Home and Journey around the Globe
May 30-June 1, 2019
Location: Ala-Too International University,
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
(in conjunction with the Society for Philosophy as Global Conversation)
On the Idea of the Colloquium
The first record of a conjoined usage of philos and sophia is in
Herodotus’ Histories from 5th century BC. Herodotus uses the verb
philosophein (φιλοσοφέων) broadly in the sense of desire to find out and
links it to ‘‘traveling much of the world for the sake of seeing it’’ (I, 30).
In a similar vein, the latter Heidegger relates way (Weg) and waying (wëgen,
Bëwegung) to language and thinking, as well as to the Tao of Laozi.
Heidegger has also designated the fundamental motivation for any
thinking and philosophizing with terms like the uncanny (Unheimlichkeit)
and homelessness (Heimatlosigkeit), and he has likewise discussed its ends in
terms of home (Heim) and homecoming (Heimkehr).
In this sense, philosophy can be seen as a journey around the globe,
which is at once also homecoming. In this homecoming journey,
philosophy takes the form of a conversation, much like the one
described by Herodotus between Solon and Croesus at Sardis on the
meaning of happiness, or like the one of exchange of differences of
significance on the level of culture. Thus, understanding philosophy as
conversation means embracing differences of opinions that come from
all levels of society and culture to contribute to productive debates,
insightful reflections, and practical solutions.
This conference will likely be the first of its kind in Central Asia in the
following sense: many of the presenters will be philosophers and
scholars in related disciplines from Europe, America, Asia, and Central
Asia, whose work in some way directly bears on questions that fall
within the scope of the “humanities and social sciences” broadly
conceived. The aim of the conference is to bring together an
international group of scholars to participate in a “global conversation”
on topics that explore cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary questions
with philosophical import. In this sense, the topics of interest to the
colloquium can be related but not limited to,
— Phenomenology, existential philosophy, post-structuralism
— Metaphilosophy, pragmatism, and communicative action
— Language, thinking, and technology
— Critical theory, literature, and art
— Ethics, religion, and spirituality
— Power, politics, and economics
— Race, gender, sexuality, identity
— Refugees, strangers, and outcasts
— Community building, inclusion, and integration
— Human person, health, and self-creation
— Globalization, multi-culturalism, and the meaning of nationality
— Trans- and cross-cultural horizons
— Environment, common concerns, and common solutions
— Radicalization, Populism, and Extremism
— Poverty, Gentrification, and Biopolitics
*Conference organizers will consider conference presentations for
publication (after a review process) in the second edition of Global
Conversations: An International Journal in Contemporary Philosophy and Culture,
an online open-access journal inaugurated after the first conference of
the Society for Philosophy as Global Conversation in March, 2018.
*Target Audience: Philosophers and faculty from related disciplines (e.g.
humanities, literature, art, journalism) with an interest in cross-cultural
and cross-disciplinary dialogue and research
*Conference Fee: None.
* An optional cultural program and conference dinner will be organized.
* Kyrgyzstan has a visa free regime for citizens of 60 countries, and
many others could obtain visas at Manas International Airport in
Bishkek or online. More information is available at
http://evisa.e-gov.kg/get_information.php?lng=en
* For inquiries about travel to Bishkek, please contact Jon Mahoney at
jmahoney@ksu.edu
Abstract Submissions
We invite abstract-proposals within 300 words at
global.conversations.ph@gmail.com by March 1, 2019 (with early
submission encouraged).
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