We would be happy to get to know something about your professional career and it would be
nice if you could describe your professional work in a few words.
My philosophical itinerary touched many areas and I think that this helps me to articulate
the matters that I am concerned with. I teach philosophy in Ljubljana, Slovenia. I started to teach
in Zadar, Croatia, being elected in the title of Dozent in Zagreb. In Paris I spent some years,
starting with French government grant and support by Julia Kristeva (Jussieu). Then I frequented
University Vincennes, Champ Freudien, and listened to Lacan’s lectures. In that time I
encountered many philosophers, including Derrida and Quine. In Germany I obtained the
Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung grant that allowed me to study with Wolfgang Stegmueller in
Muenchen. Later I obtained Fulbright grant and I spent some time in Memphis TN studying
connectionism and philosophy of psychology with Terry Horgan and John Tienson. In Wuerzburg I
studied Brentano in relation to Slovene Meinongian heritage. Phenomenology and Cognitive
Science is an European Tempus project that I elaborated with the help of Professor Baumgartner.
I published and edited many books and articles, in Slovene and English languages, some in
German, French and Italian. I had several functions, such as President of yougoslav philosophical
associations, president of Slovene philosophical society, APA member. I established Bled
international conferences and journal Acta Analytica (now Springer, eralier Roell Verlag
Dettelbach).
I am interested in several areas of philosophy. The common denominator of my approach
may be called dynamics. In philosophy of cognitive science I am endorsing connectionism inspired
overall approach of dynamical cognition. In philosophy of mind, I defend narrow brain in a vat
thought experiement supported approach to qualitative phenomenology or consciousness as the
basis of intentional directedness. In ontology I defend existential monism, which uses approach
to truth as indirect correspondence in order to cash in a dynamic holistic world without parts.
Vagueness helps here, conceived as transvaluationist take on the sorites sequence.
Morphological content in a holistic environment is basis for my approach to epistemology. In the
area of rational disagreement I defend nonconciliation. Moral philosophy: morphological
pluralism.
How do you see yourself in the role of citizen of the EU?
I supported EU from the very beginning, as I believe that the role of Slovenia is in this setting. I
also think that integration in EU is the only way to upheld Slovenia as a prosperous democratic
society and nation.
What is your personal opinion regarding the most important challenges and reasons regarding a
participation in the European Union as a nation?
Recently one can see the surge of anti-EU sentiment in several countries. This is why I support
the initiative that clearly sees the fate of Slovenia in EU. People need to know that prosperity
may be best achieved in this setting. I would like to see more European integration in my country.
I believe that nationhood has ultimately the main chance in EU. Intergration in Europe is needed
and sometimes urgent though, be it in financial or in political terms.
What do you think about the importance of Almuni in terms of the cultural, academic and
economical exchange?
Wuerzburg Alumni present an interesting initiative to upheld existing cultural and academic ties
and to renew them, adding new dimensions. Being together with alumni is a great experience for
me. I enjoy meeting each one of them, and learining angles through which they look at things.
Matjaz Potrc, Professor at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
No comments:
Post a Comment