A WORLD OF IDEAS AN IDEA OF THE WORLD 20 FILMS AND DVDS ON AND PHILOSOPHY THE HISTORY OF IDEAS PHILOSOPHERS: Debates and Dialogues Four-disc set A Series by Fons Elders DISC ONE Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault In 1971, a Dutch initiative called the International Philosophers Project brought together the leading thinkers of the day for a series of one-on-one debates. This four-disc set collects all four transformation seemed imminent— remarkable conversations, along and philosophical questions with introductions and commentary underpinned discussions about what by Dutch philosopher and writer form the new society would take. Fons Elders. Though many of the questions under discussion are timeless, this social and Each of these conversations captures political context gives them a partic- the intellectual and social ferment ular sense of urgency. of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when dramatic social and economic Philosophers: Debates and Dialogues “Recommended!” A 4-part series by Fons Elders — Educational Media Reviews Online DISC ONE (80 minutes) DISC TWO (74 minutes) DISC THREE (80 minutes) DISC FOUR (77 minutes) Noam Chomsky and Alfred Ayer and Arne Naess Karl Popper and John Eccles Leszek Kolakowski and Michel Foucault The second debate is a lively conversa- Philosopher of science Karl Popper and his Henri Lefebvre Part one of PHILOSOPHERS: DEBATES tion between British analytic philosopher close friend, Nobel-prize-winning neuro- There is talk of revolution in the conversa- AND DIALOGUES is the legendary 1971 Alfred Ayer and Norwegian philosopher scientist John Eccles, discuss Popper’s tion between Polish philosopher Leszek debate between two very different heroes Arne Naess, the father of the deep ecology famous criterion of falsifiability: the idea Kolakowski and Marxist sociologist and of the intellectual Left: linguist and activist movement. that a statement is only scientific if it could French philosopher Henri Lefebvre— Noam Chomsky, and cultural theorist and possibility be proved false, which he had perhaps the most overtly political of the It begins with both men’s thoughts about historian of ideas Michel Foucault. articulated against the traditional positivist debates in this collection. skepticism. They agree that a skeptical view of the scientific method. Brought together to discuss their divergent approach is useful, but differ on its limita- Both men are former Communist Party views on the concept of human nature, tions. A skeptical approach, Ayer says, They also discuss the question of truth members (though they disagree on these two heavyweights trace arguments should be tempered with common sense or and facts. Popper believes in absolute whether Lefèbvre left or was kicked out) that resonant well into 21st century politics “natural belief.” truth, but that we have no ultimate means and they examine the role of Marxism and and thought. At the time, both thinkers of attaining it. Nevertheless, he believes Marx’s concept of alienation in creating Naess puts forward an approach he refers were not only heroes within academia, that humans should strive to get closer to a new consciousness and reorganizing to as “total view.” It is a philosophy that but within the burgeoning counterculture this ideal. Eccles agrees, saying that all of society. A fascinating conversation on embraces interconnectedness, and which as well, making this meeting one of the our experience is mediated by our senses, automation and its implications ensues— sees the wellbeing of all as contingent on most important intellectual events of the meaning that we can never break free from one in which Lefebvre is quite prescient on that of each individual. early 1970s. our own perspectives. At the same time, the notion of the increasing urbanization of The conversation moves to a discussion of Eccles argues against pure reductionism the globe, and the rise of a society in which Both thinkers agree on a view that the utility of the concepts of fact and truth. and materialism. total surveillance through computers is a the history of science does not simply Naess says that a dismissal of fact runs very real possibility. consist in adding new knowledge to The conversation briefly turns to politics counter to the British empiricist tradition, previous knowledge, but in examining and society, with Popper calling for an while Ayer believes they are essential in problems from different perspectives evolutionary, rather than revolutionary order to distinguish truth from falsehood. and creating new frames of reference, but approach, and expanding on his famous their disagreement on human nature has Shot in an intimate setting, this debate conception of the “open society.” Total running time (4 DVDs): 311 min | continued to define—implicitly and explic- highlights the two philosophers’ radically Color | 1971 (Introductions added in 2012) itly—central tensions within the Left and divergent approaches, Ayer reiterating his Sale/DVD (chaptered): $498 within contemporary philosophy. commitment to logical positivism, and Naess articulating many of the concerns that would drive the deep ecology movement. 