Our excursions into the favorite entertainments of fascinating people continue with the movie, book and music favorites of Dr. Matti Kamppinen, Adjunct Professor of Comparative Religion at the University of Turku. He also holds positions at the University of Helsinki and the University of Kuopio, and is an internationally recognized expert in his fields of study.
He was one of my favorite lecturers during my university days, a widely read and inspiring speaker with a penchant for interdisciplinary ways of approaching scientific questions. One lecture from him would provide endless, fascinating references to everything from Ancient Greek literature to the latest findings in natural sciences.
His books include:
- A Historical Introduction to Phenomenology
- Consciousness in Philosophy and Cognitive Neuroscience
- Intentional Systems Theory as a Conceptual Framework for Religious Studies
…among others. Buy them here.
Top films:
Some like it hot (directed by Billy Wilder, 1959). Absolutely hilarious, even after having seen it quite many times.
Life of Brian (directed by Terry Jones, 1979). “So funny, it was banned in Norway” as it was truthfully advertised in Sweden. In addition, a solid introduction to any religion.
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (directed by Woody Allen, 2010). This particular WA film depicts beautifully the flow of time in human lifespan.
Top books:
The Mind’s I – Fantasies and Reflections on Self and Soul (1981) by Douglas Hofstadter& Daniel Dennett is insightful, literally.
Introduction to Value Theory by Nicholas Rescher (1969) provides much-needed structures for our sloppy discussions about values.
The Moral Landscape – How Science Can Determine Human Values (2010) by Sam Harris goes a step further and intends to bridge the fact/value divide. Excellent antidote for overdoses of postmodernism.
Top albums:
Duke by Genesis, Division Bell by Pink Floyd, and Going for the One by Yes.
