This blog is dedicated to a nordic and international discussion on the past, present and future situations for the humanities – or humaniora, which is the renaissance Italian concept used in the nordic countries.
The goal is to combine historical, sociological, philosophical and political analysis to discuss and suggest ways in which the humanities can serve society in multiple ways. The current situation for the politics of knowledge and higher education in Europe is a severe, mostly crudely utilitarian, critique of the relevance of, and reasons for funding the humanitites.
The discussion must be both on research and on education. My personal view is that one cannot defend research in the humanities without a link to the ethos of education. Terms like “Bildung” in German, “bildning” in Swedish, “dannelse” in Norwegian and Danish and “liberal education” in English are not thinkable without the combination of “fixed reason with wayward spirit” that the humanities have to offer (Jacques Barzun).
A standing group of nordic scholars will through the next three years meet regularly to discuss these issues sponsored by the Nordic Summer University (NSU). For information about this group see http://www.nsuweb.net
All present and former members of the NSU-group “Kreds 5 – Humaniora i samfundet” will be invited to contribute to this blog as users. All other interested contributers can contact the blog editor at any time: Jesper Eckhardt Larsen – jel at dpu.dk
This blog will have posts in both english and in the nordic languages
Credo: The humanities are a mess from the times of Babel onwards – I believe they better stay that way – let’s speak all languages at the same time – allthough sometimes maybe in separate auditoriums for practical reasons
