Abstract

Philosophers from different eras, locations, and philosophical traditions have all used short chunks of text to write their philosophical work. Yet today, we are hugely reliant on the essay as the prime form for philosophical output.

This talk will be a panel discussion with speakers from four different faculties, covering thinkers from three continents and 2500 years.

How can we use form to achieve our philosophical goals? How have aphorisms and fragments been used in different philosophical traditions? What makes all of this work philosophical? Would these thinkers have used Twitter?

• Professor Gábor Betegh of the Faculty of Classics will be speaking on Heraclitus.
• Dr. Jenny Zhao of the Needham Research Institute will address Confucius.
• Dr. Arif Ahmed of the Faculty of Philosophy will be looking at aspects of Wittgenstein.
• Dr. Nolen Gertz (@ethicistforhire) of the University of Twente speaking on Twitter. Each speaker will give a concise presentation. This will be followed by a moderated panel discussion and Q&A.