#rethink

I think, therefore I am?

‘Cogito, ergo sum.’ – ‘I think, therefore I am’. This is probably the best-known of all philosophical principles. The French philosopher René Descartes wrote it down in 1637. Nowadays, his proposition confronts us with a major question. Thinking, as a core activity of and fuel for human existence, seems decreasingly self-evident. The recent decisions by two Dutch universities to reduce or even axe their faculties of Philosophy illustrate how timeless and unconditional thought is losing ground. But if we as a society no longer initiate thinking, do we still actually exist?
There is an urgent need for an examination of this issue. When do ideas become a body of thought? How do thoughts influence our lives? What happens to a body when it thinks?

Thinking is an art

It is striking how often philosophy makes an appearance in today’s performing arts. Well-known philosophers become characters, and philosophical ideas form a grid that is a foundation for artistic work. There seems to be a necessity to make pure thinking visible. To refer to ideas that feel ‘more real’ or authentic than the actual fragmented reality. Thinking is literally given ‘room’ in art, because it is precisely by thinking that art too knows that it is and will continue to be.

Philosophers on stage

As a common thread throughout the season, RE:THINK confronts you with productions centred on the thoughts of several great philosophical minds. We shall also be holding monthly RE:THINK TALKS at 7 pm. Experts will spotlight philosophical points inspired by the performance that follows immediately afterwards. To cap it all we are also hosting a number of renowned thinkers who will offer an insight into pressing social issues in a series of full-length lectures.

visit the re:think blog

 

Arjen Mulder

The aesthetics of disappearance

talk

The aesthetics of disappearance
The aesthetics of disappearance
Kaaitheater
Sun 15.05.16

Arjen Mulder (teacher and author, specialized in media theory) gives a talk on Paul Virilio and his book The aesthetics of disappearance (1980), one of the sources of inspiration for Germaine Kruip. Subsequently, Kruip and Mulder engage in conversation.

Lucas Vandervost

Of Wittgenstein

theatre

Of Wittgenstein
Of Wittgenstein
Kaaistudio's
Tue 03.05 - Wed 04.05.16

With donkey’s ears on his head, Lucas Vandervost takes Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, an essential philosophical work on the relationship between world and language, and turns it to his own ends. Not as a lesson in philosophy, but in a unique monologue in which he reveals and analyses Wittgenstein.

Laura van Dolron & Steve Aernouts

Sartre zegt sorry

theatre

Sartre zegt sorry
Sartre zegt sorry
Tue 19.04.16

Some girls fall for the wrong kind of men, but Laura van Dolron falls for the wrong kind of philosophers. Once a year, Jean-Paul Sartre pays her a visit and bombards her with philosophical rhetoric. This time, however, things turn out differently: the man wants to apologise. During the cathartic brainwashing that follows, Van Dolron broaches life’s grand themes, sparing no one in the process – neither you nor herself.

Susan Neiman

Citizens in the world

debate

Citizens in the world
Citizens in the world
Kaaitheater
Sun 17.04.16
CANCELLED - Susan Neiman will be replaced by David Van Reybrouck
 
The world is in the midst of change, while at the same time there is little that can be changed. There is a great temptation to sit back cynically and do nothing – but isn’t that simply a form of laziness. Should we not argue for a mature idealism, as the American writer and moral philosopher Susan Neiman does?

Laurens ten Kate

Over literatuur en filosofie

talk

On literature and philosophy. Eros finds work for idle hands
On literature and philosophy. Eros finds work for idle hands
Kaaitheater
Thu 14.04.16

What might eroticism have to do with the complex philosophy of Hegel? The French writer and philosopher Georges Bataille (1897-1962) gained special access to Hegel’s conceptual framework. In this RE:THINK TALK, Laurens ten Kate demonstrates how.

Ruud Gielens, Rachid Benzine & Hiam Abbass

In the Eyes of Heaven

theatre

In the Eyes of Heaven
In the Eyes of Heaven
Kaaitheater
Thu 24.03 - Fri 25.03.16

This is a woman who, on payment, you briefly possess, but rarely to love her. She wants to save her daughter from the solitude into which her own fate has plunged her. She sees the hope of a new life disintegrate at the start of the Arab Spring.

Rachid Benzine

On Averroes

talk

On Averroes
On Averroes
Kaaitheater
Thu 24.03.16

The French-Moroccan philosopher Rachid Benzine wrote the text for In the eyes of heaven. Before the performance, he presents an introduction to Averroes. This 12th-century Islamic lawyer, doctor and philosopher sought reconciliation between Islam and the philosophy of classic philosophers such as Aristotle.

Marli Huijer

De waarde van filosofie

debate

The value of philosophy as daily practice
The value of philosophy as daily practice
Sat 12.03.16

Marli Huijer describes her practice as ‘in-between thinking’: standing in amongst the things of life and reflecting on them with a philosophical gaze. This broader access to philosophy stands in sharp contrast to the academic philosophy that is aimed at insiders. What will become of pure thinking if philosophy is given a purely practical, everyday role?

Marli Huijer

On 'in-between thinking'

talk

On 'in-between thinking'
On 'in-between thinking'
Sat 12.03.16

Marli Huijer, the Dutch ‘National Thinker’, elucidates the idea that philosophy should make life difficult. She presents us with the wealth of values and ideas which initially appear irreconcilable.

Robert Cantarella

Faire le Gilles

performance talk

Faire le Gilles
Faire le Gilles
Fri 11.03.16

Robert Cantarella has been ‘doing a Gilles’ for several years now. Which means that he has been giving new voice to the renowned lectures the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze gave in the 1980s, including the correct intonation, rhythm, hesitations and incoherence of the spoken word.

Masschelein, de Buysser & de Coulon

Filosofische referenties en authenticiteit

debate

Philosophical references and authenticity
Philosophical references and authenticity
Fri 11.03.16

Although pure thought is under pressure in our society, the use of philosophical references remains popular. In the performing arts, Deleuze is one such established figure. We must therefore ask: how close are we to the authentic views of a philosopher – and is this thanks to or in spite of these references?

Marlies De Munck

On philosophy and music

talk

On philosophy and music
On philosophy and music
Kaaitheater
Wed 02.03.16

Dr. Marlies De Munck examines the relationship between philosophy and music. At the University of Antwerp she deals with questions like ‘What language does music/musical philosophy speak?’ and ‘what is (the philosophical importance of) the relationship between music, politics, and society?’

Jean-Luc Nancy

The art of thinking

talk

The art of thinking
The art of thinking
Kaaitheater
Mon 29.02.16

The French philosopher Jean-Luc Nancy has pronounced ideas on art and culture. This talk focuses on the status of art as such, on art as representation, concrete phenomena in works of art and how the spectator views them. He engages in conversation with Ignaas Devisch, professor in Ethics, Philosophy and Medical Philosophy at Ghent University.

Judith Wambacq

On philosphy and dance

talk

On philosphy and dance
On philosphy and dance
Kaaitheater
Wed 24.02.16

The philosopher Judith Wambacq studies the interface between dance and thought. How do we have to understand the rhythm of an argument or of a way of thinking? Which conception of time does this rhythm presuppose?

Annie Dorsen

Hello Hi There

theatre

Hello Hi There
Hello Hi There
Tue 16.02 - Wed 17.02.16

Annie Dorsen has programmed two laptops in such a way that every evening they perform an improvised dialogue based on a famous television debate between Michel Foucault and Noam Chomsky. An amusing dialogue about man in the digital age.