Aldous Huxley Conference conference “When the Unthinkable Happens”
You are invited to participate in the conference “When the Unthinkable Happens,” dedicated to the creation of the Tallinn International Aldous Huxley Center. We look forward to seeing you!
The conference is free of charge, everyone is welcome!
Please let us know about your participation.
R. S. V. P: by May 17th, 2024. Please register here.
The conference will feature presentations by renowned international guests Paul Kingsnorth, Robin Hull, and Ville-Juhani Sutinen. Estonia will be represented by our leading cultural interpreter and translator, Märt Väljataga.
In recent years, the world has changed beyond recognition. It can be compared to a chariot racing through crises and upheavals. Together, we will seek answers to questions about how resilient this vehicle is and what forces it must cope with. The answers concern us all.
Many of Aldous Huxley's views have proven prophetic today. At the conference, we will delve deeper into the spiritual legacy of one of the 20th century's most enigmatic authors from political, cultural, and ecological perspectives. With a forward-looking gaze.
was one of the most versatile and mysterious authors of the 20th century: a writer, philosopher, sociologist, and an expander of spiritual boundaries. To Estonian readers, he is associated with novels such as "Brave New World," "Island," and a collection of mystical quotes, "Perennial Philosophy."
One could say that Huxley "was ahead of his time," but it's more accurate to say he had the ability to connect with different eras, including the present day. A significant part of Huxley's work is associated with crisis, which is becoming a permanent condition in the world of the 21st century. A crisis is something we do not wish for, but at the same time, there is no reason to fear crises – fear of the future is the weakest starting point for overcoming or solving anything. A crisis means an opportunity to reconsider our current positions, to change what can be changed, and to adapt to what cannot be changed. But above all, it means to awaken and force oneself to think.
Conference program
- 09:30 AM Reception of guests, snacks, and morning coffee/tea
- 10:00 AM Andreas Veispak, welcome words from the conference
- 10:15 AM Robin Hull, "Why is Aldous Huxley worth reading?"
- 11:15 AM Paul Kingsnorth, "The Brave New Machine"
- 12:15 PM Break, lunch
- 1:15 PM Ville-Juhani Sutinen, "Aldous Huxley's Island as an Ecotopia in a Broken World"
- 2:00 PM Märt Väljataga, „Aldous Huxley and Ants Oras: A One-way Dialogue of Kindred Spirits “.
- 3:00 PM Panel discussion with speakers
- 3:50 PM Tallinn International Aldous Huxley Center
- 4:15 PM Conference conclusion.
There will be a book sale of selected works during the conference.
Sales are for cash only.