Lecture by Andrey Velikanov. Homo Divinus—The Divine Man. God as an Idea

DESCRIPTION

The lecture will focus on the philosophical notion of a superior creature.

The rationalistic interpretation of the emergence of religion implies man’s wish to deduce the effect of all natural forces from the will of a powerful superior intelligence. This is how the idea of the creator of the world appears. But this idea not only allows us to conceive a spiritualized beginning of all things—it also provides man with a unique opportunity to articulate the most important questions about being, answers to which are yet to be found. Who am I? Is there any higher goal in my existence and the existence of the world? What separates the evil from the good? This opportunity arises due to the very fact that there exists belief in a superior creature who one can address their most crucial questions. At a certain historical moment, however, man is bothered by the thought whether the god-creator exists at all. And if not, who will answer those pivotal questions? Philosophy is a kind of a tool that allows humans to produce their own answers and take responsibility for them.

“Now man is not yet what he will be. There will be a new man, happy and proud. For whom it will be the same to live or not to live, he will be the new man. He who will conquer pain and terror will himself be a god. And this God will not be.”

“Then this God does exist according to you?”

“He does not exist, but He is. In the stone there is no pain, but in the fear of the stone is the pain. God is the pain of the fear of death. He who will conquer pain and terror will become himself a god. Then there will be a new life, a new man; everything will be new... then they will divide history into two parts: from the gorilla to the annihilation of God, and from the annihilation of God to...”

“To the gorilla?”

“... To the transformation of the earth, and of man physically. Man will be God, and will be transformed physically, and the world will be transformed and things will be transformed and thoughts and all feelings.” (Fyodor Dostoevsky. The Possessed. 1872)

ABOUT THE LECTURER

Andrey Velikanov is a philosopher, art theorist, and artist. His publications on art and cultural theory include Am I a Trembling Simulacrum, or Do I Have the Right? (NLO, 2007). He has taught at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Russian State University for the Humanities, UNIC Institute, Wordshop Communications Academy, Moscow 1905 Art Academy, MediaArtLab Open School, Center of Avant-Garde at the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center, and Free Workshops Art School, and regularly gives talks and takes part in discussions at various venues. He is also a recipient of several media art awards and prizes including Ostranenie (Germany), DADANET (Russia), Art on the Net (Japan), TrashArt (Russia), Southwest Interactive Festival (U.S.A.), and Split (Croatia).

HOW TO TAKE PART

Free admission