Fédération Internationale des Sociétés de Philosophie

ITALIE

Istituto Italiano per gli Studi Filosofici

May Lecture Series -- Palazzo Serra di Cassano, Napoli, Via Monte di Dio, 14

Antonio Gargano, Istituto Italian per gli Studi Filosofici: "Martin Heidegger: ontologia e ermeneutica" -- 12 maggio, ore 15:30

Francesco Tomatis, Università di Salerno: "Schelling e i principi primi" 

                                                              "Dialettica o stupore" -- 16 maggio, ore 16.00

                                                               "L'Uno, il che" -- 17 maggio, ore 16.00

                                                              "Principe e potenze" -- 18 maggio, ore 16.00

Petar Bojanic, University of Birkbeck, London; Institute of Philosophy & Social Theory, Belgrade -- "What Is an Institution?"

                                                              "Institution and Documentalità (Searle and Ferraris)" -- 16 maggio, ore 16.00

                                                              "Institution and Instinct" -- 17 maggio, ore 16.00

                                                              "Institution and Violence (War)" -- 18 maggio, ore 16.00

                                                              "Institution and Revolution" -- 19 maggio, ore 16.00

                                                              "Institution and Institutionalism" -- 20 maggio, ore 16.00

Iain Chambers, Università degli Studi di Napoli «L'Orientale»: "Prospettive Mediterranee e Percorsi Postcoloniali" 

                                                              "La questione meridionale: del Mezzogiorno al sud del mundo" -- 17 maggio, ore 16.00

                                                              "La migrazione, la precarietà e la modernità" -- 19 maggio, ore 16.00

                                                              "I suoni del Sud" -- 24 maggio, ore 16.00

                                                              "La città postcoloniale" -- 26 maggio, ore 16.00

PHILIPPINES

Philippine Academy of Philosophical Research

Announcement:

Four International Philosophical Societies to Converge in Manila Congress

Four international philosophical societies - the Conférence Mondiale des Institutions Universitaires Catholiques de Philosophie, the Academie du Midi, the World Union of Catholic Philosophical Societies, and the Asian Association of Christian Philosophers - will collaborate with the Department of Philosophy of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for an international philosophical conference from May 23 to 26, 2011 in Manila, PHILIPPINES. With the theme Thomism and Asian Cultures: Celebrating 400 Years of Dialogue Across Civilizations, the gathering of scholars is in line with the year-long celebrations for the 400th year of the University. More information can be found at the congress's official website at http://ust400philosophy.org.

For inquiries, please e-mail the Secretariat at ust400philosophy@gmail.com.

RUSSIE

Bulletin of the Russian Philosophical Society
No. 1 (57) 2011 (256 p.)

          We hereby announce publication and circulation of the Bulletin of the Russian Philosophical Society No. 1, 2011 (Editor-in-Chief, Professor A.N. Chumakov; Executive Secretary, Professor N.Z. Yaroschuk).

          Instead of the Editor's Column the issue opens with information about the approaching 6th All-Russian Philosophical Congress. The Congress will take place in June 27-30, 2012 at Nizhnii Novgorod. Its topic will be Philosophy in Contemporary World: Dialog of World-visions. The first information letter about its academic program will be published in the next Bulletin. This issue informs about the Organizing and the Program committees of the congress; about conditions and terms of applications and abstract submissions. The Organizing committee will send personal invitations to everyone, whose abstract is submitted timely and accepted. Selected materials will be published before the congress.

          Registration fees are as follows:

         Up to April 1, 2012

                – for RPS members – 500 RUB;

                – for non-members – 2000 RUB.

         After April 1, 2012.

               – for RPS members – 1000 RUB;

               – for non-members – 2500 RUB.

         For students and Ph.D. students – 50% of the above-mentioned.

         Citizens of countries other than Russia are equal to Russian citizens.

          Web-site of the congress and e-mail for submitting abstracts, was well as conditions and terms for paying the registration fee, will be available in the 2nd issue of the Bulletin (2011), as well as on web-sites of the Presidium and of the other RPhS units.

          Read Information from the RPhS Regional Branches and Organizations with detailed information about the 8th Student Philosophical Readings dedicated to analysis of contemporary methodology and organized by the Don Philosophical Society at the Southern Federal University; about a philosophical seminar discussing the issue of juvenile justice at the St. Petersburg State Institute for Psychology and Social Work; about the International Theoretical and Practical Conference Social Development Trends: Unity of Self-organizations and Governance at Belgorod.

          Read News from the Moscow Philosophical Society about a forthcoming General Meeting of the Moscow Philosophical Society on April 20, 2001; about the 10th Frolov Readings in memory of Ivan T. Frolov at the RAN Institute of Philosophy; about the 4th Ovsiannikov International Aesthetic Conference Borders of Contemporary Aesthetics and New Strategies of Interpreting Art at the MSU Department of Philosophy in memory of Professor M.F.Ovsiannikov; about the creation at the RAN Institute of Philosophy of a new administrative unit: Ontology group.

             Events and Comments inform about the memorial evening at the RAN Institute of Philosophy dedicated to the outstanding philosopher Th.Kh.Kessidi to commemorate his obit; about the 1st All-Russian (with international participation) Conference Holism in the World of Philosophy and Socio-Humanitarian Sciences at the Lipetsk State Technological University; about Inter-University Conference Philosophy of Science in the Information Society: Topical Issues at the Department of Philosophy of the Saratov State University; about the annual International Conference Postmodern Culture: Body, Text, Communication at the Department of Philosophy of the Rostov-na-Donu YuRGI; about the 2nd Inter-University Student Culture Studies Conference Humanism and Tolerance in the Culture of Modern Man organized by the Chair of Philsoophy of the Kazan State Technological Tupolev University; about a roundtable discussion dedicated to a unique event – a publication of a Russo-French journal «L'UNIVERS DE L'HOMME / VSELENNAYA CHELOVEKA», held by the Don Philosophical Society in collaboration with the Southern Federal University at Rostov-na-Donu; about the 60th anniversary of the Chair of Philosophy of the Perm State University; about the regular meeting of a seminar of the Russian-Bavarian Research Zinoviev Center at the MSU History Museum; about the Inter-University Research Seminar Russian Philosophy and the Formation of Patriotic Self-Consciousness in Russia in Kaluga.

