name authored by Alexei Sharov and me. The research talk will take place in HG N-105 at Ullandhaug campus at 14.15-15.30 Wednesday April 26th.

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Abstract:

In this presentation I will present aspects of the book Semiotic agency – science beyond mechanism, which I co-authored with Alexei Sharov (Springer 2021, https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-89484-9).  

Semiotic agency – science beyond mechanism invites readers to embark on a journey into the world of agency encompassing humans, other organisms, cells, intracellular molecular agents, colonies, populations, ecological systems, and artificial autonomous systems. We combine mechanistic and non-mechanistic approaches in the analysis of the function and evolution of organisms, their subagents, and multi-organism systems, and in this way offer a theoretical platform for integrating biosemiotics with both natural science and the humanities/social sciences. Agents are autonomous systems that incorporate knowledge on how to make sense of their environment and use it to achieve their goals. The functions of all agents are supported by mechanisms at the lowest level; however, the explanatory power of mechanistic analysis is not sufficient for complex agents. Non-mechanistic methods rely on the goal-directedness of agents whose dynamics follow self-stabilized dynamic attractors. The properties of attractors depend on stable or slowly changing factors, and such dependencies can be interpreted as sign relations if they are adaptive in nature. Agents can replace or redirect mechanisms on demand in order to preserve their functions; for performing higher-level semiotic functions, mechanisms are thus only means. We assume that mechanism and semiosis are not mutually exclusive, and that simple agents can interpret signs mechanistically. This assumption allows us to extend semiotic analysis to all agents, including ribosomes in cells, computers, and robots. This book challenges established traditions in natural science and the humanities/social sciences: semiotics no longer appears as restricted to humans and rational thinking, and biology is no longer limited to rely exclusively on mechanistic reasoning.  

Presentation "Wasted growth?" given for Human Development Report Office

Today I have given the talk "Wasted growth?" in the research seminar of the Human Development Report Office (UNDP) in New York, via Zoom, with some 13 people attending.

To give presentation on wasted growth at HDRO research seminar

I have been scheduled to give a presentation in the HDRO research seminar (for the Human Development Report Office, UNDP) on March 21st, titled "Wasted Growth?", via Zoom.

Recordings of Semiotic agency presentation for Complexity discussion group now available online

Recordings of a presentation of the book Semiotic agency: Science beyond mechanism for the Complexity discussion group organized by Department of Linguistics and Language Practice at University of the Free State (South Africa) is now available online for viewing. The recordings include a presentation by Alexei Sharov (first author), me (second author), and discussion. The first presentation starts after about 12 minutes.

Talk on biosemiotic perspective on human lifeworld given for Norwegian school of sport sciences

Today I have given an invited online talk for the philosophy group at Norwegian school of sport sciences (Norges idrettshøyskole), titled "Biosemiotikkens perspektiv på menneskets livsverden" (A biosemiotic perspective on the human lifeworld).

Talk on biosemiotics and phenomenology given for "Complexity discussion group" research seminar online

Today I have presented the book Semiotic agency: Science beyond mechanism along with Alexei Sharov in the international web research seminar "Complexity discussion group", chaired by Kobus Marais. Specifically, my part was about biosemiotics and phenomenology. The seminar was attended by some 18 people.

Book "Semiotic agency" presented at the Biosemiotic Glade

Today I have presented our book Semiotic agency: Science beyond mechanism (currently in review) along with co-author Alexei Sharov at the Biosemiotic Glade, an online research seminar series. This included a 30 minute presentation from Alexei followed by a 15 minute presentation by me, focused on phenomenal experience, subjectivity, and human agency in relation to ecological impact - and then some 75 minutes of discussion. Some 17 people attended.

To present ideas from "Semiotic agency" book at Biosemiotics Glade April 16th

Alexei Sharov and I will present core ideas from out forthcoming book Semiotic agency: Science beyond mechanism in the online seminar series "Biosemiotics Glade" on Friday April 16th at 4-5.30 pm. CET.

Presentation on Umwelt futurology given in the Biosemiotic Glade

Today I presented my paper "What can be known about future Umwelten?" in the Biosemiotic Glade (an informal, biweekly digital event held in the biosemiotic community), via Zoom. Some 14 people attended the 2-hour event, which included a half hour introduction by me followed by discussion.

Cuba seminar chaired

Today I chaired a half-day seminar on developments on Cuba, in relation to our NORPART project "Cuban and Nordic welfare" (2019-2023), featuring a lecture by political scientist Vegard Bye, "Cuba from Castro to post-Castro", and presentation of the NORPART project by project leader Siv Oltedal. Some 18 people attended.

Greenhouse research seminar attended

On last Friday, June 15th, I attended the first research seminar of The Greenhouse at UiS. This included presenting environmental humanities research ideas. I also recruited a couple of volunteers for the organizing of NASS XI (to be held in Stavanger June 13-15th 2018).

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.

Havana seminar to be slightly rescheduled

Our welfare research seminar on Cuba later this month, co-organised with University of Havana, will be rescheduled from January 25-26th to January 24-25th.

