Tang Chun-I Visiting Professor (Spring 2023)

Dan Zahavi, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Subjectivity Research, the University of Copenhagen

Dan Zahavi is Professor of Philosophy and director of the Center for Subjectivity Research at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Zahavi’s primary research area is phenomenology and philosophy of mind, and their intersection with empirical disciplines such as psychiatry and psychology. In addition to a number of scholarly works on the phenomenology of Husserl, Zahavi has mainly written on the nature of selfhood, self-consciousness, intersubjectivity, empathy, and most recently on topics in social ontology. Since 2020, Zahavi has been the principal investigator on a 5-year research project entitled Who are We? which is supported by the European Research Council and the Carlsberg Foundation. Zahavi’s writings have been translated into more than 30 languages.

Delivered in English, all are welcome

Enquiries: 3943 7135
Email: philosophy@cuhk.edu.hk
Website: http://phil.arts.cuhk.edu.hk

Public Lecture:
The socially distributed self: Perspectives from anthropology, cultural psychology, and philosophy
Date: 13 March 2023 (Mon)
Time: 4:30pm-6:30pm
Venue: Room 220, Fung King Hey Building

Abstract:
Is selfhood socially constituted and distributed? Although the view has recently been defended by some cognitive scientists, it has for long been popular within anthropology and cultural psychology. Whereas older texts by, say, Mauss, Geertz, and Markus and Kitayama often contrast a Western conception of a discrete, bounded and individual self with a (supposedly more correct) non-Western sociocentric conception, it has more recently become common to argue that subjectivity is a fluid intersectional construction that is fundamentally relational and conditioned by discursive power structures. I will assess the plausibility of these claims and argue that many of these discussions of self and subjectivity remain too crude. By failing to distinguish different dimension of selfhood, many authors unwittingly end up advocating a form of radical social constructivism that is not only incapable of doing justice to first-person experience, but which also fails to capture the life of a real community.

Public Lecture:
The socially distributed self: Perspectives from anthropology, cultural psychology, and philosophy
Date: 13 March 2023 (Mon)
Time: 4:30pm-6:30pm
Venue: Room 220, Fung King Hey Building

Abstract:
Is selfhood socially constituted and distributed? Although the view has recently been defended by some cognitive scientists, it has for long been popular within anthropology and cultural psychology. Whereas older texts by, say, Mauss, Geertz, and Markus and Kitayama often contrast a Western conception of a discrete, bounded and individual self with a (supposedly more correct) non-Western sociocentric conception, it has more recently become common to argue that subjectivity is a fluid intersectional construction that is fundamentally relational and conditioned by discursive power structures. I will assess the plausibility of these claims and argue that many of these discussions of self and subjectivity remain too crude. By failing to distinguish different dimension of selfhood, many authors unwittingly end up advocating a form of radical social constructivism that is not only incapable of doing justice to first-person experience, but which also fails to capture the life of a real community. Attend Do not attend
Departmental Seminar:
Communication, social acts and second-personal engagement: A Husserlian account
Date: 27 March 2023 (Mon)
Time: 4:30pm-6:30pm
Venue: Room 220, Fung King Hey Building

Abstract:
In my talk, I will discuss Husserl’s views on the relation between communication and communalization and show how Husserl considered mutual communicative address to result in a social unification that he called a communicative community “Mitteilungsgemeinschaft”. In my talk I will address topics such as reciprocal empathy, communicative intertwinement, and the role of the I-you nexus, and argue that Husserl’s analysis converges with much more recent ideas defended by Margaret Gilbert and Naomi Eilan. *

Departmental Seminar:
Communication, social acts and second-personal engagement: A Husserlian account
Date: 27 March 2023 (Mon)
Time: 4:30pm-6:30pm
Venue: Room 220, Fung King Hey Building

Abstract:
In my talk, I will discuss Husserl’s views on the relation between communication and communalization and show how Husserl considered mutual communicative address to result in a social unification that he called a communicative community “Mitteilungsgemeinschaft”. In my talk I will address topics such as reciprocal empathy, communicative intertwinement, and the role of the I-you nexus, and argue that Husserl’s analysis converges with much more recent ideas defended by Margaret Gilbert and Naomi Eilan. Attend Do Not Attend
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1. Provision of personal data is voluntary. The information collected will be used for the purposes of events and communication related to the Department and related responsible organization for this event. Only authorized personnel in the Department can access the information. The Department will promote and disseminate information such as talks, services and research information to you by post, email or phone. You have the right to make subsequent changes on your choice of receiving further promotional information by notifying us in written format.

2. Under the provisions of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, you can access and apply for amendment of the data in this form. Please contact our Institute staff if necessary.

3. The Institute will use the photos and videos taken from events in organizing and promotional purposes. If you do not agree with the relevant arrangements, you may submit your wishes and notify us in written format before the event.

I have read, understood and agreed with the above terms and conditions.
Disclaimer The personal data collected will be used by Department of Philosophy (PHI) and authorised personnel for processing the captioned purposes in accordance with relevant provisions of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.