          Read about The Problems of Teaching Philosophy in the articles by Prof. A.G.Mustafin (Ufa) and Profs. E.V.Zolotukhina-Abolina and V.E.Zolotukhin (Rostov-na-Donu).

             Managing Education: Modern Approaches publishes a report about a meeting of the Presidium of the Teaching and Methodological Council on Philosophy and Religion Studies of the International Theoretical and Practical Conference Unit on the Classical University Education discussing the presentation of the Dean of the Department of Philosophy of Novosibirsk State University Prof. V.S.Diev Master Programs in the Structure of Philosophical Education; and an interview with Prof. M.A.Rozov (Moscow).

             Topical Issue is presented in the article Prolegomena to the Dialectics of Property Forms by the Corresponding Member of RUN R.I.Khazbulatov (Moscow).

          To learn about Scholarly Life in the Near Abroad read Philosophical Concept of All-Unity in the Light of Modern Science by Prof. Z.A.Kulizade (Baku, Azerbaijan), Academic Discourse on Power and Noospherology by O.K.Shevcheko, Ph.D. (Simpheropol, Ukraine), Process of Knowledge from the Constructivist Position by D.M.Bozarov (Tashkent, Uzbekistan).

             International Contacts informs about the Athens Philosophical Symposium The Best Philosophical Ideas for the Human Welfare participated by philosophers from various countries including Russia; about the International Forum Culture of Health and Long-living held at Nanjing (China).

          Published By Way of Discussion are Speculative Notion of Time by A.S.Gurianov, Ph.D. (Kazan), Plato's Idealism Evaluated by Lenin by L.Ya.Podvoiskii, Ph.D. (Astrakhan), The Borders of Truth and Lie by Prof. M.M.Prokhorov (Nizhnii Novgorod), Are Ways of Knowledge Intelligible? by Prof. E.A.Taisina (Kazan), About the Philosophy of Planetary Reason by Prof. A.I.Uvarov (Moscow), About the Essence of Natural and Artificial Intellect by Prof. I.I.Bulychev (Ivanovo), About the Problem of the Truth of Moral Judgments by Prof. M.G.Zelentsova (Ivanovo), About the Specificity of Mytho-Epic Consciousness by Prof. M.A.Shenkao (Cherkessk).

          Read Important Discussion for Autotroph Survival Strategy by Prof. A.D.Moskovchenko (Tomsk).

             Standpoint presents Which Fundamental Values does Russia Need? by Prof. M.M.Skibitskii (Moscow).

          To learn more about the Union of Philosophy and Natural Sciences read Keys to the Global Crisis: Sustainable Development and Noospheric Socialism by Prof. V.V.Mantatov (Ulan-Ude) and Approaching the Mystique of the Universe by V.S.Markov (Moscow).

          For History of Russian Philosophy read Vision of Time and Space in the Works by V.F.Voino-Yasenetsky by Prof. Yu.Yu.Novikov (Moscow).

             Continuing the Debate presents Do We Return to the Classical Russian Religious Philosophy by M.I.Sternberg (Moscow).

             Philosophical Anthropology presents Trends in Pedagogic Anthropology by G.A.Novichkova, Ph.D. (Moscow).

             Philosophy of Culture presents National and Cultural Identity in the Information Age by Prof. O.B.Skorodumova (Moscow); Circus Act: Visual Effect or Democratism by V.A.Barinov, Ph.D. (Liubertsy); The Issue of Integration between Sport and Art by Prof. V.I.Stoliarov (Moscow).

             Philosophy Abroad presents International Ontology Congress by Prof. Viktor Gomez Pina (Barcelona, Spain).

          See Global Studies for Identity Problem: View from Periphery by Prof.G.G.Salikhov (Ufa).

          Read Eurasianism: Prospects of Comprehension for West – East: Counter Trends in Philosophy by Prof. N.Z.Yaroshchuk (Moscow).

          Read Topical Interview for a conversation (final) between Prof. P.E.Boiko (Krasnodar) with a philosopher E.S.Linkov from St. Petersburg on Movement to Reasonable Spiritual Being as the Universal Necessity of Our Time.

             Academic Communities presents Development of Philosophical Socio-techno-natural Studies in the Briansk Region by Prof. V.V.Miroshnikov (Briansk) and Methodological Consequences of the Paradigm Shift for Education Theory by G.Yu.Beliaev, Ph.D. (Moscow).

          Feedback presents analytical and critical review of RPhS Bulletin 2011:4 by an independent observer Prof. V. F. Druzhinin (Moscow) and S. S. Peruanskii, Ph.D. (Moscow).

       Read Responding our Publications for No Guerilla in Philosophy by Prof. V.N.Sagatovskii (Belgorod).

         Remark by S. S. Peruanskii, Ph.D. (Moscow), Prof. A.G.Pyrin (Moscow), Larkov S.M. (St.-Petersburg).

         Philosophy on Internet presents About the Web-site of Prof.Sagatovskii by N.N.Shchukin, Ph.D. (Moscow).

       To be Remembered presents The Patriarch of Russian Elite Studies by Prof. P.L.Karabushchenko (Astrakhan) about Prof. G.K.Ashin and 80th Jubilee of Artur Sagadeev (Memoirs about Brother) by M.A.Sultanova, Ph.D. (Moscow).

       The Poetic Page presents verses by Eduard Girusov (Moscow) and Leonid Podvoiskii (Astrakhan).

       Read Philosophers Joke Too for humoristic Philosophisms in Quotes and Discreditable Sonnets by Assist.Prof. V.L.Ochkin (Penza).

       See Useful Information about the creation of World-vision Internet forum; about a photo web-exhibition by Prof. Yu.V.Popkov (Novosibirsk).

       Mentioned as Noteworthy is information about the forthcoming Spartan International Conference in Moscow; about the forthcoming All-Russian Theoretical and Practical Conference Kireevskii Readings in Kaluga.

