講演情報
[O2-01]The World’s Oldest Planetarium? A Philosophical Inquiry
*Konrad Friedrich Rubin1 (1. Zeiss-Planetarium Jena (Germany))
キーワード：
philosophy、public relations
Who can legitimately claim the title of “world’s oldest planetarium”—Munich, Jena, or the Zeiss factory’s rooftop prototype? This paper examines how the answer depends entirely on the chosen criterion: first public demonstration, continuous operation, first permanent venue, or technological prototype. Together we will trace how each definition reshapes the narrative; how changing the criteria behind seemingly factual superlatives one by one changes the “winner.”The exercise reveals a familiar truth: superlatives in our field often function as communication and branding devices. Unlike cinemas, which rarely lead with “the oldest,” we ask: Why do planetariums so often reach for a superlative marker—and what does that say about our goals in education, culture, and public engagement?Rather than closing with a final answer, the end remains a question: Which narratives cultivate curiosity, inclusion, and trust better than leaderboards? I offer three practical alternatives for programming and PR—impact-focused storytelling, shared authorship with communities, and transparent criteria—that teams can adopt when they wish to communicate beyond superlatives.Learning outcomes: (1) sharpened criteria literacy for assessing historical “firsts,” (2) critical reflection on PR narratives in the planetarium ecosystem, (3) transferable formats for audience-centered, non-competitive storytelling.