|
Invitation to the Conference
CULTURE
AND PHILOSOPHY
as Ways of Life in Times of Global Change
August 1-3, 2013
University of Athens, Greece
(preceding the World Congress of Philosophy)
anniversary of the 30th RVP annual
seminar
publication of the 300th volume in the RVP
series: "Cultural
Heritage and Contemporary Change"
Theme
As we move forward in
global times we encounter new, unexpected and unsettling
challenges. The work of abstractive reason so widely pursued
by philosophy in modern times seems bewildered as borders
become porous, societies become multicultural and
intercultural harmony become the new challenges for peace.
For these global times human progress now depends anew on
the ability of philosophy to reengage its sources in
cultures as ways of life.
The location of this
conference in Athens is a unique context in which to reflect
on this emergence of philosophy from culture. The program
includes leading philosophers from each of the great
cultures to open the discussion of the significance not only
of philosophy in and for culture, but the contribution which
their cultures can make to philosophy for the emerging
global whole.
To accomplish this as a
coordinated and creative philosophical effort some recent
related developments will be called upon. Thus the first day
of the conference (August 1) will begin with the
philosophical rediscovery of the nature and evolution of
culture in the last half century initiated through such
studies as, e.g., those of H.G. Gadamer as well as the
efforts of the RVP with philosophers on all continents to
relate their cultural heritages creatively to contemporary
change. This will introduce (1a) a study by Richard A.
Cohen from the University at Buffalo on the thought of
Emmanuel Lévinas for whom not the ego but the encounter with
"the other" so deepens the sense of philosophy in
interpersonal and social life as to suggest ethics as "first
philosophy" for our times. (1b) Mark
Gedney from
the Gordon College will speak on the social role of the
body. (1c) João J. Vila-Chã from Portugal and the
Gregorian University will relate this to a dynamic,
existential metaphysics not only to the love of wisdom but
to the wisdom of love/agape. The afternoon will be devoted
to the discussion of submitted papers related to these
themes.
Yet as global economic
competition now imposes attention to material progress that
tends to marginalizes philosophy and the humanities there is
need to find more meaning for matter, namely its essential
role in binding cultures in local and global cooperation. In
response the second morning session (August 2) will examine
further the horizons of human culture through three studies:
(2a) a statement of the human significance of the material
or embodied conditions of life by Enrique Dussel from
Argentina and the Metropolitan Autonomous University in
Mexico. (2b) The deep sense of Self in Indian philosophy by Indra
Nath Choudhuri, the University of New Delhi. Finally,
(2c) the challenge will then fall to Gholamreza A'avani,
the Iranian Academy of Philosophy, to draw upon the Islamic
cultural tradition to relate spirit and matter in an
integrated whole. These issues will be discussed in parallel
afternoon sessions through the related submitted papers.
Finally, the third day
(August 3) will concern the expansion of philosophical
horizons for work in global times. (3a) Marietta
Stepanyants of the Russian Academy of Social Sciences
will review the recent expansion of hermeneutic studies and
modes of philosophizing integrating developments in social
sciences. (3b) The cultural resources and prospects for such
enrichment of philosophy will be illustrated by two studies
of 5000 year old cultures, namely, those of Africa by M.B.
Ramose of the University of South Africa, and (3c) of
China by Tu Weiming of the Harvard-Yenching Institute
and Peking University. Both will consider how cultures past
and present can enable philosophy as ways of life to
contribute to our global future.
Program
August 1 Openness to the Other
Morning
Sessions (9.00am-1.00pm)
9.00am-9.20am George
F. McLean (RVP):
Thematic Introduction
9.20am-10.20am: Richard
A. Cohen (U.S.):
The Face of the Other: Ethics as First Philosophy
10.40am-11.40am: Mark
Gedney (U.S.):
Recognizing Who We Are. Arendt and Ric?ur on the 'Bios
Politikos?
12.00am-1.00pm: João J. Vila-Chã (Portugal/Rome):
On an Existential Metaphysics of the Wisdom of Love/Agape
Lunch 1.00pm-2.30pm (a
light lunch will be provided)
Afternoon Concurrent
Sessions (2.30pm-6.00pm)
1/Openness to
the other and the cultural pluralism of global times
2/The human
transcendence in metaphysics and religion as ways of life
August 2 Embodiment and Spirit
Morning Sessions
(9.00am-12.30.pm)
9.00am-10.00am: Enrique
Domingo Dussel (Argentina/Mexico):
The Meaning of Matter for Life
10.20am-11.20am: Indra
Nath Choudhuri (India):
Self as Ultimate Consciousness
11.40am-12.40pm: Gholamreza
A'avani (Iran):
Integrating Matter and Spirit for Harmony and Compassion
Lunch 1.00pm-2.30pm (a
light lunch will be provided)
Afternoon concurrent
sessions (2.30pm-6.00pm)
3/ Human
person as integrating matter and spirit
4/ Comparative
nature of culture and philosophy as ways of life
August 3 Cultures and Philosophies as Ways of Life for
Global Times
Morning Sessions
(9.00am-12.30.pm)
9.00am-10.00am: Marietta
Stepanyants (Russia):
Recent Philosophizing as Reengaging Culture as Way of Life
10.20am-11.20am: M.B.
Ramose (South
Africa): African Life, a Philosophy Emerging from Culture
11.40am-12.40pm: Tu
Weiming (China/U.S.):
Philosophy Grounded in Culture: the Chinese Experience and
the Global Future
Lunch 1.00pm-2.30pm (a
light lunch will be provided)
Afternoon concurrent
sessions (2.30pm-6.00pm)
5/Challenges
of philosophy in global times
6/Philosophizing world cultures as ways of life:
(a) Africa
(b) China
(c) India
(d) Islam
(e)
Judeo-Christian
Method
Morning sessions will
consist of three speakers with an hour each for presentation
and discussion. Concurrent sessions each afternoon will
explore the day's theme in greater detail, each speaker
having 15-20 minutes for presentation plus time for
discussion. Abstracts and paper required in advance.
Registration and
submission of abstracts and papers are by email to cua-rvp@cua.edu.
Information requested:
(1) name
(2) scientific degree
(3) place of work and
position
(4) email
(5) title and abstract of
the paper
Submission Dates [cua-rvp@cua.edu]
May 30, 2013, one page
abstract. Those selected for presentation will be notified
by June 30.
July 10, 2013, full paper
for electronic transmission.
October 20, 2013, final
text for publication.
Logistics
Location of the
pre-Congress conference: the School of Philosophy of the
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University
Campus, Zografos, Athens, Greece.
Participants cover their
own travel, room and board. Information on accommodations
available through the World Congress of Philosophy: registration@wcp2013.gr]
or [mhatziioannidi@afea.gr]
For further
information on the University dormitory and some budget
hotels in Athens can be found at this link.
There is no
registration fee.
Co-organizers with the Council for Research in Values and
Philosophy (RVP)
The International Society
for Metaphysics (ISM)
The World Union of
Catholic Philosophical Societies (WUCPS)
The International Society
for Islamic Philosophy (ISIP)
The Conférence Mondiale
des Institutions Universitaires Catholiques de
Philosophie (COMIUCAP)
The University of Athens
(UA)
|
