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Conference: Abysmal Existence - Kierkegaard on the negative.

28-30 August 2013. Department of Culture and Society celebrates the 200th anniversary of Søren Kierkegaard's birth with the conference "Abysmal existence - Kierkegaard on the negative."

Info about event

Time

Wednesday 28 August 2013, at 08:00 - Friday 30 August 2013, at 00:00

Location

Aarhus University

Conference description:

Kierkegaard became the thinker of negativity. From the German idealists he inherited the philosophical notions of subjectivity, dialectics and the negative and applied them in critiques of the established church, theology and philistine ethos of his time. In turn, he even criticized the German idealists. Kierkegaard's writing was in the negative. It was indirect and pseudonymous. Its subtle uses of humor, irony, comedy, satire and paradox were endless. Any straight-forward notion of truth or the good was at risk of falling victim to his dialectic attacks. In style and argument he would consistently point the reader toward the abyss of existence.

The conference intends to throw light upon the notions of human life, religion and existence that were driving the negativity in Kierkegaard's thought. What religious or philosophical stances made the negative so central to Kierkegaard? And what potential positive notions of life were hiding in the negative? These and related questions will be addressed at the levels of subjectivity, ethics, aesthetics, religion, politics, and existence in general. 

The conference presents a selection of internationally acclaimed Kierkegaard scholars and scholars of neighboring thinkers of existence and the negative.

Conference poster including list of speakers and link to registration can be found here.

Full program can be found here.

Important dates:

Contact information:

Questions should be adressed to: Matias Møl Dalsgaard (filmmd@hum.au.dk) and/or Anders Moe Rasmussen (filamr@hum.au.dk)