European Centre for Art, Culture and Science

Friday April 8 2011 / Arts & Philosophy

Philosophy Night - The real life

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We're obsessively looking for ‘real things'. We want real food, a real Bang&Olufsen, true leaders, true love and genuine connections. The characteristic ‘real' is an enormous recommendation. Real things are pure things. Honest, unspoilt and authentic.

TV shows centred around the real life - such as Oh Oh Cherso and Farmer looks for a Wife (Boer zoekt Vrouw) - are immensely popular. But the paradox is obvious: these shows may glorify spontaneity but in truth are heavily orchestrated and staged themselves. The desire for authenticity is a romantic fiction; ‘pure authenticity' does not exist. Simultaneously, it remains undeniable that the pursuit of authenticity has become a powerful ideal in life.

But how does this affect us? Is striving for authenticity an overrated and fashionable ideal or it is actually one of the most powerful moral inspirations of this day? Also: am I an authentic person?

The Philosophy Night is the highlight of the annual Month of Philosophy. This years' essay for the Month of Philosophy is written by Stine Jensen and is entitled Real Friends (Echte Vrienden). Stine Jensen is philosopher, lecturer in literature at the Free University of Amsterdam and literary critic for daily newspaper NRC Handelsblad.

With a.o.: Susan Neiman, Peter Bieri (Pascal Mercier), Sunny Bergman, Marten van Buuren, Joep Dohmen, Maarten Doorman, Thijs Lijster, LeineRoebana, Frank & Maarten Meester, Henk Oosterling, Connie Palmen, David van Reybrouck, Coen Simon and Ad Verbrugge.

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