What does it mean to be a man? Discussions with Ole Bjerg

Ole Bjerg is an associate professor at the Copenhagen Business school.  He writes in his presentation: 

“My research interests circle around a diagnosis of contemporary capitalism. I am currently interested in the simple question: What is money? The assumption is that money is not a given and constant phenomenon. Money changes as the structure of capitalism changes. In my current research I am exploring how the radical transformations of banking and financial markets over the last 30-40 years is related to transformations in the very ontology of money. In order to investigate this philosophically, we need to ask, with Heidegger: How is money? Furthermore, our capacity to find ways out of the current crisis hinges on our ability to imagine new kinds of money systems and new kinds of money.”

Ole is also involved in Men’s work, and I met him at the EMG, European Men’s gathering in northern Denmark.  In this wide ranging conversation we discuss the question:  ‘What does it mean to be a man?’ Ole is passionate about reviving this as a philosophical question, and he is writing a book on the subject of being and becoming a man from a Heideggerian perspective.   We also talked about Jordan Peterson, Slavoj Zizek, and other diverse topics. 

I found our discussion very illuminating and his thoughts both passionate, empathetic, and vital. 

Links: European Men's Gathering: https://www.maniphesto.com/emg 

Ole's Ted talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvH66fz9nyU

Andrew Sweeny

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Music intro: Longstone:  https://soundcloud.com/longstone/works-in-progress-ep-01-menhir