       See also book reviews, annotations, book announcements, information about new philosophical books, books and journals available at the RPhS Presidium, doctoral (16) and candidate (21) dissertations in philosophy defended in the first quarter of 2011.

       Published also are letters of congratulations on jubilees and other notable events in philosophers' lives and obituaries.

       The issue contains information about the Russian Philosophical Society's Additional 2011 List of Conferences complimenting the information of the previous issue (128 conferences totally)

       Read also information about the RPhS membership for 2011. Like in other issues of the Bulletin, it is explained that the Russian Philosophical Society counts as its members only those who have paid the yearly membership fee and have been consequently included in the current year membership list. They henceforward enjoy all the privileges of the Society members, including subscription to the RPhS Bulletin. Full membership lists are published yearly in RPhS Bulletin No. 3 for the year in question.

       The Bulletin's subscription index in the Rospechat Catalogue is 79643. Please, send your e-mail messages addressed to the RPhS Presidium and the RPhS Bulletin Editorial Board to rphs@iph.ras.ru.

       Our Internet websites are www.logic.ru/~phil-soc; www.dialog21.ru; www.globalistika.ru; www.rosfilos.org.

       To contact the Editors, please, call (495) 609-90-76 or (495) 697-92-98.

Bulletin
of the Russian Philosophical Society
No. 2 (58) 2011 (224 p.)

We hereby announce publication and circulation of the Bulletin of the Russian Philosophical Society No. 2, 2011 (Editor-in-Chief, Professor A.N. Chumakov; Executive Secretary, Professor N.Z. Yaroschuk).

The Editor's Column opens the issue. Under headline Jubilee as a Pretext for a Serious Discussion the First Vice-president of the RPhS Professor A.N. Chumakov reminds that 2011 is the 40th anniversary of the USSR Philosophical Society, of which the Russian Philosophical Society is a successor, and the 15th anniversary of the first issue of the Bulletin of the Russian Philosophical Society.

The RPhS Presidium and the St.-Petersburg branch of the RPhS have decided to hold, within a framework of the Philosophical Days in St.-Petersburg (November 17-19, 2011), a solemn broad meeting of the RPhS Presidium and special Readings, dedicated to memorable dates of the Philosophical Society and its Bulletin. There are suggestions to hold special talks (jubilee meetings) in the RPhS branches; and to publish the results of such talks with critical analysis of the Society's activity and its tasks in the 3rd (59th) Issue of the RPhS Bulletin dedicated to the jubilee. The RPhS members are invited to share their memories, ideas, creative suggestion related to the RPhS activity and its Bulletin. All materials are due to September 5, 2011.

Read information The Approaching 6th All-Russian Philosophical Congress. The Congress will take place in June 27-30, 2012 at Nizhnii Novgorod. Its topic will be Philosophy in Contemporary World: Dialog of World-visions.

Official web-site of the Congress: http://www.rfk2012.unn.ru.

Read Information from the RPhS Regional Branches and Organizations with detailed information about the basic directions of the activity of the Kuzbass RPhS branch; about Astrakhan Readings Cultural Heritage of Uzbek (Turkic) Enlighteners at the Territory of Astrakhan Oblast timed to the 570th anniversary of an Uzbek poet and thinker Alisher Navoi; about the meetings of the activists of the Bashkir RPhS branch in Ufa with Prof. I.K.Liseev, chairman of the Moscow Philosophical Society. 

Read News from the Moscow Philosophical Society about the results of the General Meeting of the Moscow Philosophical Society, for example, the report of the Administrative Board, the new members of the Administrative Board, the election of Prof. I.K.Liseev as the Chair of the Board, Prof. T.V. Kuznetsova and S.A.Pavlov, Ph.D. as Deputy Chairs, E.I.Yaroslavtseva as the Secretary Academic. Read information about the Academic and Practical Conference Social and Economic Problems of Urban Development and Architecture held at the MSGU; about roundtable discussion Geopolitical and Ethnocultural Problems in the Sphere of Tourism held at the Moscow Institute of Tourist Industry.

Events and Comments inform about the First Conference of the World Cultural Forum (Taikhu, China); about the World Forum on Intercultural Dialog in Baku (Azerbaijan); about the Fourth Ovsiannikov International Aesthetic Conference Borders of Contemporary Aesthetics and New Strategies of Interpreting Art at the MSU; about an Internet-project Russian Cosmism: Philosophy, Science, Art at MIREA (Moscow); about the meeting of the city philosophical seminar dedicated to the 15th anniversary of a theoretical journal «Credo new» in St.-Petersburg; about the presentation of the book by Prof. M.I.Bilalov Dagestan in Culture and Civilization at VVTs (Moscow); about Interdisciplinary Research and Methodology Seminar Problems of Teaching Logic at Humanitarian Universities accompanied by presentation of a textbook Logic by N.Z. Yaroshchuk at the Financial University (Moscow).

Read about The Problems of Teaching Philosophy in the article by Prof. V.N.Porus (Moscow) Philosophy of Ph.D.s – Illusion and Reality.

Managing Education: Modern Approaches publishes interviews with Prof. B.A.Yakimovich, Rector of the Izhevsk State Technical University and Prof. N.I. Kuznetsova from the Russian State University of the Humanities.

Published By Way of Discussion are Multiqualitative Being by Prof. V.N.Sagatovsky (Belgorod), Structure of State Power and Forms of Its Transition by Prof. T.N.Semenova (Moscow), Consensus Between State and Society: Step to De-alienation? By B.I.Zelenko, Dr.hab. (Moscow).

Read Philosophical Journalism for Contemporary Women's Share by Prof. A.A.Krushanov (Moscow) and Philosophy Everywhere by Prof.Kutyrev V.A. (Nizhnii Novgorod).

To learn more about the Union of Philosophy and Natural Sciences read Physics as an Imitation and Metaphor of Mathematics by Prof. V.N.Savchenko (Vladivostok), Phenomenon of Life and Thermodynamics by M.I. Shterenberg, Sc.D. (Moscow), Structure of the Space of Memory by V.B.Kudrin (Moscow).

For History of Russian Philosophy read Idolatry and Idoloclasm by Prof. N.S.Semenkin (Moscow).

