Lecture
Launch Event MA 120 Philosophy of the Arts
- Date
- Wednesday 23 September 2026
- Time
- Location
- Stadsgehoorzaal
Leiden - Room
- Breezaal
The Leiden University Institute for Philosophy is delighted to announce the launch of the new MA 120 specialization, Philosophy of the Arts.
On 23 September 2026, we will celebrate the start of this new specialisation with a philosophical and musical programme. The event will take place from 14.00 to 19.00 in the Stadsgehoorzaal (Breezaal). All interested colleagues and students are warmly invited. Please register here: c.w.sombroek@phil.leidenuniv.nl.
The event will begin with a keynote talk by Professor Adriana Cavarero (University of Verona) entitled, “Listening to the Sirens: A Philosophical Interpretation of a Vocal Myth.”
Following the talk, q&a, and pause, there will be a roundtable discussion, entitled, “How Does Art Think – How to Think with Art.”
We will consider questions such as the following:
How does art help us to do philosophy, and how can philosophy help art? Is philosophy fundamentally alien to art, because philosophy seeks clarity whereas art needs mystery? Or is it, instead, the destiny of philosophy to become a form of art? Art, we contend, thinks, and sometimes this thinking is conceptual, but does it think differently from philosophy and, if it does, how?
Roundtable participants will include:
• Prof. Susanna Lindberg, Institute for Philosophy
• Prof. Nidesh Lawtoo, LUCAS
• Dr. Natascia Tosel, University of Verona
• Prof. Anke Haarmann, ACPA
• Prof. Stijn Bussels, LUCAS
Chair: Dr. Johan de Jong
To conclude this event, students from the Dutch National Opera Academy will perform pieces by Barber, Ives and Adams.
This event has been made possible with support from the Leiden University Foundation (LUF).
