About
With a cast of philosophers and artists we want to give place for a discussion that addresses the question of "aesthetic thinking" from different angles and perspectives. The implications of aesthetic thinking are highly social and political, which makes it one of the most important topics in the postmodern discussion.
The relation between aesthetic and linguistic thought has undergone a plurality of transformations in the history of philosophy: thus some philosophers do not consider the autonomy of art with respect to language as given, more so as inferior to thought as found in language. Others consider it to be coequal, whereas some even speak in favour of art with respect to the epistemic dignity. What remains their common feature is that the discourse is carried out in language alone.
Therefore the conference will take place in an inter-media situation, that means that artists might choose to rather speak through their art than by talking, choose any way in between or to talk about the work and their ideas about "aesthetic thinking". Same holds for the invited philosophers. This setting will break down walls to give room for a more complex way of thinking about and experiencing each of the contributions and therefore escape the often appearing short cuts and reductions in the discussion. Another benefit of this approach can be found in the outward impact of this conference. Especially philosophy is often accused of staying inside an ivory tower. Through the encounter of art and philosophy in the form of art exhibition and concert the chances arise to release the topic from the purely academic context, to provoke a reaction of the public and to integrate it.
The relation between aesthetic and linguistic thought has undergone a plurality of transformations in the history of philosophy: thus some philosophers do not consider the autonomy of art with respect to language as given, more so as inferior to thought as found in language. Others consider it to be coequal, whereas some even speak in favour of art with respect to the epistemic dignity. What remains their common feature is that the discourse is carried out in language alone.
Therefore the conference will take place in an inter-media situation, that means that artists might choose to rather speak through their art than by talking, choose any way in between or to talk about the work and their ideas about "aesthetic thinking". Same holds for the invited philosophers. This setting will break down walls to give room for a more complex way of thinking about and experiencing each of the contributions and therefore escape the often appearing short cuts and reductions in the discussion. Another benefit of this approach can be found in the outward impact of this conference. Especially philosophy is often accused of staying inside an ivory tower. Through the encounter of art and philosophy in the form of art exhibition and concert the chances arise to release the topic from the purely academic context, to provoke a reaction of the public and to integrate it.
