Hvilke former for viden skal Humaniora skabe og kritisere?

Soft knowledge in hard times?

– the concept of knowledge and

the present challenges

to the humanities

and the social sciences

Programme for winter seminar and one

day conference 9th–11th March 2010

Organised by Nordic Summeruniversity, Humanistisk Forum, and the

EPOKE-programme at The Danish School of Education, Aarhus University

Venue: The Danish School of Education (DPU, Aarhus University)

Copenhagen campus, Tuborgvej 164, DK2400 Copenhagen NV

Venue contact: Jesper Eckhardt Larsen (jel [.] dpu.dk)

This open seminar has the object of discussing the challenges that are facing the humanities and parts of the social sciences in a new epoch of knowledge production and dissemination. Our argument is that the character of knowledge is being deeply challenged and changed in light of new forms of policies and politics of knowledge. A few characterisations could be put into play: Soft knowledge in hard times? Slow knowledge in a fast society? Pure knowledge in times of instrumentalism and pragmatism? Deep knowledge in times of superficiality? Local knowledge in times of globalisation? Premodern knowledge in postmodernity? Some questions to be addressed are: What kind of knowledge should the humanities produce in order to fulfil its purpose in society? What concept of knowledge is appropriate for humanities with regard to its basic interests of knowledge? Should humanities strive for objectivism or some kind of relativism/ contextualism? What concept of knowledge corresponds to how humanities are actually used in society? How is the form of knowledge of the humanities challenged by new systems of accountability and financing and how should the humanities meet these challenges?

Precise venue:
The seminar is taking place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning in room A412/Main building A – top floor - Thursday afternoon conference is in Auditorium D174/White building D, ground floor

See program and abstracts here.