The Urgency of Theory

Confronted by crises at the beginning of a new century, the world needs innovative ways of thinking: new kinds of education encouraging the active involvement of the citizen, with intellectuals playing unprecedented roles.

Cross-cultural negotiations and alternative understandings of the processes of artistic creation will be at the heart of these responses.

One of the main purposes of "The Urgency of Theory" is to continue the discussion of these issues that was begun in "The State of the World", published by Carcanet and the Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian in 2006.

Thirteen distinguished and creative thinkers were invited to present their latest areas of interest in a series of public lectures in Lisbon in 2006.

Now collected in this volume, their lectures are challenging, stimulating and empowering, offering ways forward for a culture at turning point.