2014-2018: ARTIST PHILOSOPHERS [PEEK AR 275-G21]
The PEEK-Project „Artist Philosophers. Philosophy as Arts-Based Research“ [AR 275-G21] is sponsored by the Austrian Science Funds [FWF] and situated at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. Principle Investigator: Arno Böhler, University for Applied Arts Vienna in co-operation with Tanzquartier Wien. Additional co-operation partners: Jens Badura, Laura Cull, Susanne Valerie Granzer, Walter Heun, Alice Lagaay, Elisabeth Schäfer.
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Research Proposal as PDF
Abstract English [German Abstract] see below
From the very beginning of European philosophy in ancient Greece the relation between philosophy and arts has been highly problematic. On the one hand we find “artist-philosophers” like Plato or Nietzsche, whose philosophical investigations used artistic practices to demonstrate their thoughts; on the other hand philosophy has been extremly hostile to such practices, especially since Plato himself banned a wide range of arts from his ideal state ruled by philosophers. Philosophers, since then, have often even opposed arts, claiming that they were doing science (reasoning) rather than “art”––which they equal with “poetry”, based on fiction and pure imaginations.
Through his conception of the “Künstlerphilosoph” (artist-philosopher), Nietzsche probably questioned this Socratic image of philosophy most profoundly, since this conceptual persona longs for a new kind of post-Socratic “philosophers to come” who are ready to do philosophy in an almost “anti-Platonic” manner by precisely crossing-over the disciplines of arts and science. Not to mind their gap, but in order to find a new (anti-Platonic) relation between philosophy and arts that will produce a different kind of philosophy and new forms of philosophy-based art in the end.
In accordance with this historical demand, our PEEK-project aims to develop a research performance in which philosophy is methodologically and conceptually demonstrated as a matter of arts-based research rather then a “pure” science.
This aim ought to be realized by organizing a research-festival “Philosophy On Stage#4” at Tanzquartier Vienna, in the context of which artists, philosophers and scientists will collaborate to demonstrate on stage their theoria on Zarathustra. The Artist Philosopher both in a scientific and an artistic manner. Thereby they will have to demonstrate anwers to research questions such as: What happens to the traditional image of philosophy and arts, once philosophers and artists are called to stage their thoughts and implement arts-based research practices for the demonstration of their ideas? Can Nietzsche’s notion of the artist-philosopher help us to understand what performing philosophy as a kind of arts-based research could mean?
This project will be carried out in close co-operation between the University of Applied Arts Vienna, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MRS), University of Bremen, University of Surrey, Zurich University of Fine Arts and Tanzquartier Vienna.
Three Art-Labs, three Conferences, the lecture series „arts-based philosophy“, the festival „Philosophy On Stage #4“ and serveral publications will serve for the discussion and research on the following topics:
// What makes philosophy an arts-based research practice? //
// What his the gift of these approaches to arts-based research, to the arts and to philosophy? //
// From where does the need to perform philosophy derive, from a historical, methodological, global perspective? //
// Which forms and international networks exist at present? [Mapping the research field] //
// How does his concept of the artist-philosopher call us to crossover art and philosophy? //
// What happens to Nietzsche’s Zarathustra when one reads this work as a piece of art and begins to stage it?//
RESEARCH FESTIVAL PHILOSOPHY ON STAGE
ARTLABS 
PROJECT DOCUMENTATION ON RESEARCH CATALOGUE (SAR)
German Abstract
Seit den Anfängen der Europäischen Philosophie bei den Griechen ist das Verhältnis von Philosophie und den Künsten höchst prekär. Einerseits stoßen wir auf „Künstlerphilosophen“ wie Platon und Nietzsche, die in ihren philosophischen Untersuchungen selbst von künstlerischen Darstellungspraxen Gebrauch machten; andererseits entwickelte gerade Platon ein äußerst problematisches Verhältnis zu den Künsten, indem er eine Reihe von künstlerischen Praxen aus seinem idealen Philosophenstaat verbannte. Gerade seit Platon gibt es eine mächtige (sokratische) Tendenz in der Philosophie, in der die Philosophie immer mehr darauf Wert legt, Wissenschaft, und nicht Kunst, sprich Dichtung, zu sein.
