After successful completion of the course, students are able to better contextualize their ongoing PHD research in the larger context of the discipline Architecture Theory, and with respect to contemporary discourses and developments especially in history, philosophy, arts and technics.
Das Öffentliche als "Ort"
Metaphysics and the Void, Architecture of Matter: Re-thinking "Publicness" Architectonically in Terms of "Place"
Aristotle posed a vexed problem in between Dialectic Philosophy and Natural Philosophy: “We see the same heaviness, namely body, being moved faster for two reasons, either (a) because that through which it moves differs, for example through Water or earth, or through water or air, or (b) because …" - he does not consider this case. Two pages later Aristotle notes: “Some people think that if there is to be change of place, there must be a void, but this is impossible ... examination of the void shows that it is indeed void.”
This has usually been approached through the lens of Aristotles theory of dynamics, without loosing thereby its vexedness. This is exactly what makes the set-up to interesting to think through our own perplexedness with regard to quantum physics, which is essentially a mechanics that operates upon the substrate of dynamics – both classical dynamics (Newton) as well as thermodynamics.
By close readings key texts with regard to this "motif", at the core of which we can spot then as today the relation between dialectic philosophy and natural philosophy. For our current dispositif of information technology in its terms of a proper mathematics and physics of information, the considerations are highly relevant. We will inquire into how one could rethink the domain of the public architectonically today, beyond its dominant conception as either space (public space, geographic and territorial approaches) or sphere (as in Habermas, the public sphere though media and communication approaches).
The weekly meetings entail:
- readings of approx. 30 pages
The seminar is conducted as a joint course with PHD candidates from ETH Zurich. It can be joined either actively (with the rewards of 3 ECTS) or passively (as a listener, without credit points).
Readings: Werner Hamacher: "Das Nicht im Satz der Identität" Karen Barad, What is the Measure of Nothingness? Infinity, Virtuality, Justice. Aristotle, Physics IV (Auszüge) Stephen Toulmin/ June Goodfield: The Architecture of Matter (Auszüge) Lancelot Hogben, "The Conquest of Substitutes" in Science for the Citizen Fritz Krafft, zu Otto von Guericke und dem Leeren Raum (Auszüge) Isabelle Stengers, Cosmopolitiques 1 & 2 (Auszüge). Xenofeminism, "Manifesto" Paul Celan: "der Meridian" Vera Bühlmann, "Atomic Time and Quantum Literacy, Michel Serres Apologia for Science"
