Philosophy
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Hedendaagse recensie en oproep geïnspireerd door Rousseau
Eens te meer wordt onze samenleving opgeschrikt door wandaden die de menselijkheid van alle mensen lijkt te vergeten. We worden in beslag genomen door een debat dat in economische termen over vluchtelingen praat, terwijl ontelbare lijken in de Middellandse Zee drijven. Tijd voor een heroverweging. Een recensie als kritiek op deze tijd als oproep tot…
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Beyond the prejudice of philosophy
Translation of published article on Zinweb. Having finished my master of philosophy at one of the Dutch universities, I often find myself confronted with prejudices against philosophy, both in the world and the job market. The discussion about closing one of the faculties of philosophy in the Netherlands (Earsmus University Rotterdam) has brought them all…
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Meeting the Other – Question of one who is Home-less
Living in large metropolitan cities is not just a difference in size, compared to villages and towns that are still to be found at the countryside. There are more people. More people means more houses, more suffering, more joy, more making love, more fighting over jobs, more food, more sewers. (It also means more books,…
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On Being, a Philosopher
Some time ago I’ve started calling myself ‘philosopher’. Something which is ridiculous, as any nobody could do so. (And unfortunately there are too many nobodies who do just that…) But most people wouldn’t think about labeling themselves ‘philosopher’, perhaps because it is a disgraceful, unproductive profession without economic benefits. Which is true. But so far,…
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Reflecting on Radical Emission Reduction Conference 2013
This week the Tyndall Centre for Climate Research organised a conference on the need for ‘Radical Emission Reduction’. I was given ten minutes to talk about a philosopher’s take on ‘radical change’ and the consequences for the manner in which we frame responsibility, for both individuals as institutions – in front of around two hundred (social) scientists,…
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Presenting the Impossible
Imagine yourself in a conference hall full of scientists and policy makers. Imagine you are a young woman addressing the crowd and telling them that they (including myself) are a part of the problem. That the fact that they are even thinking about the problem, is keeping it alive and preventing change. And that if they…
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Auto-Didacticus Philosophicus
Four years ago I decided to take matters (my life, my thoughts, my world?) in my own hand. Frustrated with unanswered questions, irrational belief and the fear of averages, I found my way to the library at Haifa University, Israel. A library in which half of the books were in languages I could not read.…
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Problems of Existentialism Post-WWII
There was a time I was absolutely convinced: existentialism is the answer. Nowadays I’m not so sure anymore. Not because it is not an answer to many problems, because it is. But I happen to wonder whether it is a sufficient answer. Existentialism post-WWII, is it doomed to fail? Existentialism became popular after the Second World…
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Philosophy’s Curse
It leaves you breathless on a cloudy afternoon It silences you whenever you’re supposed to talk It distances you from everything sane and sound Philosophy’s curse Of course there are times when you can relate When you nihilistically existentially circumspect When red is just an ordinary colour – no Wittgenstein Until it hits you –…
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Experience Philosophy By Letting Go
Attempting to read Deleuze, I hit upon this quote, of someone trying to explain why one should read Deleuze: “…do not bother trying to comprehend or understand the text. A desire for that level of control will only hinder your ability to experience it, use it, think it, and become it.” (Christopher Higgs) From experience,…