Invitation to an
International Conference
Re-Learning
to Be Human for Global Times:
Becoming Human and Education for/in Global Times
Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
August 1-2, 2018
Conference Program
Theme
Education is an unavoidable issue which no human
civilization is able to ignore. It is concerned with the
very heritage of race or the achievements of generations
derived from a whole cultural wisdom. It is, moreover, the
indispensable basis of stable development for a state or
society. For an individual, the educational process
determines his or her knowledge, character, and is the key
to wellbeing and happiness of life. For prospects of a state
or people, education represents its greater development and
future. It is not surprising, then, in 1997, that UK Labor
Party leader, Tony
Blair, loudly pledged “Education, education, education” during
his candidacy for prime minister.
Educational issues, however, are one of the most
complex fields in the social sciences. This is because
education deals with the “person.” To become a “person,” or,
to live as a person, to fulfill the whole value of a
“person,” his excellence of powers and wisdom, is
undoubtedly an endless task, a task for education. Education
is humbler than anyone believes, since educators are
completely dedicated to learners; it is also greater than
anyone believes, since its final end is the “person,” which
bears within it its unique spiritual dignity and human
value.
Therefore, educational thought is always tied to our
understanding of “person.” Self-understanding of the human
being itself in history continuously changes, deepens, and
expands. Right or wrong, open or constrained, this
self-understanding will never cease: education involved in
this way is thus unlike animal training, but rather, a
non-stop process and progressiveness of human awakening. In
the irresistible trend of globalization, educational issues
once again encounter various new challenges and
predicaments. Along with the ever increasing variety of
cultures, technological innovation, and information, the
value of the human being and human integrity runs,
nevertheless, the greater risk of being overwhelmed.
Re-learning to be human, in such a new social and cultural
context of radical change and constant differentiation, is
our primary task of times, in which education inevitably
stands on the front line.
Regardless of how novel or how advanced the methods of
education are, the fact remains that the very mysterious
identity and unity of humanity in every educational subject
is something that no technique can reach. In our age,
education must make efforts, through constant self-critique
and self-reflection, to overcome the malpractices resulted
from commercialization, massive information, etc., and
furthermore, to strengthen the advantages and progress of
this new era in which we live, so that in the possible
future the ultimate goal of education as “forming man” can
be truly accomplished.
The Following sub-themes are welcomed:
-Foundations and Goals of
Education
-Cultural Traditions and
Character Development
-Moral Education in Schools,
Families, Society and Beyond
-The Impact of Information
Technology on Education
-Human Person and Education
- The Past, Present and Future
of Education
-The Integrity of Person and
Education
-The Spirituality, Freedom and
Education
-Globalization and its Impact in
Education
Abstract:
Please send 300 words and a brief CV to Dr. Katia
Lenehan [katiaho@hotmail.com],
Dr. Wei-Ding
Tsai [tsaiweiding.tw@thu.edu.tw]
and [cua-rvp@cua.edu]
by March 1, 2018. Full papers sent by June 20, 2018 will be
considered to be published if publishable by the RVP in its
publication series "Cultural Heritage and Contemporary
Change."
Logistics:
There is no registration fee, Travel expense will be covered
by participants (or their institutions); the local organizer
will provide accommodations during the conference.
Contact:
Katia Lenehan
Fu Jen Catholic University
Taipei, Taiwan
E-mail: katiaho@hotmail.com
Wei-Ding Tsai
Philosophy Department
Tunghai University
Taichung, Taiwan
Email: tsaiweiding.tw@thu.edu.tw
