invites everybody to the thirteenth of its interdisciplinary seminars in the series "Foundations". In this series CLEA invites scholars that are actively engaged in the research on the foundations of a particular discipline. Their lectures will always be directed
to an interdisciplinary audience, and the discussions aim at confronting
the foundations of the different disciplines.
(Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Universiteit Twente)
Thursday, November 21 at 5 p.m. in room L210 (buildingL, HILOK)
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Campus Oefenplein.
In his lecture Hans Achterhuis will try to unravel the principle of scarcity that lies at the root of modern society. Contrary to the standard account of the origines of modernity, scarcity was not overcome but constructed in 16th- and 17th centuries. An important answer to the newly arising reality of scarcity consisted in the creation of the idea of utopia, a society in which mankind could overcome scarcity and build its own happiness. The relation between the realities of scarcities and utopia in recent western history will be shortly explored in the lecture.
About the speaker:
Hans Achterhuis, Ph.D., is Professor in Systematic Philosophy at the University of Twente. In 1967 he took his doctoral degree on Albert Camus. For now his research concerns particularly philosophy of technology and environmental problems deriving from this. His list of publications shows a great scope (in fields of medical care, labour, third-world-philosophy). One of his latest books handles the topic of 'scarcity' (published under the title: "Het rijk van de schaarste", 1989). In 1992 he edited a book ("The measure of technology") in which several reputable philosophers of technology are portrayed.
The presentation with questions will last about an hour. Afterwards, an hour or more is reserved for an in-depth, group discussion of the topic.
More info at the CLEA office: phone 02-644 26 77 (afternoon) or via the Web-page: http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/CLEA/