 Continuing the Debate presents Development of Discourse of Science and Religion by V.V.Farmakovsky (Nizhnii Novgorod) and Be Careful: Atheism by V.V. Maksimov (Moscow).

Philosophy of Culture presents Metaphysics of the Last Supper by Assistant Professor O.V.Stroeva (Moscow).

See Global Studies for Geopolitical Arms as an Aspect of Globalization by Prof. A.G.Pyrin (Moscow) and State-Oligarchic Monopolism and the Country's Future by Pof. G.S.Smirnov (Ivanovo).

Read Eurasianism: Prospects of Comprehension for Teleology of Social Systems by V.V.Yusupov, Ph.D. (Volgograd), Interconnected World in the Process of Globalization by Prof. G.S. Tabatadze (Volgograd), interview by Gudrat Seifi with Prof. G.A.Yugai (Moscow).

Eastern Philosophies are represented by Mystics as a Universal Phenomenon of Spiritual Culture by Prof. Z.A.Kulizade (Baku).

Academic Communities presents information about activities of the Research Board of the Russian Academy of Science related to methodology of artificial intellect at MIREA (Moscow).

Feedback presents analytical and critical review of  RPhS Bulletin 2011:1 by an independent observer Prof. V. F. Druzhinin (Moscow) and S. S. Peruanskii, Ph.D. (Moscow).

Important Discussion presents My Answer to those who Insult Philosophy and Philosophers by Prof. T.P.Lolaev (Vladikavkaz).

Read Responding our Publications for About Private Property by V.I.Dolzhenko (Moscow).

 Polemics presents Confessions of a Russian: Why I do Not Vote for United Russia Party by Prof. H.G. Tkhagapsoev (Nalchik), Capitalism and Socialism: On Moral Progress by Prof. G.N.Gumnitsky and Prof. M.G.Zelentsova (Ivanovo).

See Page of a Young Philosopher for World Leadership Conference in Lisbon by Ph.D.Student L.V.Vedmetskaya (St.-Petersburg).

Standpoint presents Influence of Pareto's Ideas on the Formation of Social and Philosophical Positions of R. Aron by G.A.Novichkova, Ph.D. (Moscow), Nature of Crisis Phenomena In Philosophy by G.N.Mezentsev (Moscow), Knowledge and Constructivism by Prof. M.M. Prokhorov (Nizhnii Novgorod).

Remark by Prof. A.G. Myasnikov (Penza) – In a Den; by Prof. A.G.Pyrin (Moscow) – International Day of a Man's Space Flight.

 New Journals presents Humanitarian Sciences published by the Financial University.

Read Philosophical Prose for Gulliver for Adults, or Bright Future according to Jonathan Swift by K.N.Atarova (Moscow).

 The Poetic Page presents verses by Olga Harlamova (Moscow) and Evgenia Grigorieva (Saransk).

Read Philosophers Joke Too for humoresques by Gennady Mezentsev (Moscow) and Leonid Podvoisky (Astrakhan).

Mentioned as Noteworthy is information about some forthcoming conferences of the RPhS.

See also book reviews, annotations, book announcements, information about new philosophical books, books and journals available at the RPhS Presidium, doctoral (15) and candidate (44) dissertations in philosophy defended in the second quarter of 2011.

Published also are letters of congratulations on jubilees and other notable events in philosophers' lives and obituaries.

As usually, read the information about the RPhS membership for 2011. Like in other issues of the Bulletin, it is explained that the Russian Philosophical Society counts as its members only those who have paid the yearly membership fee and have been consequently included in the current year membership list. They henceforward enjoy all the privileges of the Society members, including subscription to the RPhS Bulletin. Full membership lists are published yearly in RPhS Bulletin No. 3 for the year in question.

The Bulletin's subscription index in the Rospechat Catalogue is 79643. Please, send your e-mail messages addressed to the RPhS Presidium and the RPhS Bulletin Editorial Board to rphs@iph.ras.ru.

Our Internet websites are www.logic.ru/~phil-soc; www.dialog21.ru; www.globalistika.ru; www.rosfilos.org.

To contact the Editors, please, call (495) 609-90-76 or (495) 697-92-98.

TURKEY

PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF TURKEY / TÜRKİYE FELSEFE KURUMU 

(President: Ioanna Kuçuradi, Vice-president: Betül Çotuksöken, Secretary General: Gülriz Uygur, Treasurer: Harun Tepe, Member of the Executive Board Responsible for Education: Sevgi İyi)

Activities from September 2010 to August 2011

At the National Level:

1. The yearly Istanbul Seminar on Widespread Misunderstandings in the History of Philosophy held in Istanbul on December 2 and 3, 2010 and hosted by the Department of Philosophy of Yeditepe University. After the inaugural speeches delivered by Ioanna Kuçuradi and Saffet Babür, papers were presented by Özge Ejder ("On the Relation between the Modern and the Postmodern"), Sanem Yazıcıoğlu ("A Confrontation in Philosophy: The Transcendental Subject-Historical Subject Debate"), Tülin Bumin ("Deleuze Reading  the History of Philosophy"), Cengiz İskender Özkan ("Which Plato: The One in the Timaios or the One in the Parmenides?"), Kaan Özkan ("A Skeptical Approach to Descartes"), Kadir Çüçen ("On Heideger's Reading of the History of Philosophy"), Sinan Özbek ("Three Misunderstandings of Marx"), Hülya Durudoğan ("John Stuart Mill's Male Women"), Ali Taşkın ("The Debate on the Tradition of Beginning the History of Philosophy with Thales"), Metin Becermen ("Is Socrates a Wise (Sophos) or a Philosopher?"), Gülriz Uygur ("Law and the Distinction between Ethics and Morals"), Ahmet Ulvi Türkbağ ("Power and Right: The Misinterpretation of Spinoza's Conception of Right"), Hatice Nur Erkızan ("Aristotle's Theology and its Impact on Islamic Philosophy: On the Consequences of a Misunderstanding"), Siyaveş Azeri ("Is Marx's Conception of History Deterministic?"), Stephen Voss ("Descartes as an Existentialist"), Lucas Thorpe ("Did Anyone ever Think that Knowledge was Justified True Belief ?"). Harun Tepe, Yusuf Örnek, Doğan Özlem and Betül Çotuksöken chaired the sessions.

