Tom Chance organised a session on the Philosophy of the Commons which was one the liveliest and most interesting session of the conference in my not especially humble opinion.

One of the panelists; Benjamin Mako Hill argued that its necessary for iCommons to define Free Culture, as he has done in A Definition of Free Cultural Works.

The session prompted a number of articles on the new iCommons website.

“We see before us a turning in free culture. This turning, lies between the claims of the ordinary against those of the extraordinary, and suggests that we need to carefully examine our current situation” wrote David Berry in his article 'On Byways and Backlanes.'

Why Byways and Backlanes? Take the Highway! asked Tobias Schonwetter playfully riffing on the title of Dave's piece.

The Philosophy of the Commons has immediate implications for the identity of iCommons itself. Tony Curzon-Price raised one of these in
iCommons - Dwelling or Database in which he asked 'what is iCommons for?'

The debate on Free Culture, and how important it is to define it made: [t]he Philosophy of the Commons panel ...the most exciting discussion at this years summit” in the “ in 'humble opinion' of alexandre
in Some freedom for someone, somewhere, somehow

Tom Chance has subsequently collected his thoughts on the debate in in a blogpost.

tags: other philosophy-of-the-commons summit07

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