Fredrik Portin
Biographic Data
| ID | 1202086 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Fredrik Portin |
| GIVEN NAMES | Fredrik |
| FAMILY NAME | Portin |
| SIGNATURE | PORTIN F |
| AFFILIATIONS | Åbo Akademi University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2544-2839 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 8 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 3 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 8 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2018 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Teaching controversial issues in an antagonistic age
This theoretical and argumentative paper contributes to the scholarship on Open Classroom Climate (OCC) and on teaching controversial issues by highlighting how broader societal polarization and antagonistic tensions undermine efforts to cultivate OCCs in higher education. Using a widely publicized incident in a Swedish master’s program as an illustrative case, the paper shows how in-group/out-group dynamics, hostile rhetoric, and chilling effect…
Supporting liberal democracy with curious students
In this theoretical paper, it is argued that developing students’ curiosity is a crucial way in which higher education can contribute to the preservation and advancement of liberal democracy. This argument is developed through two theoretical frameworks: Perry Zurn’s analysis of the politics of curiosity and Bruno Latour’s understanding of liberal democracy as a process of negotiation between openness and closedness. As part of his description of…
Consumerism is not a religion
This theoretical and exploratory article analyzes and critically examines the recurrent argument that equates consumption with religious practice. According to an argument offered mainly by theologians, consumerism is a form of 'ersatz' religion, thus serving as a competitor to the Church. As a starting-point for the exposition of this argument, this article examines the shopping mall as a sacred space by highlighting the theoretical work of Mirc…
The Diplomatic Museum
This article offers a Latourian perspective on ICOM’s new definition of a museum. It argues that a thorough understanding of politics as a public practice is needed in order to make the definition practically applicable. The task of the museum will accordingly vary depending on how the meaning of a museum as a “democratising, inclusive and polyphonic” space is explicated. Here a hitherto unchartered aspect of Latour’s political philosophy within …
Should You Talk to Nazis? The Political Philosophy of Bruno Latour and the Controversy Surrounding the 2016–2017 Gothenburg Book Fair
Through engaging with the political philosophy of Bruno Latour, this paper contributes to the discussion on human rights and the challenge of right-wing extremism. As the paper argues, Latour’s works proceed from a critique of those actors who want to limit or deny the ability of other actors to present their concerns publicly. His political philosophy therefore raises the question of whether all matters of concern should be given public legitima…
The Diplomatic Teacher
In this theoretical and explorative essay, two issues are discussed, which are based on personal experiences of teaching ethics. The first is what educational purpose does it serve to challenge students as ethical subjects while teaching a class? This issue is mainly discussed through an analysis of Gert Biesta’s works. He argues that an essential purpose for teachers is to enable students to appear as subjects. For this to happen, the teacher mu…
Legitimacy for some
The purpose of this article is to examine under what conditions the disruptive character of right-wing populism can be perceived as a positive element within a functioning democracy. Using the thinking of philosophers Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe I argue that the disruptive character of right-wing populism gives the marginalised concerns of ‘the people’ public legitimacy. However, right-wing populism is also criticised for excluding, in a si…
It's Almost Impossible to Speak about It
The focus of this research was on ways in which Christian congregations can address the concept of forgiveness when caring for victims of sexual abuse, and to make suggestions for a restitution mass as a possible way for congregations to work with these victims. Interviews with seven women and one man, who were victims of sexual abuse, were analyzed according to inductive thematic analysis. Our focus was on abuse that had occurred outside Church,…
Consumerism is not a religion
This theoretical and exploratory article analyzes and critically examines the recurrent argument that equates consumption with religious practice. According to an argument offered mainly by theologians, consumerism is a form of 'ersatz' religion, thus serving as a competitor to the Church. As a starting-point for the exposition of this argument, this article examines the shopping mall as a sacred space by highlighting the theoretical work of Mirc…
The Diplomatic Teacher
