The second Wonderful World Festival in Stavanger, Norway, opens tomorrow and will convey ideas, philosophy, and science. The festival last through the weekend.
Philosophy and science must be found inside our heads and hearts, and in the public sphere and the big conversation – which is really needed now. Norway lacks proper wisdom and knowledge festivals. Stavanger is a suitable city in which to hold a Nordic festival for philosophy and science.
This year, as last year, Wonderful World promises to offer wonder and a community of wonder. It promises to take the public out to the research front and to the edge of knowledge, from where understanding might be explored in a wider perspective. “We must offer enlightened understanding, which the Norwegian-born political scientist Robert Dahl believed was the most important ingredient for a functioning democracy – but also the most difficult to achieve,” states the organizer.
Among this year’s program entries are “The biotechnological future man”, “How free is humor in 2024?” and “Genetic technology and global food security – is the West standing in the way?”. In addition, the philosopher Philip Goff will give the lecture “What’s the Purpose of the Universe?”
You can see the entire program here.
The festival takes place in and around the old Tou Brewery in east Stavanger.
Wonderful World in Stavanger, written by Tor Kjolberg
Feature image (on top): From the 2023 Festival. Photo: Tiril Hauan.