The 4th Dimension. Wittgenstein on Colour and Imagination

In this paper I first discuss the colour-octahedron and the position of this model as an idealized system with respect to the remarks on colour-concepts in Remarks on Colour (RC). The next part examines the notion of aspect seeing in the light of the colour-octahedron and RC. From there a connection is made with On Certainty (OC). By linking the remarks on colour, seeing aspects and certainty, it may become clear that the investigations of Wittgenstein concerning colour and certainty direct us towards a reflective dynamics and an anthropological interpretation of his ideas

'Always the foremost argive champion'? The representation of Neoptolemus in Quintus of Smyrna's posthomerica

Neoptolemus rather seldom figures in Ancient Greek literature. The Posthomerica of Quintus of Smyrna is one of the scarce examples in which the son of Achilles is staged as a hero on the battlefield. This paper investigates the representation of Neoptolemus as the successor of his father in the Trojan War. The vigorous youth who takes Achilles’ place as the principal Achaean champion is repeatedly recognised as latter’s heir. Various narrative techniques reinforce this profound assimilation, which proves crucial to determine Neoptolemus’ identity as a warrior. The image that is thus created of the young hero clearly enters into dialogue with the Homeric epics, in which the post-Achilles episode of the Trojan War is only indirectly treated. To complete what his father has left unfinished, Neoptolemus finds inspiration in his rich inheritance

Ways to die for warriors

Homeric similes and comparisons have many narrative functions. In death scenes, they contribute to the characterization of victim and aggressor and of death itself. Their focus on existential reflections or the ideal of heroic war lifts the description up to an ideological level. Quintus of Smyrna’s Posthomerica shows a rich reception of Homeric imagery in death scenes and uses it to structure the narrative plot. His death similes evoke the ancient war ideal, but also show an evolution of heroic behaviour towards more bloodshed and eventually the pathetic sack of Troy. Hence, Posthomeric death similes can be interpreted to question the ancient – idealistic – role of the major heroes in the epic tradition from Homer onwards

The Artistic Turn

We are living in an increasingly complex world. How are we able to cope with this complexity and the difficulties that arise from it? Can philosophy and art, classified as the two utmost useless and pointless disciplines, have any (positive) influence on the urgent and pressing problems at hand? And, related to this, if the two have more than just their uselessness in common, how, then, are philosophy and art related? In this article, I will argue that although ‘useless’ disciplines such as philosophy and art have no direct influence on our complex world, they are nonetheless the most important ones, because those working within them practice their insights in an indirect way. Indirect influence may take a little longer, but the impact is much stronger, affecting our thinking and our attitudes from within, as it were. This indirect approach has everything to do with the sort of questions philosophers and artists occupy themselves with. I will show how both address, albeit each in their own way, fundamental questions, and thereby make use of thought experiments. Intuition and imagination play a decisive part in the creative processes that are involved in thought experiments and thinking. It is argued that we all are able to learn a ‘delayed unconscious thinking’ that leads to an artistic attitude; one that will activate an artistic turn

Final report for Project no. 1904. Prevention of selected diseases and parasites in organic pig hreds - by means of HACCP based management and surveillance programme (CorePig)

The project partners comprised about 20 researchers from 9 research institutes in eight countries (DK, DE, SE, UK, CH, IT, AU and FR). The project is composed of three work packages: WP1 „Coordination of the project, dissemination and Knowledge synthesis‟, WP2: „Epidemiological study in organic herds‟ and WP3: „Development and evaluation of a HACCP based surveillance and management system‟. WP1 and WP2 started in 2007, while WP3 that built on the results from WP1 and WP2 started later - in 2008. The UK and CH-partners only participated in WP1 and WP3 while the remaining partners participated in all three WP‟s. The project was initiated at the project kick-off meeting in Denmark, August 30-31st 2007, where all project partners met to discuss the planning of the project in detail. Further 6 project meetings were carried out in the project period. The second project meeting was organised in Austria, December 10-11th 2007, the third project meeting in Denmark, February 18-19th 2008, the fourth in France, July 7-9th 2008, the fifth in Italy, December 4.-7th 2008, the sixth in Sweden, June 29-30th 2009 and the final and seventh project meeting took place in Germany, April 7-10th 2010