Dénia Festival de les Humanitats closes its most participatory edition with a tribute to critical thinking
Dénia, 26.10.24. The Festival de les Humanitats de Dénia has closed today its third edition with a great success of public and quality in its debates, consolidating itself as a referent of critical thought in the Mediterranean. The final day offered a series of talks and in-depth dialogues on the limits that structure our current life, providing critical perspectives on the great challenges facing humanity. With the participation of leading figures in science, philosophy, sociology, political theory and literature, this final day invited the numerous participants to question the structures that shape our relationships, our freedom and our vision of the world.
The day began with a session in which Professor of Sociology Antonio Ariño and philosopher and astrophysicist Juan Arnau reflected on how limits structure our social and personal dynamics. For Arnau, modern science, sometimes perceived as unquestionable, acts almost like a contemporary myth. This, according to him, leads us to see data as absolute truths when, in reality, ‘data is the child of the human imagination’. ‘Israel is winning the war because it has better science than Palestine or Iran’, Arnau exemplified, pointing out how scientific dominance can drastically tilt power relations on a global level. For his part, Ariño introduced the concepts of free will and individual liberties into the debate, and delved into the relationship between the individual and society, highlighting how these structures determine our perceptions and actions, affirming that individualism is a myth in the social sciences.
Political scientist Máriam Martínez-Bascuñán and Professor of Political Science Luis Ramiro focused the second session on the effects of citizen discontent and the rise of populist movements on Western democracies. Martínez-Bascuñán pointed out that this democratic crisis has manifested itself in anti-immigration discourses and in the rise of autocratic leaders, highlighting how ‘open borders are now synonymous with panic and loss of identity’, a feeling of European self-perception that, according to her, has changed especially after the war in Ukraine. Along the same critical line of thought, Ramiro pointed out that the current polarisation has not only distanced the parties, but also the citizens, generating an ‘asymmetrical polarisation’ that weakens the democratic system. Ramiro warned of the role of ‘political entrepreneurs’ who have exploited social fears, stating that ‘the problem is not so much polarisation as the polarisers’. Finally, Martínez-Bascuñán called for a rethinking of an inclusive and multicultural democracy, where preserving individual rights does not imply cancelling the rights of others.
The closing session of the festival featured writer and journalist Nadia Muraveva, who gave a moving speech on literature as a refuge and a symbol of resistance in times of crisis. With first-hand experience of censorship and persecution in Russia, Muraveva described writing as a great tool for imagining a better future. Referring to her work The Big House, she has meditated on the power of the word to challenge repressions and make visible the truths that authoritarian systems try to hide. ‘Poets must represent the voice of those who cannot raise their voices or exercise their freedom,’ said Muraveva, adding that ’we writers who reject war face enormous challenges, because Putin's supporters live in the absence of moral limits.
During the festival's institutional closing ceremony, the mayor of Dénia and president of the Fundació Creativa Dénia, Vicent Grimalt, emphasised the impact of the event at a time of social and political challenges. He recalled that, when opening the festival, he spoke of solidarity and loyalty, of the best of human beings, and he closes it by apologising to the citizens for the disappointments that the political class can cause, in reference to the turbulent political situation in Spain over the last few days. This festival, according to Grimalt, is a reminder that there are many people interested in improving things. ‘Let's not cling to disenchantment. Let's break the limits, because we can do much better’, the Mayor of Dénia asked, encouraging everyone to break down barriers and work for a more hopeful future.
In his closing message, the festival's academic director, Josep Ramoneda, praised Dénia's involvement in the event, noting the surprisingly large audience participation in this third edition, and especially that of many young people from local high schools and colleges. ‘This great response is an affirmation that the festival must continue,’ Ramoneda declared, also highlighting the growing collaboration with the Valencian Academy as a fundamental pillar for the future of this important multidisciplinary event, which once again this year has shown that reflection and dialogue are essential to build a more humane and conscious tomorrow.
Dénia Humanitats Festival
Dénia Festival de les Humanitats is an initiative promoted by the Dénia Town Council and Baleària. Organised by the Fundació Creativa Dénia, it is under the academic direction of Josep Ramoneda and Jordi Alberich (La Maleta de PortBou), with the institutional collaboration of the Ministry of Culture and the Generalitat Valenciana and the support of Fundación ‘la Caixa’.
www.deniafestivaldeleshumanitats.org