2. Organization, between December 4, 2010 and February 15, 2011, of a course on "Philosophy and Poetry" focusing on the following issues: "Poetry from a Philosophical Viewpoint" by Ioanna Kuçuradi, "Philosophy and Poetry" by Abdullah Kaygı,"Poetry as a Reascription of Meaning to Reality" by Salih Bolat, "Does Poetry have any Dept to Philosophy?" by Özdemir İnce, "Philosophy as Poetry" by Güngör Dilmen, "Notes on the Relationship Between Metaphor and Reality" by Hilmi Yavuz, "The Art of Poetry from Aristotle to Heidegger" by Sevgi İyi, "Poetry Based on Ideology and Worldview and Philosophical Poetry" by Yücel Kayıran, " To Read the World through Poetry" by Işık Eren.   

3. Organization of the XVth National Philosophy Olympiad on March 6, 2011, in twelve centres all over Turkey.

4. Organization of a seminar series entitled "Law and Ethics" for the members of the Ethical Committee of the Ankara Bar Association: "Evaluation and its Problems" by Abdullah Kaygı, "Values and their Problems" by Harun Tepe, "Ethics and its Problems" by Ioanna Kuçuradi, "Legal Ethics and its Problems" by Gülriz Uygur.

Publications:

- Harun Tepe, Etik ve Metaetik (Ethics and Metaethics), 2011, second edition.

- Immanuel Kant, Gelecekte Bilim Olarak Ortaya Çıkabilecek Her Metafiziğe Prolegomena/ Prolegomena zu jeder künftigen Metaphysik die als  Wissenschaft auftreten möchte, 2011, fourth edition.

Projects of Activities in Fall 2011 and 2012:

- Organization of a symposium on "Teaching Philosophy in Primary and Secondary Education", on 29-30 September 2011 in Ankara, in collabration with the UNESCO National Comission of Turkey.

- Organization of a  symposioum on "Teaching Philosophy in University", in October 2011, at Mersin University, in collabration with the UNESCO National Comission of Turkey.

- Organization of the General Assembly of the Society in October 2011.

- Organization, on December 1-2, 2011, of the yearly Istanbul Seminar on "Philosophy and Literature".

- Organization of a course on Kant in January 2012.

- Implementation of the "The UNESCO Strategy of Philosophy" in Turkey.

- Organization of the XVIth National Philosophy Olympiad in March 2012.

NEWS FROM INTERNATIONAL SOCIETIES

Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (RVP)

Message from the President:

The work of the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (RVP) has been advancing rapidly with the needs of the times. You will find greater detail on the following pages, but below is a summary of some key themes, all of which are also designated regional conferences of the International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP).

Regional Centers: Their development enables greater structure for the RVP network in promoting research in philosophy related to the global character of life.

- A Center in Beirut: In addition to the Center in Washington, Professor Edward Alam has built an RVP Center in Lebanon to be dedicated this coming May. He has done much to develop work in Ghana, Nigeria and East Africa, as well as cooperation with scholars in Tehran, India and Moscow.

- A Center in Shanghai: Its inauguration will be in June with special attention to the role of Chinese culture in global times. Professor Vincent Shen discussed with Professors Yu Wujin, Wang Xinsheng, Sun Xiangchen and Zou Shipeng at Fudan University the orientation of the new Center. This will be followed by the Southeast regional RVP meeting, this year in Hanoi.

Seminars: Three to five week seminars for research on the themes: Cosmopolitical dimensions of Islamic philosophy in Beirut, Responsibility Personal and Social in a Global age, and Human identity/nature as stable and/or changing in Washington, D.C.

A Set of 8 Research Teams is carrying out a yet more extended three year project in response to Charles Taylor's A Secular Age on the evolution of the value horizons of our global times.

Publications: 10 new volumes expand the 250 volume series with the results of the work of research teams in the RVP network in all parts of the world.

This issue of the RVP newsletter is a report on the work accomplished and in process. Especially it is a expression of thanks and an invitation to philosophers, thinkers and scholars across the world to join in this effort and put their special creative competencies at the service of their people in this time of dynamic change. Please write of your interests and plans.

The RVP wishes to thank the Ford, H&L Bradley and Raskob Foundations, as well as the OSVI and OST for their generous support.

                                                                                                     George F. McLean

                                                                                                     March, 2011

Upcoming activities, 2011

I. Seminars:

 1. Spring Seminar 2011: The Cosmopolitical Dimensions of Islamic Thought

     May 18-31, 2011, Beirut, Lebanon

    Notre Dame University in Lebanon, which now houses the RVP's second major center (complementing the activity of the center in Washington, D.C.) will bring together prominent Islamic philosophers for a three week seminar on the cosmopolitical dimensions of Islamic philosophy. Professor Richard Khuri's seminal book, Freedom, Modernity, and Islam will orient the discussions; major papers by prominent international scholars shall be presented and critiqued. The majority of activity will take place on the campus of Notre Dame University, though a number of excursions will take place including an extended stay at the Cedars of Lebanon overlooking the Valley of the Saints, where the discussion and presentation of papers will continue.

    The culmination of the seminar on May 29 will be the inauguration of the RVP center on the campus of Notre Dame University wherein the President of the University, together with Lebanese dignitaries, will officially dedicate the establishment and work of the center. Notre Dame University, the Iranian Institute of Philosophy, and local sponsors, have all pledged support for this landmark occasion.

 2. Fall Seminar 2011: Responsibility Personal and Social: Foundations for Life in a Global Age

 August 22 - September 28, 2011, Washington, D.C.

 The Challenge

       Modernity has been marked by a strong sense of individuals in competition, whether persons or nations; its economic, political and legal institutions have been constructed on this basis. This brought great new rational capabilities for the control and manipulation of the objects of our material world and made possible new and at times surprising ways for the affirmation of human freedom. Breaking through the natural barriers that for so long kept peoples in isolation from one another, it now engaged the rich philosophical and cultural heritages of the East with those of Ancient Greece and Rome, and vice versa. The result is a time of great challenge and great possibility.

