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P. 134
CHΛPTEɌ 4 M AY-J U L 2018
TALKING HEADS
A UNIVERSAL
MIND*
*THE EMERITUS PROFESSOR thousands of years, the scandalous behavior
Interview by AT THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL of 50% of the Planet’s inhabitants against JOHN DIMOTSIS
Ira Sinigalia UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS, A the other 50% is an inexplicable Dream.
REAL HOMO UNIVERSALIS, WITH And our-efforts for its-suppression are
| PLENTY OF PHILOSOPHICAL clearly sub-par – just look at the vicious
PUBLICATIONS IN A BROAD hatred of the pseudo-men of certain
-Which word in our language has the RANGE OF ISSUES, TALKS TO religious states against female education.
ability to move you (still)? 2BOARD MAGAZINE. What type of world do we live in?
Every word (even the most “insignificant”) Ο ΕΠΙΤΙΜΟΣ ΚΑΘΗΓΗΤΗΣ -If such a thing is even happening, what is
can evoke emotions depending on the ΤΟΥ ΕΘΝΙΚΟΥ ΜΕΤΣΟΒΕΙΟΥ the so-called Athenian renaissance based on?
occasion in which it is used, or depending ΠΟΛΥΤΕΧ ΝΕΙΟΥ, ΕΝΑΣ It seems that, indeed, over the past few
on the phrase it is included in. However, ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΙΚΟΣ ΗΟΜΟ years many praiseworthy initiatives have
if we assume that the question is referring UNIVERSALIS, ΜΙΛΑΕΙ ΣΤΟ been undertaken in the city’s public
to ideas, I would mention “political self- 2 BOA R D. spaces. I do not forget that many of these
consciousness” – the lack of which is initiatives are due to political activists,
unfortunately growing at alarming rates in observations. First, indeed, when the who did not wait for the Revolution to
our country and all over the world. This plethora of interests is excessive (perhaps take place to resolve the mess of our City.
idea moves me; the future of our fellow due to an ingrained bombardment of I am only sorry that this type of cultural
men depends on this. information) then we need to refocus and intervention does not take place in the
-We live in the age of fragmented people. search for the “ideal” that leads to bliss. poorer neighbourhoods, where social
How do you think we will navigate this era? Second, when (even worse) the choked injustice and lack of education create
That depends on the meaning we give to mass of our interests is one-sided, then visual and sound pollution. On the other
the term “fragmented”. If it implies a major again let’s search for the tried and tested hand, in conjunction with the blooming
part of our interests, then this reveals a balance of fulfilling our existential needs. of Athens (as you call it), we have a duty
positive human quality (more knowledge, -What did you hear recently that made an to be aware of the severe problems that
more sensitivity) and in fact is nothing impression on you? are created in various areas, first by the
new. But this opens up two relevant Coincidence; but a truly awful one. Just anti-democratic, graffiti oppression
when I had started asking myself the and second by the (again, in different
extent to which perhaps some dishonest areas) the consequences of immigration.
accusations of sexual harassment have Nevertheless, it is a joy to walk the same
surfaced recently in the US, comes the City streets as Pheidias, Aristotle and
terrible news for our-Country concerning Korydaleus, student of Galileo.
the sexual abuse of a young girl, by her- -In your opinion, have we conquered
father and other beasts. And I realised once democracy in this day and age?
more the extent and obsession of the violent Democracy is not “conquered”. It is
version of this male-dominated world. For actualized, retreats and is reshaped
every day, in every field, by every person
or collectivity. In our-country, with its
unpleasant history of movements, divisions,
civil wars and invasions, Democracy has
134
TALKING HEADS
A UNIVERSAL
MIND*
*THE EMERITUS PROFESSOR thousands of years, the scandalous behavior
Interview by AT THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL of 50% of the Planet’s inhabitants against JOHN DIMOTSIS
Ira Sinigalia UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS, A the other 50% is an inexplicable Dream.
REAL HOMO UNIVERSALIS, WITH And our-efforts for its-suppression are
| PLENTY OF PHILOSOPHICAL clearly sub-par – just look at the vicious
PUBLICATIONS IN A BROAD hatred of the pseudo-men of certain
-Which word in our language has the RANGE OF ISSUES, TALKS TO religious states against female education.
ability to move you (still)? 2BOARD MAGAZINE. What type of world do we live in?
Every word (even the most “insignificant”) Ο ΕΠΙΤΙΜΟΣ ΚΑΘΗΓΗΤΗΣ -If such a thing is even happening, what is
can evoke emotions depending on the ΤΟΥ ΕΘΝΙΚΟΥ ΜΕΤΣΟΒΕΙΟΥ the so-called Athenian renaissance based on?
occasion in which it is used, or depending ΠΟΛΥΤΕΧ ΝΕΙΟΥ, ΕΝΑΣ It seems that, indeed, over the past few
on the phrase it is included in. However, ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΙΚΟΣ ΗΟΜΟ years many praiseworthy initiatives have
if we assume that the question is referring UNIVERSALIS, ΜΙΛΑΕΙ ΣΤΟ been undertaken in the city’s public
to ideas, I would mention “political self- 2 BOA R D. spaces. I do not forget that many of these
consciousness” – the lack of which is initiatives are due to political activists,
unfortunately growing at alarming rates in observations. First, indeed, when the who did not wait for the Revolution to
our country and all over the world. This plethora of interests is excessive (perhaps take place to resolve the mess of our City.
idea moves me; the future of our fellow due to an ingrained bombardment of I am only sorry that this type of cultural
men depends on this. information) then we need to refocus and intervention does not take place in the
-We live in the age of fragmented people. search for the “ideal” that leads to bliss. poorer neighbourhoods, where social
How do you think we will navigate this era? Second, when (even worse) the choked injustice and lack of education create
That depends on the meaning we give to mass of our interests is one-sided, then visual and sound pollution. On the other
the term “fragmented”. If it implies a major again let’s search for the tried and tested hand, in conjunction with the blooming
part of our interests, then this reveals a balance of fulfilling our existential needs. of Athens (as you call it), we have a duty
positive human quality (more knowledge, -What did you hear recently that made an to be aware of the severe problems that
more sensitivity) and in fact is nothing impression on you? are created in various areas, first by the
new. But this opens up two relevant Coincidence; but a truly awful one. Just anti-democratic, graffiti oppression
when I had started asking myself the and second by the (again, in different
extent to which perhaps some dishonest areas) the consequences of immigration.
accusations of sexual harassment have Nevertheless, it is a joy to walk the same
surfaced recently in the US, comes the City streets as Pheidias, Aristotle and
terrible news for our-Country concerning Korydaleus, student of Galileo.
the sexual abuse of a young girl, by her- -In your opinion, have we conquered
father and other beasts. And I realised once democracy in this day and age?
more the extent and obsession of the violent Democracy is not “conquered”. It is
version of this male-dominated world. For actualized, retreats and is reshaped
every day, in every field, by every person
or collectivity. In our-country, with its
unpleasant history of movements, divisions,
civil wars and invasions, Democracy has
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