ART (Aesthetics Research Torino) Philosophical Seminar 

Prof. Kristupas Sabolius

(Vilnius University, Lithuania)

 

 

 

 

 

 

October, 26. h 6pm

Palazzo nuovo (Via Sant’Ottavio 20, aula 7)

&

Online

 

https://unito.webex.com/meet/federico.vercellone

 

On Non-human Imagination

 

The Imagination is one of the highest prerogatives of man. By this faculty he unites, independently of the will, former images and ideas, and thus creates brilliant and novel results” stated Charles Darwin, and consequently laid ground for a tradition which pairs human exceptionalism with the faculty of imagination. The bottom line of this stance is this: marked by aesthetical and creative incapability, non-human creatures cannot properly imagine namely because they are captivated by the functional logic of needs. Imagination presupposes the dimension of freedom, which is thought to be inaccessible in the domain of ‘nature. Stemming from a few cases of non-human imagination (Gorilla Koko, cubomedusae with 24 eyes) as well as by employing Gilbert Simondon’s poorly examined theory of imagination, this lecture outlines the role of imagination that exceeds imagining subject as well as focuses on the mode of correlation with associated milieu. Rejecting the primacy of representation, Simondon’s take enables one to draw the conclusion that imagination can be attributed to all living beings and conceived as one of the fundamental ‘functions’ of life.

 

Kristupas Sabolius is professor of philosophy of philosophy at Vilnius University (Lithuania) and research affiliate at MIT (Climate Visions). His  recent publications include On the Real (2021, ed. Kristupas Sabolius, LAPAS books), Matter and Imagination. Hybrid Creativity between Science and Art (2018, Vilnius University Press, ed.), Proteus and the Radical Imaginary (2015, Bunkier Sztuki, CAC) The Imaginary (2013, Vilnius University Press), signalizing the contradictory function of imagination in philosophy and beyond. Sabolius was a member of the Swamp School curatorial team at the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale (2018, curated by Nomeda and Gediminas Urbonas). He is also a writer of novels and film scripts, including The Gambler (2014) and Invisible (2019), both co-written with director Ignas Jonynas.

 

 

ART (Aesthetics Research Torino) is a periodic philosophical seminar organized by the Department of Philosophy and Educational Sciences of the University of Turin and the PhD Program FINO.

Coordinators:

Prof. Alessandro Bertinetto (University of Turin). 

Prof. Federico Vercellone (University of Turin). 

 

Members:

Prof. Carlo Serra (University of Turin/University of Calabria)

Dr. Alberto Martinengo (University of Turin)

Dr. Paolo Furia (University of Turin)

Dr. Lisa Giombini (University Rome 3)

Dr. Gregorio Tenti (University of Turin)

Dr. Amalia Salvestrini (Laboratoire d'études sur les monothéismes, Paris)

Dr. Francesca Monateri (Pisa, Scuola Normale)

Dr. Francesca Perotto (FINO)

Dr. Ivan Quartesan (FINO)

Dr. Sofia Boz (University of Padova)

Dr. Leonardo Pietropaolo (Università di Torino)

 

 

ART addresses different topics of the contemporary debate in Aesthetics: philosophy of beauty, philosophy of the arts, theory of sensory experience, philosophy of image and imagination, and history of aesthetics.

ART is supported by:
Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca sulla Morfologia Francesco Moiso (CIM)
Centro di Ricerca Interdipartimentale di Logica, Linguaggio e Cognizione (LLC)
Centro Studi Arti della Modernità

Centro Studi Filosofico-religiosi "Luigi Pareyson"

 

ART is sponsored by: 
Italian Society for Aesthetics (SIE) 
European Society for Aesthetics (ESA)