       Because what is in question is the distinctive character of contemporary civilization, any response must take into account the plurality associated with the human condition. It must consider what counts as knowledge in order to assure that the mind is adequately open to the issues of ethical concern and to perceive the new insights emerging from the cultural interchange of humanity. It must also examine the proper constitution of human persons and recognize their creative imagination for cooperation towards achieving a "better world". This in turn must be viewed not only in human terms but also in terms of a more balanced and respectful interaction with physical nature. In other words, any response to the challenges presented by human civilization at the present stage must take into account all that is relevant to a more authentic determination of human action and indeed of being or reality as such in order to integrate the new insights already available and to develop those required for a constructive response to the present global crisis.

Response

       Global pressures now generate a renewed sense of the urgency to efforts to overcome the excesses of the present paradigm based on individualism, and to begin thinking in more holistic terms on a global scale. This requires the cultivation of new capabilities to break beyond self-interest and incorporate thinking in relational terms. The goal, therefore, is to foster an understanding of being human for which the condition of being a member of society — as family, community, and indeed the global whole — is essential. In other words, the issue here is the realization of a holistic sense of human existence and thereby promoting mutual understanding and a constructive peace among human beings, cultures and nations, religions and civilizations. In the words of Emmanuel Levinas, this is a humanism of the other, radically open to neighbour and willing to assume radical openness to the transcendent.

       The seminar will explore possibilities for the renewal of the ethical life in our global age, emphasizing two fundamental concepts, namely, responsibility and justice. This will enable both philosophical articulation and practical implementation of an ethical order that in the circumstances of our lebenswelt underscores the value of life and action in ways that are ever more responsible and in accord with justice.

       In order to facilitate this conversation among the participants and to stimulate the personal reflection of each one of its members, the seminar will be structured in four distinct moments:

1. The principles of responsibility (with Max Weber and Hans Jonas);

2. The nature of responsibility (with Emmanuel Levinas);

3. The transition from responsibility to justice (with Paul Ricoeur);  and

4. The relevance of the cultural contributions from Asian, African and Latin-American thought, as well as the perspectives derived from world religions.

        Application for Participation: Applications for participation in this seminar should be sent by email by April 1, 2011, to cua-rvp@cua.edu and include:

- a vita,

- a list of the applicants' publications,

- an application letter indicating your special interest in the seminar theme, and

- an abstract of a study(s) you might present as an integral part of the seminar.

II. Conferences:

•  Central and Eastern Europe

 Bucharest, Romania, June 3-4, 2011

Values of the Human Person: Contemporary Challenges

       The Faculty of Philosophy of The University of Bucharest and the RVP will co-sponsor a conference on "Values of the Human Person: Contemporary Challenges". The aim of this conference is to focus attention on the values of the human person considered under the impact of the contemporary process of globalization. Paradoxically, the continuous qualitative increase and diversification of knowledge can cause great fragmentation in the human understanding of oneself and of one's cultural and social environment. This threatens human civilization in new ways and addresses new challenges to the humanities, knowledge and culture, arts, natural and human sciences. These call in turn for a diagnosis of classical, modern and postmodern models of theoretical, scientific, political and artistic thinking with regard to the main values of the human life. The discussion of these issues will serve as a propedeutic to the 23rd World Congress of Philosophy in Athens, 2013, whose theme is "Philosophy as Inquiry and Way of Life".

Contact: Professor Romulus Brancoveanu, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy (rbrancoveanu@yahoo.com); Professors Mihaela Pop (pop.mihaela.a@gmail.com), Savu Totu and Viorel Vizureanu; The Faculty of Philosophy, The University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.

•  Asia 

Beijing, P.R., China, June 18-19

 Urbanization and Community Building--China and the World

       The School of International Relations, University of International Business and Economy and the RVP will cosponsor an international conference on "Urbanization and Community Building--China and the World".

      Chinese society has witnessed an unprecedented scale of migration from rural areas to cities. This raises many questions, e.g., how do these immigrants fit into the new city life ; how does the municipal administration accommodate the newcomers; how can Chinese traditional cultures and values contribute to the modern process of urbanization, and vice versa; is there a Chinese model of urbanization; what experience and lessons can Chinese policy makers and leaders of other developing nations borrow from one another? These questions pose challenges to scholars of political science, sociology and philosophy.

      The conference organizers propose for discussion such themes as:

1. Political participation of the floating population in Chinese urbanization.

2. The social integration and community building of the new urban immigrants.

3. The interaction of traditional and modern culture and values in the process of urbanization and community building.

4. Case studies of urbanization and community building.

      For further information, contact: Professors Dai Changzhong (daicz@126.com), Dean and Wang Bo (bowhu@163.com),

Assistant Dean, The School of International Relations, University of International Business and Economy, Beijing.

Wuhan P.R. China, June 21-22

Dialogue between Confucianism and Christianity

      The School of Philosophy, Wuhan University and the RVP will cosponsor a conference on "Dialogue between Confucianism and Christianity". Dialogue is the deep exchange between the human efforts and experiences of peoples' striving for human self-realization and fulfillment. As Confucianism and Christianity each bring rich but still limited insight regarding human nature and existence, the dialogue between the two has the intrinsic promise of complementarity and mutual enrichment. It promises productive contributions for facing common predicaments through searching for harmonious coexistence in the 21st century.

      This conference on "Dialogue between Confucianism and Christianity" will constitute an academic exchange of faith and reason on the deep concerns of our times. You are invited to take part in this important discussion.

      Paper submission: abstract April 1, full paper May 10, 2011.

      For further information, contact: Professor Zhai Zhihong, The School of Philosophy, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China, zhhong707@yahoo.com.cn

Shanghai: Research Center for the Study of Chinese Culture in Global Context and Fudan University

Shanghai, P.R. China, June 26-27, 2011

Revitalizing Chinese Culture: Values and Virtues for a Global Age       

      As the focus of China's life expands from nation building to global engagement, China is challenged to establish its proper place in the greater world community. Over the last century, for its modernization China has drawn ideas from the West. There are reasons to believe that progress now requires that it add a reverse flow whereby it shares its vision with the world and assumes leadership in the shaping of the newly global times.

