Nostos Conference I

In May 2022, the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation partnered with New Direction and the Foreningen for alle konservative studenter (FAKS) to present the first Nostos Conference in Oslo. The conference brought together students and scholars from across Scandinavia to discuss what it means to be a conservative. The event focused on the life and legacy of the late English philosopher Sir Roger Scruton, who for many years served as the intellectual backbone of the European conservative movement.

Nostos in Ancient Greek storytelling was the principle of homecoming—the return of a hero to his home, his Oikos, at the end of a long journey. The modern political landscape is dominated by the consequences of alienation–from family, from community, from tradition. However, the work of Roger Scruton emphasizes our fundamental human need for belonging and, thus, for nostos. At the core of his political philosophy is his notion of our shared home; the Nostos Conference is a part of our journey there. Through exploring relevant aspects of Scruton’s thinking, like Oikos, Green Philosophy, Beauty and the Nation, the conference sought to build a constructive vision for the future of conservatism in Europe.

CONFERENCE RECORDINGS

INTRODUCTION

Tomasz Poręba MEP

PANEL: SEXUALITY, COURTSHIP & MARRIAGE

Andreas Masvie, Journalist, Minerva and editor, Mentsch Magazine

Dag August Dramer, Philosopher and writer, Sivilisasjonen

Øyvind J.V. Evenstad, Philosopher and former president FAKS Oslo

Moderator: Jarl-Roar Simonsen, Vice President FAKS, President FAKS Tromsø

KEYNOTE SPEECH: WESTERN CIVILIZATION

Öde Nerdrum, Classical figurative painter

PANEL: THE CRISIS OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN EUROPE

Carl Korsnes, Philosopher and Editor, Sivilisasjonen

Eric Norin, Architect and Vice President, Arkitekturrupproret

Professor Robert Adam PhD, Architect and Urban Designer and member of the Advisory Board of the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation

Moderator: Alexander Zlatanos Ibsen PhD, Political commentator, Minerva and senior advisor, The Conservative Party

INTERVIEW: GREEN CONSERVATISM

Johan Wennström, Writer, PhD Political Science

Moderator: Haakon Teig, President, FAKS and editor, Føniks

PANEL: NORDIC CONSERVATISM

Hannes Gissurarson PhD, Scholar and writer

Jakob Söderbaum, Master of Laws, Author and member of the Advisory Board of the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation

Kasper Støvring PhD, Literary scholar and author

Moderator: Øyvind J.V. Evenstad, Philosopher, Former president FAKS Oslo

PANEL: SOVEREIGNTY AND THE NATION STATE FROM AN EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE

Kasper Støvring PhD, Literary scholar and author

Jorge Hernandez, Co-host of the Uncommon Decency podcast & associate researcher at Fundación Civismo

Christian Anton Smedshaug PhD, Manager AgriAnalyse, Associate Professor NMBU, member of the EEA Joint committee

Hannes Gissurarson PhD, Scholar and writer

Moderator: Robert Tyler, Senior Policy Adviser at New Direction

KEYNOTE SPEECH: LIFE AND LEGACY OF SIR ROGER SCRUTON

Professor Ferenc Hörcher PhD, Historian of political thought, poet and member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation