Dear All,
You are cordially invited to an evening of warm conversation, laughter and insight, as Helena de Bres (Wellesley College, USA) uses the curious experience of being a twin as a lens for reconsidering our place in the world. De Bres will
read from her book How to Be Multiple: The Philosophy of Twins and discuss its themes with Paulina Sliwa (University of Vienna). The audience will be encouraged to join the conversation, with plenty of time for questions and comments. The discussion
will be followed by a wine reception.
Location: Grand Loft, FILMQUARTIER Wien
Date: Friday, 11 October 2024
Time: 6 – 8:30pm
About How to be Multiple:
Wait, are you you or the other one? Which is the evil twin? Have you ever switched partners? Can you read each other's mind? Twins get asked the weirdest questions by strangers, loved ones, and even themselves. For Helena de Bres, a twin
and philosophy professor, these questions are closely tied to some of philosophy's most unnerving unknowns. What makes someone themself rather than someone else? Can one person be housed in two bodies? What does perfect love look like? Can we really act
freely? At what point does wonder morph into objectification?
Accompanied by her twin Julia's drawings, Helena uses twinhood to rethink the limits of personhood, consciousness, love, freedom, and justice. With her inimitably candid, wry voice, she explores the long tradition of twin representations in art, myth, and popular
culture; twins' peculiar social standing; and what it's really like to be one of two. With insight, hope, and humor, she argues that our reactions to twins reveal our broader desires and fears about selfhood, fate, and human connection, and that reflecting
on twinhood can help each of us-twins and singletons alike-recognize our own multiplicity, and approach life with greater curiosity, imagination, and courage.
Best regards,
Jason Means
Jason Means, MA
Director of Management and Transfer
FWF Cluster of Excellence Knowledge in Crisis
Department of Philosophy, Central European University
Pronouns: He/Him
Tel: +43 1 25230 7538
Cluster
Website
