Menno van der Veen

(1979) is a philosopher, lawyer, writer, trainer and programme maker. In his latest book Welkom in Youtopia (Welcome in Youtopia; 2010) he sketches the fading away of the borders between the real and virtual worlds by the ever increasing technological possibilities. People collect identities by the dozen as career tiger, sportsman, lover and what have you. Van der Veen wonders how many identities one person can take on. In this book he examines if the use of the various identities adds excess value to real life. In 2009 Van der Veen got his Ph.D. in Delft with a thesis on the relationship between project developers in New York, Amsterdam and London. He also organised debating programmess for De Balie and the Stadsschouwburg in Amsterdam, hosting most of them himself. Van der Veen regularly contributes to daily newspapers such as NRC Handelsblad and De Volkskrant.
(nov 2010)Archive available for: Menno van der Veen
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Wintercafe 3: VPRO De Avonden
The search of VPRO's De Avonden for Utopia continues, with readings by Ernest van der Kwast and Hector Abad. Philosophers Menno van der Veen and Hans Achterhuis will talk about the possibility of novel Utopias. Isn't there a great danger in any form of Utopian thinking? Or have we learned from earlier failed Utopias and are we therefore positively able to freely think up a new and better world Musick: Amarins & Le Gatte Negre Collective. Hosts: Jeroen van Kan and Lotje IJzermans. In Dutch and English.