October 13, 8:00 pm
The Russian word byt’ and its English equivalent, “to be,” share etymological ties to the Hindu goddess of the earth, Bhumi. “To be” means “to be here,” on one of the trillion planets in our Universe. In what ways does the Earth’s horizon define our conceptual horizons? What significance remains today in the mythological opposition of Earth and Sky? Where do we draw the line between the Earth and the Cosmos, if we are to understand the Earth as part of the Cosmos? One of the main arguments driving Michael Kurtov’s report is that, despite the developments of modern cosmology, we still continue to think of the Earth – and ourselves with it – in terms of mythology. The key to resolving these problems might be found in a discipline proposed by Immanuel Kant in his own lectures about the Earth: “teological geography.”
Admission is free of charge, but seats are limited, so advance registration is requested.