2 ICARUS FILMS SEE PAGE 15 FOR ORDERING INFORMATION 3 Marx Reloaded Lotman’s World A film by Jason Barker A film by Agne Nelk “A great introduction to Marx for a new “A densely structured, informative, and Blending archival footage and imaginative anima- MARX RELOADED examines the generation. Highly recommended.” often entertaining piece of popular tion, LOTMAN’S WORLD introduces us to the life relevance of Karl Marx’s ideas in under- —Simon Critchley science with a potential to impress and work of Yuri Lotman (1922-1993), a pioneer standing the global economic and financial crisis, both specialists and novices. ” semiotician and cultural critic whose many with commentary by leading leftist thinkers, “I can’t recommend this film highly —Maxim Waldstein, Slavic Review writings in semiotics and structuralism dealt with including Slavoj Zizek, Jacques Rancière, and enough for college professors who Antonio Negri, as well as skeptics from the right. Best Documentary Director, a wide range of artistic, theoretical and histor- are fortunate enough to be able ical issues, and laid the groundwork for future to introduce Marxist ideas into 2008 Minsk International Today a new generation of philosophers, artists theorists of signs, including Roland Barthes. a sociology, political science, or Film Festival Listapad and political activists are returning to Marx’s history classroom.”—Louis Proyect, Best Jewish Culture Film, ideas in order to try to make sense of the crisis and Lotman’s colleagues and semioticians such as Counterpunch 2008 Jewish Motifs International Umberto Eco and Peter Torop, discuss the cultural to consider whether a world beyond capitalism Film Festival study of signs, signifiers and meanings, languages is possible. Is the severity of the ongoing reces- 52 min | color | 2011 | Sale/DVD (chaptered): $390 57 min | color | 2008 as both textual and visual structures, and Lotman’s sion a sign that the capitalist system’s days are Sale/DVD (chaptered): $390 now $348 talents as a lecturer and his brilliance as a thinker numbered? Could it be that communism might and writer. provide the solution to the growing economic and environmental challenges facing the planet? In archival interviews, Lotman himself discusses the broader context of semiotics. Interviews Other commentators include: Norbert Bolz, Micha with family members round out this portrait of Brumlik, John Gray, Michael Hardt, Nina Power, Lotman’s life as an intellectual under Stalin and a Peter Sloterdijk, and Alberto Toscano. Russian émigré in Estonia. Together they ask if the current crisis is a bug or a LOTMAN’S WORLD gives detail to the life of an feature of contemporary capitalism, and whether influential but under-recognized thinker. or not the solution entails an approach more radical than liberal reform. 4 IcarusFilms.com CALL TOLL FREE: 800 876 1710 5 Futures Market The Forgotten Space A film by Mercedes Álvarez A film by Allan Sekula & Noël Burch “Devilishly funny.” A film essay in tableaux, FUTURES The “forgotten space” of Allan Sekula and “Engrossing and provocative!” —Louis Proyect, Counterpunch MARKET traces the connections between Noël Burch’s essay film is the sea, the —A.O. Scott, The New York Times “A compelling meditation on dreams memory, public space, real estate bubbles, and the oceans through which 90% of the world’s cargo “Too political for mainstream taste, that doubles as an expose of how international financial crisis. now passes. At the heart of this space is the obligatory for everyone else.” cheap those dreams have become, container box, which, since its invention in the —Jonathan Rosenbaum, FUTURES MARKETS takes us inside the “Futures Market” is a wise and fulfilling 1950s, has become one of the most important Film Comment fluorescent-lit showrooms of real estate expos, film.” —Variety mechanisms for the global spread of capitalism. where developers hawk shares in hotel and condo Premiere, 2010 Venice Jury Special Mention, projects in places from Dubai to Miami. Outside, The film follows the container box along the inter- International Film Festival 2011 Buenos Aires Festival of cars crawl forward on endless stretches of anony- national supply chain, from ships to barges, trains, 2010 Doclisboa Independent Cinema (BAFICI) mous highway whose “straight lines point in the and trucks, mapping the byzantine networks that (Portugal) 2011 Visions du Réel direction of promises.”