International Conference | „International Planning for Freedom“. Otto Neurath's democratic planning theory in the context of the current climate crisis

Date: June 12 and 13, 2023

Venue: Chamber of Labor and University of Vienna

Idea & Concept: Elisabeth Nemeth und Günther Sandner

A cooperation between Institute Vienna Circle (University of Vienna), Vienna Circle Society (Vienna), Chamber of Labor (Vienna), FWF Project Isotype. Origin, development, legacy (P 31500).

Only a few years ago it was hardly imaginable that demands for planned economy measures would be raised and publicly discussed again. Now the time has come. Ulrike Herrmann's book "Das Ende des Kapitalismus. Warum Wachstum und Klimaschutz nicht vereinbar sind – und wie wir in Zukunft leben werden" (The End of Capitalism. Why growth and climate protection are incompatible - and how we will live in the future) (Cologne 2022) is a bestseller. Her central thesis is discussed in numerous public media: The transition from growth-dependent capitalism to a social and ecological circular economy will only be possible through a "private planned economy".

What she understands by this has striking similarities with the ideas of economic planning that Otto Neurath conceived even before the First World War and continued to develop until the end of his life in 1945. An important point of reference for Neurath was Josef Popper-Lynkeus. The latter justified the demand for overall social planning with a radically individualistic ethic. Seen from today, this combination is surprising and inspiring - not least because Popper-Lynkeus and Neurath were among the first to introduce ecological viewpoints into economic science.

The conference aims to bring together researchers who have been dealing with the economic and philosophical ideas of Neurath and Popper-Lynkeus for years with considerations and concepts that are being discussed today in the face of political, social and ecological crises.

A highlight of the conference will be the screening of the film "Land of Promise" (Great Britain 1946). The film was conceived by Neurath as a "film argument" and directed by Paul Rotha. It argues for combating the housing shortage in post-war England with extensively planned housing programme. The arguments put forward in the film bear a remarkable resemblance to the arguments Ulrike Herrmann puts forward today for a "private planned economy" as a transition to a circular economy.

 

Speakers

Christopher Burke (Reading, UK)

Ivan da Cunha (Santa Catarina, Brasilia)

Hans-Joachim Dahms (Berlin, Germany)

Michelle Henning (Liverpool, UK)

Ulrike Herrmann (Berlin, Germany)

Ortrud Leßmann (Hamburg, Germany)

John O’Neill (Manchester, UK)

Thomas E. Uebel (Manchester, UK)

Troy Vettese (Fiesole, Italy)

Organiser:
Institute Vienna Circle (University of Vienna), Vienna Circle Society (Vienna), Chamber of Labor (Vienna), FWF Project Isotype. Origin, development, legacy (P 31500)
Location:
Chamber of Labor and University of Vienna

Click to enlarge