ERA Rotterdam

The 27th edition of the Erasmus Student Journal of Philosophy (ESJP) is now available! The ESJP published the best philosophical papers, written by your fellow students.
And with this edition, you can get a free coffee at Tosti World while supplies last. You just have to show this post!
This edition features papers by Charlie van Dijl, Heloísa Nerone, Pepijn op den Beek, Alice Lucchiari, a correspondence between Ahmet Öğüt and Umut Derman Tacyildiz and an interview with Dr Irene van Oorschot by Georgina Aránzazu Dijkstra.
A special thanks to Alice Lucchiari and Camilla Iannucci, for the cover art and Umut Derman Tacyildiz for the posters
We hope that their philosophical insights inspire you! You can find the latest edition (and the previous ones) via the link in our bio.
On behalf of the editorial board, Sterre Kanon (Editor-in-chief) and Joren Smits (Secretary).

WHAT: Faculty End of the Year Drink
WHEN: 8th of July, 19:30
WHERE: Kaapse Maria

The academic year is coming to a close, and so is the board year for the 32nd board of ERA.
To celebrate both of these, we would like to invite all ERA and faculty members to join us for a warm evening (with a few free drinks) at our beloved Kaapse Maria!
Traditionally, you will also hear speeches from Coen ten Ham (Editor in Chief of Twijfel), Conrad Heilmann (vice-dean of research at ESPhil), Sterre Kanon (Editor in Chief of ESJP), and Zofia Scattergood (chair of ERA).

Sign-up as well as transferring €9 to the ERA bank account is necessary to confirm your presence at this event. We hope to see you there!

WHAT: 33rd board announcement drinks
WHEN: 17th June, 20:00
WHERE: Kaapse Maria

Drumroll please...
Here comes the 33rd board of ERA!
We are very excited to announce and celebrate the new board and give them a night of baptism they won’t forget.
Grab a free drink together with us, everyone is very welcome
And have we mentioned there is an open bar (for ERA members)?
Hope to see you at Faas!

WHAT: CULTure Talk with Jamie van der Klaauw and Ryan Kopaitich
WHEN: 15th of June, 20:00
WHERE: Proeflokaal Faas

Do you find more philosophy in Dostoyevsky or Tarkovsky? Or perhaps, Virginia Woolf or David Lynch?

In this special edition of Culture Talk, Politics & Critique professors Jamie van der Klaauw and Ryan Kopaitich invite you to a debate on the long-standing question: which artistic medium is a better fit for philosophical questions, literature or film?

Taking opposing sides on the topic, Ryan will defend literature as the better medium to discuss philosophical ideas, while Jamie will make the argument that film is able to engage in philosophy in ways that literature cannot. After each side makes their case, the discussion will then, in true Politics & Critique fashion, be opened up to the audience. If you found yourself picking a side when reading this, then this evening is the perfect time for you to defend and justify your position!

Whether you already have a strong opinion favoring either one, or you just want to hear more about the relationship between philosophy and different cultural media, come join us at Faas for an evening full of critical analysis.

See you there!

Our agenda for June, hope to see you very soon! ❤️

WHAT: Philosophy night - Resistance
WHEN: 12th June, 20:00
WHERE: Dokhuis (Doklaan 10, Rotterdam)

During this edition of Philosophy Night, we will talk about resistance. During these times, resistance is something we almost see on a daily basis. We will ask ourselves who can resist and where the threshold of resistance lies. We will talk about philosophers like Camus, Žižek and maybe even throw in a classic or two. Don’t resist coming to this wonderful return of Philosophy Night!

Philosophy Night is an event where we talk about philosophical topics. You don’t need to read up on anything in advance, as you will get up to speed at the start of the night. After the opening we discuss questions in smaller groups, so everyone gets a chance to share what they think. There is no right or wrong answer. Try to tell why you think something is true (or not) and you will walk out having had wonderful conversations. We rotate between plenary discussions and smaller group conversations to get as much interaction as we can. Welcome to everyone who is interested!

Kas Molenaar is a philosopher from Rotterdam who one could call a ‘real’ philosopher as he thinks and talks about it day and night. During Philosophy Nights he will talk about thinkers and books to give everyone there a starting point for wonderful conversations. Amongst his favourites are Heidegger and Bataille.

Christiaan Verheij is a secondary school teacher from Sliedrecht. During Philosophy Nights he will host the evening and guide the process as best as he can to make sure everyone can take part in our conversations. With a bit of self-mockery, he’ll try to create a place for open conversations where everyone has a place.
No sign-up required.

WHAT: EVA Goes Laser Tag & Pancake Boat
WHEN: Thursday, 4 June 18:30 (Be on time or you won’t get to join the lasergame!)
WHERE: Lasergame Rotterdam, Parkhaven 9 (opposite the Euromast)
PRICE: FREE

Winner winner pancake dinner!

Are you yearning to go back to simpler times with no deadlines and exams? Come join EVA as we travel back in time to your 10th birthday party! We will fight for our honour in a game of laser tag and then board the pancake boat to eat unlimited pancake while sailing around our beautiful city of Rotterdam as the sun goes down!

How can this be free of charge, you ask? Because EVA is the best committee of ERA! So sign up now before it’s too late!

Note: There is limited capacity for this event so signing up does not guarantee a place. If you make it to the list we will let you know!

When: 6th of June
Where: Meet at Rotterdam Central Station at 19:00 (sharp)
Price: 12 euros (6 if you have free travel)

CULT is happy to take you on an adventure to the university city of Leiden for the night. Beginning at Rotterdam Central Station (train tickets included in the fee), CULT will sweep you away. From mini lectures by academics at Leiden University to a guided tour of a 17th-century observatory (famously featured in The Discovery of Heaven by Harry Mulisch) and a boat ride through the old city of Leiden, Museum Night will be a combination of culture, history, and nightlife. After the more intellectually stimulating activities, we will be free to join one of the many concerts dotted around the city. There will also be an option to explore the bar scene around the city as it bustles with students and locals. Exact itenerary will be communicated closer to the date.

Philosopher for hire: will think for food! Do you want to immortalise your time at ERA? Show off your learnedness? Buy a scarf during the summer for some reason?
Drop by the office and try out the brand new ERA scarfs, for the cheap cheap price of 19.99!

WHAT: Pub Lecture
WHEN: May 20th, 20:00
WHERE: Faas

At this month’s pub lecture Ada Bronowski will explore The Stoics on the philosphical value of vice.
In the speech, she will debunk a series of misconceptions on ancient philosophers’ obssession with wisdom and the life of the sage, in particular in Stoic philosophy. If wisdom is indeed an end, philosophical discourse addresses people who are niether wise nor sages and it is indeed not even certain that sages do or indeed need philosophy? This leaves philosophy, paradoxically,  as the practice concerned with vice rather than virtue.

Lets grab a beer together and dive into the vice of it all in Faas on the upcoming Wednesday!