CALL FOR PAPERS
UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT
INTERNATIONAL PHILOSOPHICAL CONFERENCE
Europe: Unifying Processes and Christian Values
February 27-28, 2009
Lviv, Ukraine
After a few decades of consistent efforts to unite European nations and also in view of the recent enlargement of the European Union, it is becoming increasingly important to evaluate and reflect upon the new emerging cultural, social, political, and spiritual phenomena in what we traditionally called Europe. Such reflection inevitably brings about a whole range of important issues and questions among which are the following: What serves as a common ground for the collective identity of united Europe? What is the formula for a new “European-ness” and how does it answer the classical question: What does it mean “to be European”? To what extent is modern or post-modern European identity open to the religious dimension? What specific message is conveyed by Christian spirituality to Europeans who are living in and facing multi-religious modernity?
The term “modernity” generally describes post-traditional, urbanized, rational, liberal, technological, informed, and often secularized society. That is, a society where the individual and collective identity of the human being is less and less defined by ethnic or racial background, social status, cultural or religious tradition. Often the choice of identity becomes not only a possibility but a forced necessity of the daily life of the human being. Modern European identity is increasingly manifested through often controversial programs, policies, and initiatives of the European Union which aim at formulating a new norm of “European-ness.”
For a long time Europe remained the source of innovative concepts, ideas, revelations, and inspirations which articulated and stimulated major transformations in the history and culture of mankind. A number of ideas without which it is impossible to imagine the uniqueness of Europe had Christian roots and continue to draw profitably from the Christian inheritance. The Europe which we live in continues in its process of uniting to seek answers both for the new challenges of global social transformations and also for old wounds inflicted by some historical failures to resolve the issues of one’s own identification, especially in relation to Others.
Among these “neighboring Others” has always been Ukraine with its European and at the same time authentic and original culture. Ukrainians feel themselves a part not only of the European inheritance but also of European modernity. Being objectively in Europe, Ukraine seeks a formula for subjective presence in the European consciousness and discourse. What challenges will Ukrainians confront as they enter into the economical, political, social, and spiritual space of the modern European? What contributions are Europeans expecting from Ukraine as it joins the European project in a full-fledged manner?
The submission of abstracts drawing on a wide range of philosophical, moral, theological, and sociological perspectives on the European uniting process and Christian values is welcomed. Possible issues to be explored and discussed are:
• Christianity and Modern European Identity
• Faith and Modernity in Modern European Culture
• Christianity, Europe, and Multi-religious Modernity
• The Idea of the Person and the Vocation of the Human Being in the European Tradition
• Who is He, the “Other” European?
• Europe Alter Ego: Spiritual Problems and Cultural Crises of Modern Europe
• Integration, Globalization, Marginalization: The European Experience
• Moral and Spiritual Challenges of Europe in the 21st Century: The Christian Proposition
• Dimensions and Models of European Integration
• Problems of Identity and Difference in Modern Europe
• What Should Europe's New Ethos Be?
• The Philosophy of Europe's Uniting and the Spiritual Experience of Christianity
One-page applications for individual papers should include abstract (about 1000 characters), name, affiliation, address, and e-mail address.
Deadline for submissions is, November 15, 2008. Notification of acceptance will be mailed by December 1, 2008. Conference registration fee is 25 euro. One page applications should be emailed to philosophy@ucu.edu.ua, or mailed to:
Department of Philosophy
2009 International Conference
Ukrainian Catholic University
Sventsitskoho. 17, Lviv
79011 UKRAINE
Tel.: (+38 032) 240-99-40 (ext. 2055)
Fax: (+38 032) 240-99-50
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