DWIH at

Night of Philosophy and Ideas

Stacks of books © iStock/KristinaKosheleva

Ever dreamed of a sleepover in a library? Here’s your shot. Join the DWIH, Brooklyn Public Library, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, and the German Consulate General New York for an all-night marathon of philosophical debate, performances, screenings, readings, and music from all over the world.

Building on the success of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 editions, which were all attended by more than 7,000 people throughout the night, the singular 12-hour event will showcase contemporary philosophical thought through talks and debates, performances, screenings, workshops and various other happenings. The organizing idea for 2020 is “To Live,” or “Être vivant,” in French.

This free celebration of the mind stimulates public interest in philosophy and fosters civil, open-minded discussion of the philosophical questions confronting us today, while also offering a range of performances by musicians and dancers, as well as film screenings and art installations.

The event will take place in Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library, one of New York City’s foremost cultural, civic and educational institutions.

Together with the Brooklyn Public Library, French Embassy in the United States and the German Consulate General New York, the DWIH is proud to present the following speakers:

Annie Pfeifer
  • Presentation: "Hoarders in the Digital Age," 1 AM
  • Bio: Annie Pfeifer’s research interests focus on modern German literature, culture, and theory, with an emphasis on aesthetics and visual culture. She has published in publications ranging from The New German Critique to the Op-Ed section of The New York Times. She received her Ph.D. from Yale in 2015 and taught at Tufts University and the University of Bern before coming to Columbia University.
Katja Maria Vogt
  • Presentation: "Is Immortality Choiceworthy?" 10 PM
  • Bio: Katja Maria Vogt is Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University. She works on questions that figure both in ancient and contemporary discussions: What are values? What kind of values are knowledge and truth? What does it mean to want one’s life to go well? When she's not in NYC, she's traveling with photographer and artist Jens Haas. On the Road has become an art project and a philosophical diary.

No registration is necessary to this free event. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, complimentary coffee will be served all night.

Event Information

February 1, 2020, 7:00 PM to February 2, 2020, 7:00 AM

New York
Organizer(s): Brooklyn Public Library, Cultural Services of the French Embassy, German Consulate General New York

Location

Brooklyn Public Library

Address: Central Library 10 Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn, NY