The Centre for Modern Thought

CMT seminar, Tuesdays, McRobert 265, 12-2 pm: “Kant and the Question of Form”

This term, we will focus on the topic of form, with particular focus on Kant and two responses to his 3rd Critique (from Heidegger and Lyotard)

The course will continue in two parts for the coming few weeks, with the first section devoted to Heidegger’s reading of Kant (via The Basic Problems of Phenomenology and Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics. The second session will continue to be devoted to Kant’s 3rd Critique. Once we have finished the latter text, we will move to “The Origin of the Work of Art”.

The members of the Centre for Modern Thought are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Raoul Ruiz, our beloved friend and mentor. Raoul Ruiz opened doors in the hearts and imaginations of many of us that will not close. Our immediate thoughts are with Valeria Sarmiento as she returns to Chile for the funeral.

This is a terrible loss that we will want to meditate upon as we reconvene this fall in a spirit of commemoration. In the meantime, let us recall the captivating stories and that extraordinary presence of creativity. Let us recall what Raoul sought in the Centre for Modern Thought with his tireless curiosity and the warmth of his immense intellect.

Mort du cinéaste Raoul Ruiz

The event will take place on Monday, May 30, 2:00-5:00 PM, Taylor A36 (We may have to allow this event to run past its closing time.)

CMT will host a conversation with our visitor Sha Xin Wei on the topic of “Morphogenesis and Cultural Dynamics.”

Professor Sha Xin Wei will discuss a unpublished paper he has written with the title, “Topologically Articulating Morphogenesis and Cultural Dynamics.”

Three scholars will join us for this discussion:

Professor Yves Abrioux, Paris

Dr. Stamatia Portanova, Birkbeck College, U. of London

Dr. Thomas Jellis, Oxford University

We welcome visitors to what promises to be a stimulating and challenging discussion. Refreshments will be served.

Friday, May 27 • 2:00pm - 8:00pm
Taylor Building A36 (refreshments provided)

an inquiry of poetry and other arts

a workshop featuring:

Judith Balso, professor of poetry at the European Graduate School (Saas-Fee, Switzerland) and lecturer at the Collège International de Philosophie (Paris) with Nachoem M. Wijnberg, poet and Professor of Cultural Entrepreneurship and Management at the University of Amsterdam.

subject and substances:

Archipelago, as concept and the appearance of the Greek figure in Hölderlin’s Hyperion plus Osip Mandelstam and the poetry of Nachoem Wijnberg

The Centre for Modern Thought will host a workshop on the relation between philosophy and poetry on the afternoon of Friday, May 27:

“Finding Grounds: Poetry, Philosophy, and Amity”

This workshop will feature two special guests: Judith Balso, Professor of Poetry at the European Graduate School and Lecturer at the Collège International de Philosophie, Paris, and Nachoem M. Wijnberg, Poet and Professor of Cultural Entrepreneurship and Management at the University of Amsterdam

We are pleased to announce two successful vivas:

Archie Graham, Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Aberdeen, has successfully defended his PhD thesis, “School Ethos”

Tyler Griffith, PhD candidate in the History Dept. of Yale University, has successfully defended his M.Litt thesis, “Toward a Pedagogy of Thought”

Humanities Matters is a campaign to celebrate and support world-leading humanities and social science teaching and research in UK universities.

We believe in Higher Education teaching that is informed by the highest quality research, that engages with society, and is open to all on the basis of merit.

http://humanitiesmatter.com/

Heidegger’s Question Concerning Technology

A discussion between Avital Ronell and Christopher Fynsk

The discussion was held at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland in August 2010.

To view the content please click here

29 Feb 2011: The Centre for Modern Thought would like to use its “Forum” as a portal for discussion and for the dissemination of information about contemporary developments bearing on the humanities and their institutional conditions. Cutbacks, reorganizations and closures (even an occasional item of good news) are reported widely by informal networks. Some events garner powerful flows of attention, others pass almost without significant mention. Consequently, the larger picture, on either a national or international level, is difficult to grasp. There are strong signs that the humanities are not faring well in the wake of the great recession. Read more ...

Seminar: ‘The State(s) of Knowledge: Reading between Hegel and Schelling on Art and History’, Professor Tilottama Rajan

Monday 7th March 2011, 4pm, Humanities Manse

The Centre for Modern Thought is pleased to invite you to a lecture by Professor Tilottama Rajan entitled ‘The State(s) of Knowledge: Reading between Hegel and Schelling on Art and History’. Professor Rajan is Canada Research Chair in English and Theory and a distinguished University Professor at the University of Western Ontario. Read more ...