糖果派对

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Reading circles

CUHRE reading circles bring people together to collaboratively explore and discuss books, articles, and texts. Initiated by members of the Centre, these circles foster deeper understanding, critical thinking, and a sense of community through the exchange of ideas and perspectives. Join one of our reading circles to deepen your knowledge, broaden your horizons, and connect with others through the transformative power of shared reading.

Season 1: Eric Nelson’s *Heidegger and Dao: Things, Nothingness, Freedom’ (Bloomsbury, 2024)

Reading group about eco thinking

In connection to a three-day research seminar on eco-education and eco-existential health (or “sustainability of being”), viewed through the lens of research in Environmental Humanities, Environmental Ethics, and Health Humanities, CUHRE Center for Eco-literacy at 糖果派对 and the research group Time, Existence, and Connectedness with Nature (TEN) at AAU collaborated to invite the world-renowned eco-phenomenologist, Professor of Philosophy Eric S. Nelson from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, to deliver the keynote speech for the three-day event, alongside other participating researchers.

Nelson’s work emphasizes a being-oriented approach to environmental philosophy, eco-phenomenology, and environmental ethics in general. He particularly draws upon Heidegger’s late views on being and nature, as well as Neo-Daoist interpretations of nature, and explores how one can foster a practice of “nourishing life” through such a being-oriented eco-thinking. In his later philosophy, Heidegger was inspired by Daoism, and Nelson also sheds light upon how the dialogical philosopher Martin Buber was deeply influenced by Daoism, illustrating the distinct perspectives Heidegger and Buber held on Nature/Physis/Dao/Being.

Of particular interest to TEN and CUHRE are his books ‘Daoism and Environmental Philosophy: Nourishing Life’ (Routledge, 2021) and ‘Heidegger and Dao: Things, Nothingness, Freedom. (Bloomsbury, 2024).

The research seminar scheduled for September 2024 was canceled due to Nelson’s illness. He is expected to visit again, likely in the spring of 2025, though the exact timing is still uncertain.

Meanwhile, we will be preparing thoroughly, hence this reading group.
  • December 12, 16:00-17:00
  • January 15, same time
  • February 6, same time
  • March 4, same time
  • March 26, same time
  • April 24, same time

For the first meeting in December, all group members should have read the introduction and Chapter 1 of ‘Heidegger and Dao: Things, Nothingness, Freedom’. Michael will begin with a presentation that ties in concepts from Nelson’s other book mentioned above.

We will meet approximately once or twice per month for an hour online, during which we’ll discuss one chapter from ‘Heidegger and Dao’.
Participants are expected to have read the chapter thoroughly beforehand. This is a requirement.*
At each meeting, one group member will provide an academic overview and highlight key points from the chapter (max 15 minutes).
This will be followed by an open discussion about the chapter.

Sign up: if you wish to join the reading circle, please write and email to CUHRE centre coordinator, Dikte Reeh Andersen at diktand@sam.sdu.dk and you will receive a link to the online zoom meetings. Please sign up before December 12 at 12.00.

Organizers of this Reading Group:

  • TEN: Contact Professor Finn Thorbjørn Hansen: finnth@ikp.aau.dk, see also:
  • CUHRE Center for Understanding Human Relationships with the Environment: Contact center director and Associate Professor Michael Paulsen: mpaulsen@sdu.dk, see also: /da/forskning/cuhre
In Critical Techtopia, we read and discuss eco-social visions of the future at the intersection of futuristic speculations and tech optimism 鈥� encompassing everything from surveillance capitalism to material extractivism. The aim is to develop a critical vocabulary that incorporates ecological, social, and geographical intersections, as well as structural inequalities, in the formulation of sustainable futures.

Critical Techtopia

The meetings are physical, last two hours and we meet 3-4 times a week. term. Those interested will be sent the texts in due time. It is the ambition that the reading circle will eventually begin joint work with a publication, just as the circle would like to fertilize the ground for an interdisciplinary research application.

If you are interested in joining the reading circle, please contact Karl Emil Rosenbæk Reetz email: karlemil@sdu.dk


Ecofeminist Reading Circle – We’ll dive deep into Donna Haraway’s ’Staying with the Trouble’, discussing the text chapter by chapter. Our reading and discussions will be accompanied by engaging more-than-textual activities, which we hope will open the work from new perspectives. 

Eco-feminism reading group

25.2.25: Chapter 1 + keyfriends Nina Lykke & Heather Swanson
25.3.25: Chapter 2+3
22.04.25: Chapter 4+5
20.05.25: Chapter 6+7
24.06.25: Chapter 8
 
Every time from 13-15 with the possibility of joining online (hybrid format)

Programme

13.00-13.15 Welcome by Amanda and Michael 
13.15-13.45 Key-friend 1 Nina Lykke: More-than-human Feminisms 
13.45-14.00 Pause 
14.00-14.30 Key-friend 2: Heather Swanson: Staying with Haraway 
14.30-15.15 Walk and talk to the 糖果派对 Climate Garden, Playing String Figures, and back again 
15.15-16.15 Reading group session 1: Haraway: Staying with the Trouble Introduction + Chapter 1 
16.15-16.30 Rounding off and goodbye

The following sessions will last around 1-2 hours, and the priority is therefore to start with a slightly longer session, in order to get to know each other and the basis of the reading group well.

Prepare

Read Intro + Chapter 1 in Donna Haraway: “Staying with the Trouble: Makin Kin in the Chthulu-cene”. 
Listen if you want also to this podcast in the Book of Fire podcast series:

Sign up: Write before 15th January to diktand@sam.sdu.dk if you want to join this event and first session of our CUHRE eco-feminism group. 
If questions or comments, please write to Amanda Glob Nielsen amgl@sdu.dk. All who sign up will be invited to the event, with further info.

Last Updated 17.12.2024