      In sum, in recent decades China has risen to a leading position in the world economy, based on profit; now it begins to play a special role as well in the political order, based on power. Both of these are limited, however, and hence tend to engender competition. In this context the greater the success the greater the suspicion regarding motivation, followed by resistance that slows further progress.

      To counter this dynamism it becomes urgent to begin to focus on another order of reality where what is had by one can be shared with, and supportive of, others, and this without being lost to its originator. This is the field of culture which reflects the deep values, inspiration and aspirations of a people through the ages. Hence, in the evolving global context as we enter the 21st century a key element for the success of China will lie in its being perceived not as competitor or threat, but as realizing its own special genius and sharing this with others. On this basis China can be the sought-after partner, a path finder for the human community in facing its challenges and in shaping the global human future.

      The conference to inaugurate the new Center for the Study of Chinese Culture and Values in the Global Context (SCCV) at Fudan University will be held at its School of Philosophy on June 26- 27, 2011 (languages: Chinese and English). It will explore how China can revitalize its cultural values and virtues in response to the above challenges and contribute its dynamic "soft power" to the future of the global community.

      Sample topics include:

- The significance of Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist, and Chinese Marxist values and virtues for revitalizing Chinese Culture;

- Possible Chinese contributions to the challenge of globalization;

- An integral philosophical project for the new Fudan Center for the Study of Chinese Culture and Values in the Global Context;

      For further information please contact: Professor Wang Xinsheng, Director, Center for the Study of Chinese Culture and Values in the Global Contexts (SCCV), School of Philosophy, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China; Email: xswang@fudan.edu.cn

 Shanghai: Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences

 Shanghai, P.R. China, June 28, 2011

The Role of Philosophy

       The Institute of Philosophy of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences with the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy will host a discussion on "The Role of Philosophy". The goal of the discussion is to explore the role and nature of philosophy in contemporary life; its relation to the rapid development of social sciences and humanities; and how Chinese philosophers can make their own proper contribution in these global times. This will help to prepare the 2013 World Congress of Philosophy in Athens on "Philosophy as Inquiry and Way of Life".

     For Further information, contact: Professor He Xirong, Institute of Philosophy, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China, hxr@sass.org.cn.

Urumqi: Xinjiang University, July 13, 2011

Local Culture and Social Progress, Xinjiang University, July 13, 2011, Urumqi, China

       Theme: The Xinjiang region is the frontier of two great civilizations. If a civilization is the cumulative achievement of a set of cultures evolved over the millennia as a concrete way of striving for human fulfillment, then this border situation is now of the greatest moment. As we enter the global age life today is characterized not simply by one or another single culture or civilization, but by the interaction of multiple civilizations as constituting a global whole. Its nature will be determined by the way in which the multiple civilizations, like gigantic techtonic plates, interact and adjust to one another. This suggests the particular importance for human progress of the dynamics of the intersection of Chinese and Islamic civilizations, each some 20 percent of humanity, as they intersect in Xinjiang and are mutually transformed thereby. What is the basis and degree of such mutual compatibility and complementarity; how can potential conflict be transformed into mutual reinforcement; can change be progressive for all concerned? These crucial issues will be considered in this colloquium.

       For further information, contact: Professor Chen Shiming, Center for the Study of Northwestern Culture, Xijiang University, Urumqi, Xijiang, P.R. China, xjdxcsm@163.com.

• Biannual South East Asian Regional Conference

Hanoi, Vietnam

 Cultural Traditions and Sustainable Development, Hanoi, Vietnam, July 7-8, 2011

       The Institute of Philosophy of The Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) and the RVP are co-sponsoring the biennial Southeast Asian regional conference on "Cultural Traditions and Sustainable Development". This theme has itself evolved in three broad strokes. At first "development" was understood as an economic phenomenon. Second it was noted that as development projects could have relatively brief or even negative effect it was necessary to plan with a view to their sustainability. Third the United Nations agencies discovered that a major indicator of such sustainability was whether in the planning those effected were consulted so that their cultural traditions and expectations could be taken into account.

       All of this was brought together by the Indian scholar, Amartya Sen, in his thematization of development as freedom. This focuses on human capabilities as both processes and opportunities which enable people to do and be what they value, for which he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. This raises a number of specific issues such as: (1) what should be considered authentic development, (2) the conditions for sustainability, (3) the relation to cultural traditions as enabling and/or impeding development, and (4) the significance of this for intercultural relations in global times within Southeast Asia and with other world regions in terms of economics, politics and human dignity.

       To register please contact Professor Pham Van Duc, Director of the Institute of Philosophy, Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences (ducphilosophy@yahoo.com) and Mr. Tran Tuan Phong (ttphong59@yahoo.com.au).

 Vientiane, Laos

 Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change, July 10-11, 2011, Vientiane, Laos

       Representatives of the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy will conduct an academic visit to the Institute of Political Sciences, Laos National Academy of Sciences, Vientiane, Laos. The purpose of the visit is to promote the sharing by Laotian philosophers in the work of the Southeast Asian RVP region. This focuses on the rich cultural values and virtues for facing contemporary challenges and bringing forward the rich contributions of each country and people, particularly for this global age.

III. Projects in progress:

 Secular and Sacred

       Vienna, Austria and Dublin, Ireland, June and September: "Secular and Sacred". An extended research project has been developed on the basis of Charles Taylor's A Secular Age. The series of eight teams ranges from the scientific, socio-political and cultural horizons to deepening the sense of religion in terms of sacrifice and service. Begun in the U.S. the last sections will now continue in Austria and Ireland.

