The conference featured international guests Paul Kingsnorth, Robin Hull, and Ville-Juhani Sutinen, as well as Estonia's leading cultural thinker and translator, Märt Väljataga. The presentations explored Huxley's works and their relevance to the contemporary world.
The event brought together admirers of Huxley's work, including presentations, panel discussions, and a book sale, offering intellectual enrichment and inspiration, and opening new perspectives in an era of crises and change.
For those who were unable to attend, a recording of the conference is available to watch online here.
Aldous Huxley (1894 – 1963) was one of the most versatile and enigmatic authors of the 20th century: a writer, philosopher, sociologist, and explorer of spiritual boundaries. To Estonian readers, he is associated with the novels "Brave New World," "Island," and the mystical collection of quotes "The Perennial Philosophy."
One might say Huxley "was ahead of his time," but more accurately, he had the ability to connect with various eras, including the present. A significant part of Huxley's work is associated with crises, which in the 21st century have become a constant state. A crisis is something we do not wish for, but there is no reason to fear crises – fear of tomorrow is the weakest foundation for overcoming or solving anything. A crisis means the opportunity to re-examine our positions, change what can be changed, and adapt to what cannot. But most importantly, it is a chance to awaken and compel ourselves to think.
Presentations at the conference included:
- Robin Hull, "Why Aldous Huxley Deserves to be Read"
- Paul Kingsnorth, "The Brave New Machine"
- Ville-Juhani Sutinen, "Aldous Huxley's 'Island' – An Ecotopia for a Broken World"
- Märt Väljataga, "Aldous Huxley and Ants Oras: The Unison Dialogue of Kindred Spirits"
- Future panel discussion with the speakers
The conference photo gallery follows, photographer Enlil Sonn.
