European Centre for Art, Culture and Science

Friday April 11 2008 / Arts & Philosophy

Night of the Philosophy - The city

By 2008 more than half of the world population lives in a city. The city offers the best opportunities for economic growth and an escape from poverty and social and political isolation. But urbanisation also brings social problems with it. Will the urbanised world of tomorrow be the utopia of the good life, a domain of freedom and public life? This is one of the reasons why the theme of this Month of Philosophy is ‘The City'. In April 2008 philosophical discussions in the tradition of theoreticians of the city like Socrates, Walter Benjamin and Alain de Botton will take place in several cities in The Netherlands.

During the Night of Philosophy a wide variety of philosophers will participate in debates and interviews and will give lectures. The Night will be opened by Job Cohen, Mayor of Amsterdam. Speakers include Paul Scheffer, Bas Heijne, Alexandre Jollien, Ramsey Nasr, René Boomkens, Lieven de Cauter, Joke Hermsen, Ann Meskens, Rudi Visker, Erik Oger, Joep Dohmen (author of the essay for the Month of Philosophy), Peter Venmans, David Rijser, Piet Gerbrandy, Wytske Versteeg, Henk van Houtum, BAVO, Rik Pinxten, Yman Mahrach, Jan-Hendrik Bakker, Pieter Hoexum, Ad Verbrugge, Henkes & Bindervoet and Frank & Maarten Meester. The programme will also include the award ceremony of the Socrates Challenge Cup, the film Detroit Come Back City, expo Antwerpen, schuins beziend, Café Philo with Miriam van Reijen, a workshop moderated by Jan Flameling, a discussion about growing up in the city with Ton Notten, a school debate, a city walk, 'Sex and the City' and much more.

The Month of the Philosophy is an initiative of the Month of the Philosophy Foundation, a cooperation of BGN (a Dutch chain of bookshops) and Libris, Felix Meritis, Filosofie Magazine, the International School for Philosophy, Lemniscaat Publishers and Tilburg University.

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