This article is published in number 8 of Vanity Fair on newsstands until February 23, 2021
In this world that goes fast, that swallows continuous information and spits out momentarily absolute certainties, in which it seems that there is no longer any time for reflection, she, Maura gancitanogoing against the tide, it made room. Sicilian, born in 1985, writer and filosofa, speaks of imagination, literature, ancient thoughts, depth and slowness. He writes about Seneca and Michel Foucault, Marcus Aurelius and Gilles Deleuze to explain how philosophy can be put into practice: “Today, many new very interesting philosophical theories are being born, which have to do with the great themes of this moment, with global challenges, with climate change and migration.
It is a philosophy that is not afraid to take risks, which must necessarily dialogue with other disciplines, from science to technology ». Just like she does, who mixes culture with social networks, YouTube with academies and hers Tlon, founded together with her husband Andrea Colamedici (also a philosopher), is a concrete testimony. The name takes up a story by the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius, who tells of a fantastic world: «It is a cultural enterprise, which today has 18 people. We organize events and do training, set up collaborative projects with companies and publish books, do theater and spread ideas, always trying to make sense, to find fertile fields for personal flowering ».
But what space can Philosophy take in such a specialized, practical and pragmatic world?
«Today we follow many initiatives in different sectors. We are realizing that Philosophy is a bridge to understand connections, after all it is the basis of everything. Economics, for example, is extremely philosophical, technology is, as is science. Today those who are far-sighted have realized that there is a need for deeper reflection, in order not to get stuck in a pattern ».
What was the secret of Tlon’s success?
«In Tlon all our passions have come together: that, of course, for Philosophy, but also that for writing and for the pleasure of interacting with people. I love learning more and feel the need to communicate. Initially I did not realize the impact of our videos posted on Facebook, then I met those who had seen them, all interested in reflecting, asking questions. We intercepted that need, because it was ours too. It seemed an absurd idea to bring culture to social media, but instead… ».
Social networks teach us that culture can be developed in a different way, but can we train ourselves without taking into consideration books, from the university?
«I believe that the paths can be many. It is also formed by working and accumulating experience. I myself have acquired different skills over the years. I believe that the essential things are curiosity and awareness of one’s preparation. Today to train you do not need a degree, but you must be prepared to do
send each other what there is to understand. But – here – if you never want to open a book, maybe there is a problem of responsibility… ».
Books. But what will the future of books be? Look at yourself today Could not a good TV series, well scripted, replace a good novel?
«I am very torn. Surely a TV series can be a very powerful narrative: today they are actually written with an awareness and attention.
impressive, but the book gives you an inimitable freedom of imagination, the book is an intimate encounter, a state of attention so profound that it seems difficult to me that it can be replaced ».
What is a book that one cannot not have read?
«A book to which I often return is Vita activa, an essay by Hannah Arendt: it is a book that talks about everything and, as the subtitle says, speaks above all of the human condition. It is a book full of ideas, and everyone should read it, even if honestly it has a rather demanding density of thought. Simpler and more immediate is Simone Weil’s The Person and the Sacred: she was very intuitive and leads us to ask ourselves questions about what goes beyond our human nature, about intangible things. Or another title that I always cite is The brevity of the life of Seneca: even if it speaks to the ancient Romans who then complained that they did not have time, it is a very current book. Seneca says that life is thought to be short, but in reality it is large, the fact is that you don’t look at it in depth. “
And if we looked at it now, not in depth, but in length: what does it see down there, in the future?
“It’s a question I often ask myself, it’s hard to see a clear scenario. I am afraid that human qualities may be lost. We will certainly go towards an ever stronger technology, we will live in virtual worlds, there will be other revolutionary scientific discoveries, but I am afraid of the loss of emotional intelligence, I am afraid that it could be a very beautiful and well organized world, but not very hot and not very empathetic. Beyond all the practical things we have to solve, we will still have to continue to confront the characteristics of human beings, and human beings do not pay attention to how they behave, they do not live an ethical life. Well, what I can’t imagine, but I would like to happen, is that all human qualities were put at the center ».
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