Skip to content

Sofia University Lecture Series

Prof. Dr. Dimitar Vatsov

(6 December 2017) On Truth and University Today by Prof. Dr. Dimitar Vatsov

When: 6 December 2017, 19:00
Where: Sofia University Rectorate, lecture hall 240 (floor 1)

In this lecture Dimitar Vatsov will shortly outline the performative theory of truth elaborated in his last book (This is True! Sofia: New Bulgarian University, 2016). He will show that truth-telling is a specific practical gesture, a particular speech device: the utterances of the type “This is true!” generalize what is declared to be true as a sample, as a model to be followed, as a paradigm that should be reiterated always in the same way (but mention that often delusions and for sure lies repeat the same formula). Being a practical gesture – being a performative, – truth-telling never ends in an absolute truth. The truths we utter even in mathematics and physics have certain degree of uncertainty.

This theory has its public consequences: it opens possibilities for its own political uses and abuses that are to be pointed out in advance…
Read more…

Prof-Hristo-Todorov-PhD-photo

(12 November 2014) Humanistic Education by Prof. Hristo Todorov, PhD

When: 12 November 2014, 19:00
Where: Sofia University Rectorate, lecture hall 224 (hall America for Bulgaria)

Prof. Dr. Hristo Todorov is Deputy Rector of the New Bulgaria University. He graduated from the Philosophy Department at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. He has been a lecturer in History of Philosophy at Sofia University. Since 2003 he is Professor at the New Bulgarian University and from 2005 to 2012 was head of the Philosophy and Sociology Department at the same university.

Read more…

(15 October 2014) Physics in the kitchen by Andrey Varlamov, Ph.D

When: 15 October 2014, 19:00
Where: Sofia University Rectorate, lecture hall 224 (hall America for Bulgaria)

How heat propagates in the media, what is the difference between the pizza baking in a traditional wood-burning oven and the electric one, why the flavor of boiled meat and that one made on the grill are so different, how to calculate scientifically the cooking time for the egg alla cocque and spaghetti, why the cin-cin with the crystal glasses filled with champagne or sparkling wine is accompanied by beautiful sound of the crystal, why vodka typically contains 40% of alcohol, why the professional bartenders vary the degree of grounding of the coffee beans depending on the weather? In this seminar we will discuss these and many other questions of the Gastronomic Universe that surrounds us.

Read more…

(25 June 2014) Europe, Ukraine and the Bulgarian strategic choice by Dr. Ognyan Minchev

When:   25 June 2014, 19:00
Where:  Sofia University Rectorate, lecture hall 224 (hall America for Bulgaria)

Dr. Ognyan Minchev holds a degree in Sociology from Sofia University. He specialized Political science and international relations in Washington DC, Los Angeles, Moscow, and Portugal. He taught International relations at Sofia University from 1999 until 2008.

You can read excerpts of this lecture and find more information in kultura.bg and dnevnik.bg

Read more…

(11 June 2014) Climate Change: The Scientific Evidence by Dr. Yves Balkanski

When:   11 June 2014, 19:00
Where:  Sofia University Rectorate, lecture hall 224 (hall America for Bulgaria)

During this lecture Dr. Yves Balkanski will review the recent scientific evidence that links human activities to climate change. He will focus on changes in atmospheric composition and discuss the main gases and particles that affect the Earth radiation budget. He will show what the climate records of the last 800.000 years teach us how the main atmospheric components have varied over the last 8 glacial – interglacial periods and we will see that human activities have produced changes at an unprecedented speed over this period.

Read more…

(14 May 2014) National Reserve Sboryanovo Archeological findings and sensations, sustainability and paradoxes in its management by Prof. Dr. Diana Gergova

When:   14 May 2014, 19:00
Where:  Sofia University Rectorate, lecture hall 23

The long archeological excavations of the National Reserve Sboryanovo revealed the ruins of the capital city of the Northern Thracians – Getty. The uncovered archeological heritage is with a huge potential – scientific, forming the national identity, and economical – as a place of cultural tourism and sustainable development. As a counter-point to the up to now deficiency of interest towards the national archeological heritage, the accumulated experience in the Reserve allows the introduction of a new effective way of preservation and management of the archeological heritage.

Read more…

(9 April 2014) The Hero and the Monster. The Idea of Political Power in the Classic Tragedy and its Modern Interpretations by Prof. Boyan Manchev

When:   09 April, 2014, 19:00
Where:  Sofia University Rectorate, lecture hall 224 (hall America for Bulgaria)
The lecture will explore the idea of the political community in Ancient Greece while focusing on pieces of classical tragedies and in particular on Sophocles’ ”Oedipus the King.” Sophocles’ interpretation of the myth for Oedipus will be examined as a political text, which implies a particular thesis about the political power. The goal of the analysis is to contribute both to the initial structural characteristics of the European idea about politics and to the uncovering of the mythical models, which contribute to the idea’s formation.

Read more…

Skip to content