Vielleicht hat Nietzsche diese sokratische Tradition des Philosophierens mit der Konzeption des „Künstlerphilosophen“ am radikalsten in Frage gestellt. Verlangt diese neue Denkfigur doch einen neuen Typus von Philosoph – „Philosoph_innen der Zukunft“ – die bereit sind, die beiden Disziplinen „Philosophie“ und „Kunst“ miteinander zu kreuzen. Nicht, um ihre Differenz aufzuheben, sondern um in ein neues (post-sokratisches) Verhältnis von Philosophie und Kunst zu finden.
Im Rahmen dieses historischen Kontextes entwickelt unser Forschungsprojekt eine ForschungsPerformance, in der Philosophie, methodisch und konzeptuell, als eine Form künstlerischer Forschungspraxis begriffen und vollzogen wird, die den Anspruch aufgibt, „reine“ Wissenschaft zu sein.
Dieses Ziel wird im Zuge der Komposition eines mehrtätigen Forschungsfestivals „Philosophy On Stage#4“ am Tanzquartier Wien realisiert, in dem Künstler_innen, Philosoph_innen und Wissenschaftler_innen ihre Theorien zu Zarathustra. Der Künstlerphilosoph auf wissenschaftliche und künstlerische Art und Weise „on stage“ demonstrieren werden. Dabei werden sie Forschungsfragen nachgehen wie: „Was passiert mit der Philosophie und den Künsten, wenn Philosoph_innen und Künstler_innen Philosophie als eine künstlerische Praxis lesen und auch aufführen lernen? Kann uns Nietzsches Konzept der „Künstlerphilosoph_in“ helfen, in ein neuartiges Verhältnis von Philosophie und Kunst zu kommen, in dem wir den Vollzug des Philosophierens selbst als eine Art künstlerische Forschung begreifen lernen?
Das Projekt wird im Rahmen einer engen Ko-operation zwischen der Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien, der Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien (MRS), der Universität Bremen, University of Surrey, Universität für angewandte Kunst Zürich und dem Tanzquartier Wien realisiert.
EVENTS
Lecture Series „ARTs-Based PHILOSOPHY. Don’t Mind the Gap“ [winterterm 2014/15]
MAIN EVENTS
SCORES // PHILOSOPHY ON STAGE #4 [TQW HALLE G & TQW STUDIOS; 26.-29.11.2015]
ARTLAB#3: November 19th 2015 – November 25th 2015 [TQW Studios&HalleG]
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RESEARCH TEAM: ARTIST PHILOSOPHERS: PHILOSOPHY AS ARTS-BASED-RESEARCH
Projektleitung [Principle Investigator]:
Univ.Doz.Dr.habil Arno Böhler (Department of Philosophy, University Vienna; University of Applied Arts Vienna)
Nationale Ko-operationspartner_innen [National co-operationspartners]:
Univ.Prof. Dr. Susanne Valerie Granzer, Full Professor for Performing Arts at Max Reinhardt Seminar, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Walter Heun (Artistic Director of Tanzquartier Wien)
Dr.habil. Krassimira Kruschkova (Head of Theorie Department Tanzquartier Vienna)
Post-Doc-Position:
Dr. Elisabeth Schäfer (University of Applied Arts Vienna)
Internationale Ko-operationspartner_innen [International co-operationspartners]:
Dr. habil. MAS Jens Badura: Head of the research unit “Performative Practice” at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
Dr. Laura Cull: Senior Lecturer in Theatre Studies and Director of Postgraduate Research for the School of Arts, University of Surrey
Dr. Alice Lagaay: Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Bremen University
IMPRESSUM
gefördert durch den Fonds der wissenschaftlichen Forschung Österreich (FWF)
