Friday April 9 2010 / Arts & Philosophy
Night of Philosophy - Freedom
Freedom is one of the most important and yet one of the most disputed themes of today. We all want to live in freedom; to organize our lives according to our preferences and freely express our opinions. At the same time we paradoxically feel that this freedom has reached its limits. Can we deal with freedom in a smart way in order to keep its desirable sides as well as to prevent excesses?
Each year the Month of Philosophy touches on a different theme. This year's theme is ‘Freedom'. Highlight of the Month 2010 is the Night of Philosophy in Felix Meritis. ‘Freedom' will be explored in depth in various ways. Discussions and interviews alternate with lectures, theatre, film and interactive programmes during this festive evening.
Programme
During the Night of Philosophy interviews will be held with Peter Bieri (Pascal Mercier, author of The Standard Work of Freedom and Nighttrain to Lisbon), Ian Buruma (author of essay of the Month of Philosophy, Boundaries to Freedom: from De Sade to Wilders) and Femke Halsema. Joke Hermsen will talk about freedom and leisure, Vincent Icke about the future of humanity in the universe, Beate Roessler about the freedom ideal of Kant, Roel Bentz van den Berg about pop music as the soundtrack of freedom, Maarten Doorman about our romantic ideal of freedom, and Jan Siebelink and Fadoua Bouali about liberation and oppression of religion. Ramsey Nasr will recite poems on freedom from his own work. Robert Smith walks through daily life based on the ideas of Socrates and Foucault. There are also debates with Hans Achterhuis, Bart Snels and Heleen Mees on the end of neoliberalism. Maureen Sie and Damiaan Denys will debate free human will, and the historian Thomas von der Dunk will talk about Western ideals of freedom in international politics. Café Chantant welcomes Frank and Maarten Meester, philosophers who sing their favourite freedom song.
The programme also includes a school debate, the award ceremony of the Socrates Challenge Cup, Café Philo with Miriam van Reijen with the art of living under the starry sky, Stand-up Philosophy, and a workshop about existentialism with music and literature with Jan Flameling and poetry by Ellen Deckwitz.
Other invited speakers are Rob Wijnberg, Stine Jensen, Marcel Möring, Huub Dijstelbloem, Trudy Dehue, Coen Simon, Stijn Sieckelinck, Gabriel van den Brink, Chunglin Kwa, Allard den Dulk, Gerben Meynen and Mariëtte Willemsen.
The Month of Philosophy is an initiative of the Month of Philosophy Foundation, a joint activity of the BGN chain of bookshop and Libris, Felix Meritis, Filosofie Magazine, the International School for Philosophy, Lemniscaat Publishers and Tilburg University.
Due to circumstances Peter Bieri (Pascal Mercier) is unable to attend the Night of Philosophy. Joep Dohmen will give a lecture on the work of Peter Bieri.
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