In this theoretical and explorative essay, two issues are discussed, which are based on personal experiences of teaching ethics. The first is what educational purpose does it serve to challenge students as ethical subjects while teaching a class? This issue is mainly discussed through an analysis of Gert Biesta’s works. He argues that an essential purpose for teachers is to enable students to appear as subjects. For this to happen, the teacher mu…
It's Almost Impossible to Speak about It
The focus of this research was on ways in which Christian congregations can address the concept of forgiveness when caring for victims of sexual abuse, and to make suggestions for a restitution mass as a possible way for congregations to work with these victims. Interviews with seven women and one man, who were victims of sexual abuse, were analyzed according to inductive thematic analysis. Our focus was on abuse that had occurred outside Church,…
Legitimacy for some
The purpose of this article is to examine under what conditions the disruptive character of right-wing populism can be perceived as a positive element within a functioning democracy. Using the thinking of philosophers Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe I argue that the disruptive character of right-wing populism gives the marginalised concerns of ‘the people’ public legitimacy. However, right-wing populism is also criticised for excluding, in a si…
It's Almost Impossible to Speak about It
The focus of this research was on ways in which Christian congregations can address the concept of forgiveness when caring for victims of sexual abuse, and to make suggestions for a restitution mass as a possible way for congregations to work with these victims. Interviews with seven women and one man, who were victims of sexual abuse, were analyzed according to inductive thematic analysis. Our focus was on abuse that had occurred outside Church,…
Should You Talk to Nazis? The Political Philosophy of Bruno Latour and the Controversy Surrounding the 2016–2017 Gothenburg Book Fair
Through engaging with the political philosophy of Bruno Latour, this paper contributes to the discussion on human rights and the challenge of right-wing extremism. As the paper argues, Latour’s works proceed from a critique of those actors who want to limit or deny the ability of other actors to present their concerns publicly. His political philosophy therefore raises the question of whether all matters of concern should be given public legitima…
The Diplomatic Teacher
In this theoretical and explorative essay, two issues are discussed, which are based on personal experiences of teaching ethics. The first is what educational purpose does it serve to challenge students as ethical subjects while teaching a class? This issue is mainly discussed through an analysis of Gert Biesta’s works. He argues that an essential purpose for teachers is to enable students to appear as subjects. For this to happen, the teacher mu…
The Diplomatic Museum
This article offers a Latourian perspective on ICOM’s new definition of a museum. It argues that a thorough understanding of politics as a public practice is needed in order to make the definition practically applicable. The task of the museum will accordingly vary depending on how the meaning of a museum as a “democratising, inclusive and polyphonic” space is explicated. Here a hitherto unchartered aspect of Latour’s political philosophy within …
Consumerism is not a religion
This theoretical and exploratory article analyzes and critically examines the recurrent argument that equates consumption with religious practice. According to an argument offered mainly by theologians, consumerism is a form of 'ersatz' religion, thus serving as a competitor to the Church. As a starting-point for the exposition of this argument, this article examines the shopping mall as a sacred space by highlighting the theoretical work of Mirc…
Supporting liberal democracy with curious students
In this theoretical paper, it is argued that developing students’ curiosity is a crucial way in which higher education can contribute to the preservation and advancement of liberal democracy. This argument is developed through two theoretical frameworks: Perry Zurn’s analysis of the politics of curiosity and Bruno Latour’s understanding of liberal democracy as a process of negotiation between openness and closedness. As part of his description of…
Teaching controversial issues in an antagonistic age
This theoretical and argumentative paper contributes to the scholarship on Open Classroom Climate (OCC) and on teaching controversial issues by highlighting how broader societal polarization and antagonistic tensions undermine efforts to cultivate OCCs in higher education. Using a widely publicized incident in a Swedish master’s program as an illustrative case, the paper shows how in-group/out-group dynamics, hostile rhetoric, and chilling effect…
Law (6 works) · Political science (6 works) · Sociology (6 works) · Law (4 works) · Philosophy (4 works) · Politics (4 works) · Democracy (3 works) · Epistemology (3 works) · Philosophy (3 works) · Aesthetics (2 works)