 For more information see: www.crvp.org

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHY

The ISIP in collaboration with the RVP at Notre Dame University in Beirut had a two week meeting (see above), including a three day seminar in which 12 papers were read and discussed (4 papers each day); moreover, Richard Khuri's book, Freedom, Modernity and Islam, was critically discussed in the presence of the author; there was also a trip to the cypress forest in  Northern Lebanon. During this seminar, the RVP branch in Lebanon was inaugurated,  and Prof. Gholamreza Aavani was one of the keynote speakers

Future ISIP events: The Indian branch of ISIP will have an international seminar in February on "multiculturalism and Islam" in Aligarh University. The Indonesian branch of ISIP is also going to hold an international congress in philosophy in October at which more than two hundred scholars from Indonesia and abroad are expected to participate. Other future plans await confirmation. 

International Society for Universal Dialogue (ISUD)

      The International Society for Universal Dialogue (ISUD) will hold its 9th World Congress, 22 – 27 June, 2012 in Olympia, Greece.

    The theme is Democratic Culture: Historical Reflections and Modern Transformations.

    The deadline for abstracts is September 15, 2011.  Please send a 300-500 word abstract in English by regular post or e-mail attachment in Word to: 

 Dr. Panos Eliopoulos                                            

 Pallantiou 44                                                       

 22100 Tripoli                                                       

 Greece      

 E-mail:  ksatriya@tri.forthnet.gr

For more information on the congress please visit the ISUD web site: http://www.isud.org

Sociedade de Filosofia da Educação de Língua Portuguesa (SOFELP) - Portuguese-speaking Society of Philosophy of Education

       International Congress Solitude in the Thresholds of the Person and Solidarity: Between the Social bounds and Fractures

      IIIth Congress of SOFELP – Society for Philosophy of Education of Portuguese Language

General Information:

         The International Congress "Solitude in the thresholds of the person and solidarity: between the social bonds and fractures" and the IIIth Congress of SOFELP - Society for Philosophy of Education of Portuguese Language will be held simultaneously on the 18th, 19th and 20th of May 2011 in Porto, Portugal. This congress is a joint initiative of the Philosophy of Education Office / Institute of Philosophy, University of Porto / Philosophy of Education in the Portuguese Speaking World Research Group / Philosophy of Education and Contemporaneity Research Group, ISCET – Instituto Superior de Ciências Empresariais e do Turismo (Higher Education Institute of Management and Tourism) / area of Social Work and SOFELP in partnership with SOFPHIED -  Société Francophone de Philosophie de l'Éducation and UNINOVE - Universidade Nove de Julho (São Paulo, Brazil) and the sponsorship of FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.

       This event has the cooperation of FISP – International Federation of Philosophical Societies and of SAF – Sociedad Argentina de Filosofía.

       It is expected from this meeting an interdisciplinary sharing of knowledge and reflections from inescapable issues of contemporary society such as solitude and solidarity in their complex connections with educational projects and social intervention. Along with plenary sessions and round-tables by specialists there will also be oral presentations on the topics within the fields mentioned below.

       This first contact intends not only to announce this Congress but also to invite investigators, professors and other professionals, students as well as all the persons implied in the education and social work domains to participate in this initiative.

       The deadline for presentation of communications, together with the pertaining abstract, is the 31st January 2011*. Both text and notes may not exceed 8 pages (3000 words); the abstract should be in the native language of the communication and in English (10 lines maximum); oral presentation of communications will take a maximum of 15 minutes.

       Norms to the presentation of written communications, application form and other information: please check the website http://www.iscet.pt/events/css-2011-solidao-e-solidariedade.

Themes/Topics:

          Contemporary societies are featured by deep meaningful changes which make us question some life concepts and conceptions. The acute and accelerated transformation of social and personal relationships is a phenomenon of crucial importance. Relationships marked namely by the convergence of ancient and new social bonds which, in their own dynamic, are often developed under a critical relation with the appearance of social fractures. Between the former and the latter solitude emerges, so present as indecisive, which, in the diversity of its life experiences and conceptualizations, questions, in turn, the traditional stereotypes of personal, community and societal solidarity.

       Considering that we are still living in the aftermath of Thomas Hobbes´s options on the statute of the State, Rousseau's social contract and Locke's estate ideas, then we are also living after them, particularly with different representations on social cohesion and on the role of the individual.

       So accomplished as threatened, the ideology of progress together with the proud sovereignty of the humanist subject, it is now time to urgently focus on the limits, thresholds, vulnerability and fragility of a human being to whom nihilism and relativism challenges are placed, before the overwhelming and inescapable need for hope.
       Anthropological issues, human sciences problems, education challenges, social and educational policies demands, philosophy debatable problems.

 Sections:

I. Suffered loneliness and chosen loneliness: anguish, hope and life projects;

II. Ages, life itineraries and loneliness;

III. Solitude and solidarity in rural and urban societies: continuity and rupture;

IV. Solitude and solidarity in future perspective: liberties and environmental ethics;

V. Cyberspace and globalisation: Old and new solitudes, old and new solidarities?;

VI. Solitude and solidarity as topics of educational and social intervention projects: empirical and epistemological approaches;

VII. Solitude and solidarity facing the challenges of inclusion and exclusion: the thresholds of vulnerability;

VIII. Loneliness, depression and melancholy: connections and distinctions;

IX. The «nature»: place of loneliness or challenge to human solidarities?

X. Between the social bonds and fractures: the statute and the re-emergence of the person.

Registration Fee

                                                                                   Until 28th February              After 28th February

. SOFELP / SOFPHIED Members                                          €50                                     €60

. Students                                                                        €50                                     €60

. CNIS / UMP Members                                                       €75                                     €80

. Other participants                                                           €100                                    €120

 The registration fee includes:

. Participation in all sessions;

. Coffee breaks;

. Congress proceedings;

. Congress briefcase.

Executive Secretary:

Maria Helena Magalhães – gfe-cpw@letras.up.pt

Bárbara Neiva Santos – css@iscet.pt

Organizing Committee:

Adalberto Dias de Carvalho – GFE-IF Universidade do Porto / ISCET / ESEPF, Portugal

Ângela Maria Leite – ISCET – Instituto Superior de Ciências Empresariais e do Turismo, Portugal

Maria João Couto – GFE – Universidade do Porto, Portugal

Nuno Fadigas – GFE-IF Universidade do Porto / ISCET, Portugal

Paulo Gaspar – ISCET – Instituto Superior de Ciências Empresariais e do Turismo, Portugal