Council for Reseach in Values and Philosophy

Brief History of RVP
Regional Programs

Since the 1960s, the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (RVP) has fostered international academic cooperation through a series of specialized regional programs, evolving into a global network for cross-cultural philosophical inquiry.

The European Program

Rooted in the post-WWII intellectual reconstruction, the European program served as a vital bridge between Eastern and Western philosophical traditions during the Cold War. It initially focused on the dialogue between phenomenology and social theory.

The European program began with the integration of Central European scholars into global discourse during the 1970s. This initiative was pioneered by figures like George McLean, who sought to maintain philosophical communication despite political divisions. The program hosted landmark conferences in Rome, Vienna, and Krakow, focusing on the human person, civil society, and the ethical foundations of democracy.

Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the focus shifted towards the role of religion in modern European identity and the challenges of post-communist transition. Scholars from the Baltics to the Balkans have collaborated on projects examining the heritage of Western thought alongside the emerging pluralistic realities of the European Union.

A series of workshops were developed in an attempt to articulate the new sense of the person which underlay the postwar and post-colonial changes sweeping across the world.

In the 1970s and 1980s, a system of joint colloquia was developed with the national academies of sciences in Central and Eastern Europe to break through ideological barriers. The colloquia focused mainly on human dignity as seen by various cultures, and how this could provide philosophical foundations for a transformation of their social lives and systems. One conference in Poland provided the philosophy of Solidarity with its final critical review before it became the transforming and liberating force for all of Eastern Europe. Concurrently, a number of continuing initiatives were realized in other regions: interdisciplinary and intercultural seminars were held on such topics as "Urbanization and Values" and "Relations Between Cultures"; research scholars from all fields took part in the RVP seminars in Washington, D.C. to develop their competencies as leaders and to update their competencies, research agendas and methods of interdisciplinary work; and structures of interdisciplinary cooperation were developed, e.g., on the foundations of moral education

During the 1990s, a series of joint colloquia and general conferences were held on crucial issues including "Economic Ethics and Chinese Cultures" and "Civil Society and Models of Identities in Post-Communist Societies." A global network of up to 60 research teams generated studies constituting the extensive RVP series Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change in print and on the web ".

At the turn of the millennium, the McLean Center for the Study of Culture and Values (CSCV) was established by the RVP as a university footprint to support this effort with the full breadth of the academic research competencies of a University. With the integration of the many regional research teams with their cultural resources and concerns, work is proceeding on humanizing the forces of globalization.

In 1989, as the highly centralized governments of Central and Eastern Europe began to crumble, the RVP convoked the Institutes of Philosophy of the Academies of Science to retrieve the foundational values in their cultures and apply them to national rebuilding as democratic societies. The drafts of the resulting volumes on social reconstruction were presented for critical debate with the other teams from the region, first at a meeting in Krakow in 1991, then at meetings in Stara Lezna and Smolenice, Slovakia in 1992 and 1994, and at annual meetings thereafter in each of the Central and Eastern European countries. Each team has since published a second volume on building democratic societies, or even a third volume on the current theme rejoining Europe in a global context. Studies have been published in this series. With the evolving challenges regional sets of research teams have been formed in Central and Eastern European countries as well as the Balkans, Russia, the Caucasus to work on issues important to the people and the region. Recently more than 10 books were resulted from the project "Faith in a Secular Age," epecially in the Western European countries.

See publications in the series of European Philosophical Studies:West Europea; Eastern and Central Europe.

The Asian Context

Beginning in the mid-1980s, the Asian program focused on the intersection of rapid modernization and traditional values. Collaborations with universities in Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo paved the way for a unique "Asian Perspective" on global ethics.

The Asian program's expansion into China in 1986 marked a historic moment for the RVP. Working closely with Peking University and Fudan University, the Council facilitated a series of seminars on "Chinese Philosophy and Modernization." This dialogue was essential for re-incorporating Chinese thought into the global philosophical community after decades of relative isolation.

In South Asia and Southeast Asia, the program has explored the syntheses of Hindu and Buddhist traditions with modern legal and economic systems. Annual regional meetings in India, Vietnam, and Indonesia continue to address how traditional wisdom can inform sustainable development and social harmony in a rapidly changing world.

The first Chinese joint colloquium was held at Peking University in 1987. Since 1991, annual colloquia with the Shanghai Academy of Social Science and Fudan University were held alternately in China and in the countries along the Asian Pacific rim. Colloquia have covered such issues as "The Humanization of Technology" (Japan), "Economic Ethics and Chinese Culture," and "Civil Society" laying the foundation for the new China. Colloquia were held across China one year and a Chinese team visited six University centers in India in search of the Hindu roots of Chinese Buddhism. Since 2000 the themes have concerned the life of the new China, e.g., urbanization, international relations and public administration as public service. Studies have been published in this series. The RVP played an active role in the Peking Forum which opened in the Great Hall of the People and published the papers of its philosophy section.

