Philosopher Pekka Himanen wants to rewrite "European script"
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By Mari Mäkinen
Europe is in danger of turning into the open-air museum of the world; this is one of the visions against which 31-year-old philosopher Dr. Pekka Himanensays he is fighting as a professor, and as head of a research project on the information society.
The Centenary Foundation of the Technology Industry donated EUR 550,000 on Wednesday to a project of the Helsinki Institute of Information Technology at the Helsinki University of Technology. The five-year-project is aimed at promoting both research and cooperation among universities.
"Europe is writing itself a script for a role in globalisation, in which its inevitable fate is to turn into an old people's home and the world's open-air museum. Our continent could become the place where wealthy Chinese go to look at tourist destinations, and where Americans come to touch buildings that are really old", Himanen laughs. However, he soon becomes more serious.
He feels that it could be possible to write a successful role for Europe if it were to grab onto the challenge of creative economy.
Not even Finland, which has been admired for its status as an information society, should accept the prevailing situation, Himanen says. The challenge that lies between remaining content and developing the information society is an important part of the project led by Himanen.
"Our purpose is to analyse the development trends of the global information society in the long perspective, and to evaluate what the rise of a creative economy means for Finland."
According to Dr. Himanen, the creative economy penetrates all levels of the welfare state.
Himanen believes that research can offer fresh and unifying points of view for the development of the information society, which are important both scientifically and societally.
The goal of the project, which received its grant on Wednesday, is to increase cooperation between Finnish and foreign universities.
For Himanen this means jobs at both the Helsinki Institute of Information Technology and at the University of Industrial Art and Design as a professor of creative economics and philosophy. He will also be seen as a visiting professor at Oxford University.
"In a small country, universities are often isolated, examining issues from a narrow perspective. The idea of this research is to put new blood on the move, and to get people from different universities involved with each other."
To this end, Himanen is beginning a lecture series on the philosophy of creativity and creative economy at the University of Industrial Art on September 27th. The lectures are open to all students at institutions of higher education in the Helsinki region.
In addition to all of his other work, Himanen, who got his doctorate in philosophy at the tender age of 20, is also taking part in the World Economic Forum 2002 process, with research themes that support the projects he heads in Finland.
"The World Economic Forum group comprises people coming from all continents, who are in leading positions, and who are all under the age of 40. Participants include the founders of Google from Silicon Valley. For my part, I represent the world of academia."
Asked what it is like to work in a multicultural community comprising the top figures of his field, Himanen answers without hesitation. "Can't complain."
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 1.9.2005
MARI MÄKINEN / Helsingin Sanomat
mari.makinen@hs.fi
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| 6.9.2005 - THIS WEEK |
 Philosopher Pekka Himanen wants to rewrite "European script" |
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