Attention: the philosophers will be moving to the Bayle Building. This move takes no more than 2000 steps, but since slight movements can set in motion a chain reaction of processes, this move might be a giant leap for the academic community.
Philosophers are not famous for their willingness to move. They are 'small movers': as far as philosophers move, they move by foot. Some of them hike through the mountains to return with bags full of riddles and aphorisms. Others like to walk each day for an hour after lunch, whereafter they add some lines to their slowly growing systematic theory. The Socrates-look-a-likes among them populate the streets and the markets, talking and walking in sync. And more contemporary philosophers cycle along the Rhine in the hope of finding a new set of philosophical challenges that can be tackled the rest of the year.
All of these small movers know that to become a great philosopher you do not need to look beyond the horizon or travel over the world. You might even limit yourself to moving around in the city, just like the great philosopher Immanuel Kant did.
Philosophers are also metaphorically small movers. They are not a single big mover who sets the whole universe in motion. To the contrary. With their plurality of arguments, concepts, ideas and theories they introduce no more than slight movements that only slightly affect how humans or societies think. These small transformations in thinking may sometimes result in moral, political or social revolutions, but more often they are too small to be noticed.
Now that we philosophers ourselves are set in motion and have to move from the north side of the campus to the furthest south-east corner; now that we have to cross the pond and exchange our rooms with a view on the auditorium for rooms with a view on the student flat, we are curious to know what this small movement will bring about. It might of course change the entire university. Yet, for all we know, the chances are high that no one will even notice it. In that last case, we are glad that you have read this notice, which, without anyone noticing, may have slightly changed your way of thinking.
By prof.dr. Marli Huijer
Professor in Public Philosophy
As of August 1st, the new location of the Faculty of Philosophy will be the 5th floor of the Bayle Building (J5). Besides this relocation, as of September 1st we will have a new name: Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil).
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Due to the relocation, the faculty will be closed from July 27th until August 1st. Support staff will not be able to answer their phone or e-mail in this period. As of August 1st, you are all very welcome to visit our new offices!
Please feel free to contact us (secretariaat@fwb.eur.nl) in case you have any questions about the relocation or renaming of our faculty.