Minding Animals research seminar 2017 held; wolf ethics talk given

In the evening of Monday November 20th, I co-organized and presented at the annual research seminar of Minding Animals Norway. About 20 people attended. While my presentation was entitled "Merket for livet - Etiske spørsmål knyttet til forvaltning av og forskning på ulv" (a redo of my presentation at Vargsymposiet 2016), the research seminar also featured:

• Norun Pernell Haugen: "Lidelsen vi ikke ser - hvordan vi kategoriserer dyrs lidelse for å skjule den for oss selv"
• Martin Lee Müller: "Being salmon, being human"
• Kevin Hermansen: "Dyrepoliti i Norge og Sverige"

Cuba planning meeting

Today I have attended a planning meeting ahead of our research seminar at Universidad de la Habana on January 26-27th. We hope our Cuban partners can arrange a few field visits in the couple of days immediately before the seminar.

Abstract: "Prosperity and welfare – a comparison of Brazil, Cuba and Norway"

Below is my abstract for our upcoming research seminar in Havana in collaboration with Universidad de la Habana.

Prosperity and welfare – a comparison of Brazil, Cuba and Norway

Abstract

By Morten Tønnessen, Associate professor of philosophy at University of Stavanger´s Department of social studies

There are several reasons why Brazil, Cuba and Norway are of special interest in an investigation of connections between prosperity and welfare: Brazil is one of the BRIC-countries (Wilson & Purushothaman 2003) and has undergone tumultuous economic, social and political changes the last two decades or so. Cuba is internationally known for its excellent results within the health care system given limited resources. And Norway currently has the highest score concerning human development according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

A possible starting point for comparisons is the Human Development Index (HDI), which is calculated based on data on GNI[1] per capita (PPP[2]), life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling (for adults) and expected years of schooling (for children). The overall HDI score for Cuba was 0,676 in 1990 and 0,775 in 2015 (ranked as no. 68), versus 0,611 in 1990 and 0,754 in 2015 for Brazil (ranked as no. 79), and 0,849 in 1990 and 0,949 in 2015 for Norway (ranked as no. 1). In comparison, the global average score in 2015 was 0.717. Both Cuba and Brazil have a «High human development», whereas Norway has «Very high human development» according to the UNDP.

However, since HDI includes GNI per capita as one of its factors, the index itself can not be used directly to look into connections between prosperity on one hand and welfare on the other. In 2015, GNI per capita was 67,614 USD in Norway, 14,145 in Brazil and 7,455 in Cuba (2011 PPP$), compared with a global average of 14,447. This can be taken to imply that whereas Norway had an average prosperity level per capita of 4–5 times the global average, Brazil´s average prosperity level was roughly on par with the global average, and Cuba´s average prosperity level was around half of the global average.

For most countries, there is a fairly good correlation between their HDI ranking and their GNI per capita ranking. This indicates that the welfare level often corresponds to a country´s prosperity level. In the HDI data for 2015, however, Cuba stands out with a «GNI per capita rank minus HDI rank» of 48, reflecting that Cuba is ranked as having the 69th highest HDI, with only the 117th highest GNI per capita. In fact, no country has a higher «GNI per capita rank minus HDI rank». This fact makes Cuba a particularly interesting country when comparing prosperity and welfare levels.

Life expectancy at birth can be considered as a key indicator of health conditions, and is 81.7 years in Norway, 79.6 in Cuba and 74.7 in Brazil, compared with a global average of 71.6. The life extectancy in Cuba is in the top two for countries grouped as having «High human development», and is actually higher than that of the United States (79.2) and Qatar (78.3), with their GNI per capita of 53,245 PPP$ and 129,916 PPP$ respectively.

Actual welfare levels depend not only on GNI per capita – a gross average – but also on a country´s level of inequality. Here, Norway stands out as a country with high equality, e.g. with one of the lowest Gini coefficients (for income inequality) in the world, whereas Brazil still has a high Gini coefficient and considerable equality challenges by other measures too (World Bank 2016). Unfortunately, there are no data for Cuba in this data set.

In addition to making use of data from the Human Development Index, I will consider alternative indices such as the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) and Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW).

A few preliminary observations: Even though there is usually a clear correlation between the prosperity level and the welfare level of a country, there are important exceptions representing deviations from this correlation. The circumstances and specific approaches of these countries may have important lessons for welfare policies.

During our research seminar in Havana, I will be very interested in getting response on my preliminary analysis and receiving suggestions concerning relevant explanations, data and literature.

References

Human Development Index. URL: http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/human-development-index-hdi

Wilson, Dominic & Roopa Purushothaman 2003. Dreaming With BRICs: The Path to 2050. Global Economics Paper No: 99. Goldman Sachs.

World Bank (2016). World Development Indicators database. Washington, DC. http://data.worldbank.org. Accessed 14 October 2016.

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[1] Gross National Income.

[2] Purchasing Power Parity.