In Southeast Asia, the RVP has coordinated biannual conferences with the scholars from the region to discuss such topical issues as "Cultural Traditions and Contemporary Challenges in Southeast Asia; Thai Philosophical Studies," "Relations between Religions and Cultures in Southeast Asia," "Philosophy in the New Age of Religious and Cultural Pluralism," and "The Role of Philosophy in the Development of South East Asia." Biannual conferences have been held in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh and Hanoi.

In South Asia, the RVP has coordinated a set of conferences and seminars across the continent, and also published a set of philosophical studies by the scholars from the region.

n Central Asia, the RVP began its work with the scholars from the region in early 1990s by cosponsoring conferences, seminars and inviting professors to take part in international conferences and seminars in other countries. A set of publications has been published.

See publications in the series of Asian Philosophical Studies: Eastern Asia;South Asia; Central Asia; Southeast Asia.

"Synthesizing millennial traditions with the urgent demands of globalized economic structures."

— Research Abstract, 1992

The Islamic World

"Dialogue is not merely an option, but a philosophical necessity for a cohesive global future."

Working across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, this program addresses the challenges of plurality and the development of civil society within Islamic philosophical paradigms.

Since its inception in the late 1980s, the Islamic program has focused on the intellectual heritage of the Quran and the great philosophers of the Islamic Golden Age. It has established strong partnerships with institutions in Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan. Key research themes have included the relationship between reason and revelation, and the conceptualization of human rights within Islamic jurisprudence.

The program emphasizes the diversity within Islamic thought, bringing together Sunni and Shia scholars to discuss common challenges. Recent projects have focused on "Intercultural Dialogue and the Islamic World," exploring how Islamic values can contribute to a global ethic in the context of migration and digital globalization.

Since 1991 a special focus has been the work with Islam in its meeting with modernity. This has included lectures at al-Azhar University the intellectual center of Sunni Islam in Cairo, and courses and annual conferences in Tehran and Qom the academic center of Shiite Islam. An intensive series of conferences have been held across Central Asia and Pakistan as well as in Malaysia and Indonesia in Southeast Asia on issues of faith and reason, religious fidelity and modern life, Islam and its quest for peace, the title of one of the resulting volumes. Some 18 volumes resulting from this work have appeared in the RVP Islamic series.

See publications in the series of Philosophical Studies

The African Initiative

The African program emphasizes 'Philosophy from Below'—integrating oral traditions, community values like Ubuntu, and post-colonial critique into the global academic discourse.

Initiated in the 1990s, the African program seeks to reclaim the richness of African indigenous knowledge. This has involved extensive research into the communal ethics of various African cultures and their relevance to contemporary governance and social justice. The Council has supported African scholars in articulating a philosophy that is both rooted in local tradition and responsive to universal human concerns.

Key conferences in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa have dealt with themes of 'Reconstruction and Development' and 'Global Justice'. By providing a platform for African voices, the RVP has helped challenge Eurocentric biases in the field of philosophy and promoted a more inclusive global conversation.

The RVP established personal connections with some 24 universities across Africa to assist in their emergence from colonialism and establishment of a world view and philosophy appropriate to their diverse African identities. This has been implemented by a continual series of participants in the annual 10 week seminars in Washington, D.C., a series of lectures held in African university centers ranging from a simple conferences to a major international meeting of over one hundred participants from Africa and other continents; the promotion of research teams; and the publication of a series of volumes.

See publications in the series of African Philosophical Studies

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REGIONAL PARTNERS

Latin American Discourse

Focused on the 'Philosophy of Liberation', the Latin American regional program has been instrumental in exploring the ethical dimensions of economic inequality, indigenous rights, and environmental justice.

The Latin American program, developed in the late 20th century, has been deeply influenced by the 'Philosophy of Liberation' and its concern for the marginalized. Scholars from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile have collaborated to examine how philosophical reflection can lead to social transformation. The program has been a leader in articulating the 'Ethics of Care' and its application to communal life.

A central focus has been the dialogue between Western philosophical frameworks and indigenous worldviews. This has led to innovative research on the rights of nature and the concept of 'Buen Vivir' (living well) as an alternative to purely growth-oriented economic models. The Council's work in this region continues to be a vital source of ethical critique and constructive social theory.

The work of the RVP focused along the Andes from Venezuela to Paraguay. Its theme related especially to the indigenous cultures and the philosophical foundations of moral education. In addition there have been a series of meetings in Brazil and a team from the Southern Cone has been meeting annually. There have been multiple participants in the annual 10 week seminars in Washington, D.C., meetings in Bogota and Lima had substantive participation from North America and Europe as well. Due to difficulties of language fewer books have been published in the RVP series from Latin America then from other continents, though one from Argentina is presently in process.

See publications in the series of Latin Philosophical Studies.Latin Philosophical Studies.

In all over 400 such studies have been published and are available on our website. These, in turn, reflect the scope of the RVP international network not only of individual scholars but of research tems structured in regional and global unities

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