The theme of this week was similar to the first one in the sense that we were, in both of them, discussing philosophical texts that were questioning the way we picture the world. During the lecture Henrik Åhman stated the rethorical question about how one were to handle the crisis of the enlightenment nad stated three possibilities: American capitalism, German nationalism and Russian communism. He also talked about the authors' history and about what their lives looked like which was very interesting and gave me a bettter understanding of their motives and outlooks. I found the life of Walter Benjamin and his thoughts on facism contra culture and art to be particularily interesting and I found it curious that he turned into Marxism quite late in his life.
I think that the seminar setup improved in time for the second seminar. The first time the lecturer did a good job of explaining the subject and how one can see things from different perspectives, but the seminar did not invite the students to discussing themselves. This time we were put in groups of three or four, where we would discuss a set of questions handed out to us. I think discussing with someone who is on the same level as yoursself is very helpful, because you get to see things from a different perspective without being exhausted from trying to understand a more complicated "language".
I think that the seminar setup improved in time for the second seminar. The first time the lecturer did a good job of explaining the subject and how one can see things from different perspectives, but the seminar did not invite the students to discussing themselves. This time we were put in groups of three or four, where we would discuss a set of questions handed out to us. I think discussing with someone who is on the same level as yoursself is very helpful, because you get to see things from a different perspective without being exhausted from trying to understand a more complicated "language".
The questions we discussed led us into modern society in several ways. The connection between politics and ideologies of the early 1900s, and those of today, tells us that we need to know our history in order to not make the same mistake twice. Yet those mistakes seem to repeat themselves over and over again.
Interesting thought about the connection between politics and ideologies of the early 1900s and to how we need to know our history. I agree that these events are closely interrelated but the problem about making the same mistakes again, as you stated, remains. Perhaps we need stronger regulation and information spreading about facts in history that aren't to be repeated. I also think the second seminar had a better structure and that it invited us as participants to voice our opinions and reflections about this week's theme.
SvaraRaderaHi!
SvaraRaderaInteresting reclections around how we need to learn from our past in order to not make the same mistakes again. I guess you can relate to todays society, how people with Nazi backgrounds are gaining power in the swedish parlament. Even though i think we know more about our past today with the development of technologies such as internet etc, people seem to forget and ignore. Perhaps it is not about information spreading but rather about education and keeping an open mind toward society.
Thanks for your comments, Pontus and Oscar!
SvaraRaderaI'm afraid that how to keep history from repeating itself is a problem that will always remain. Sure the Internet gives us access to a lot of information but a problem, I believe, is that it is too much information and we won't really know what to think and who to trust. However, I think we should have some faith in humanity and maybe our society will become more open and welcome. Sorry for this becoming slightly off-topic ;)