TWELFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON GREEK PHILOSOPHY
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GREEK PHILOSOPHY ( IAGP )
THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR GREEK PHILOSOPHY & CULTURE
THE SOCIETY FOR ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHY (SAGP - USA)
THE DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
and other academic and cultural institutions and organisations
are pleased to announce the:
TWELFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON GREEK PHILOSOPHY
on the topic of:
"THE QUEST FOR TRUTH:
GREEK PHILOSOPHY AND EPISTEMOLOGY"
(AUGUST, 19(20)-26(27), 2000)
The Conference will take place on one of the Northern Aegean islands to be announced.
The conference will have the following aims:
1. To examine the views of Greek thinkers and philosophers concerning the concept of truth, its criteria, and its application in the realms of moral behaviour, politics, metaphysics, religion, fine arts, literature and the like.
2. To investigate the origins, limits, foundations , nature and kinds of knowledge, and to identify epistemological distinctions elaborated in Greek philosophy.
3. To correlate the epistemological conclusions of Greek thought and philosophy with modern and contemporary views of epistemology and methodology, with a view to identifying the precise influence of Greek epistemological theories on the thinking of other peoples and civilizations.
The conference is open to all philosophers, including specialists in Greek philosophy and epistemology and those doing research in the methodology of the sciences. It is also open to creative persons in all the arts and sciences who, taking into consideration contemporary discussions of the problem of knowledge, attempt to specify the criteria whereby truth and objectivity might be secured in various aspects of life.
The aims of the conference encompass a number of issues, historical, theoretical, critical and practical, and lend themselves to several topics, including the following:
1. The quest for truth in Presocratic philosophy (knowledge and opinion; the possibility of truth; the nature of conjecture; the sources of knowledge)
2. Methodology and epistemology in the philosophy of Plato
3. Aristotle's epistemology and its role in his search for an understanding of the real in its various aspects
4. Hellenistic philosophy and epistemology (as found among the Epicureans, Stoics, Cynics and Sceptics); their views on the foundations of knowledge, skepsis, and the criteria of truth.
5. Neoplatonic, Byzantine and post-Byzantine philosophy and epistemology (the difference between, and the basis and limits of, knowledge and belief).
6. Modern Greek philosophy and epistemology (the classical Greek philosophical tradition in combination with West European epistemological research)
7. Greek epistemological distinctions in relation to modern and contemporary ones.
8. The concept of truth in morals, politics, arts, literature and religion. (Here a limited number of papers are welcome).
There are the following presentation categories:
Category a: The presentation of original academic Papers (approx. ten to twelve) by Invited Speakers of 30 mins. duration (i.e. a maximum of ten typed pages double-spaced, and page coverage 16 x 20).
Category b: The presentation of original academic Papers of 20 mins. duration (i.e. a maximum of seven typed pages, double-spaced, and page coverage 16 x 20).
Category c: Short presentation of papers on a conference topic of 10-15 mins. duration.
The Papers in Category A will take the form of a penetrating outline of the problems, an evaluation of the research undertaken in connection with the subject and the systematic examination of current philosophical problems concerning epistemology in relation to Greek epistemological issues.
Participants who wish to be considered for Category A should express their interest promptly and state their preferences concerning the topic they wish to deal with, sending all the necessary information ( a detailed curriculum Vitae and an Abstract of their paper) to the Organising Committee.
The Organising Committee hopes to cover the cost of board and accommodation for Invited Speakers during the Conference. However, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to provide up to 30 min. of speaking time to members of the Conference whose expenses will not be covered as Invited Speakers. Moreover, in keeping with a standard principle of the IAGP, every endeavour will be made to ease the financial burden of Speakers at the Conference.
All participants will be notified by mail regarding the category to which they have been assigned in March 2000.
The texts to be read at the Conference in their final form should be saved on 3.5 diskette and on an Apple computer (Software MS Word 4.0 and upward (6.0) and in Times New Roman font or equivalent) or in Word 6.0 and upwards for Windows (preferably 95) using Times New Roman fonts (and saved also as Document for MAC. 5.1 ) with page coverage 18 x 12.
Fuller texts of Papers (15-20 pages) in both categories (a and b) will be published in the Conference Proceedings. Texts in their final form for publication must be on diskette in accordance with the specifications above[see also FORM No 7] .The diskettes (3.5) should be sent, together with one printed hard copy of the Paper, to the IAGP.
Texts in their final form ( Diskette and hard copy with the indication: FINAL TEXT FOR PUBLICATION) must be submitted no later than the end of September 2000.
The Conference is, of course, open to anyone (Greek or not) who wishes to attend, provided that he or she contacts the Organising Committee and completes the necessary forms (Nos 1, 2 and 3 ) and pays the Conference fee. Persons accompanying participants should also complete the forms and pay the Conference fee specified in PARTICIPATION form No 3.
The official languages at the Conference will be Greek, English, French and German.
Greeks who present Papers are kindly asked to submit an acceptable English translation of the latest version of their Papers which will be read at the Conference. This should be submitted to the Conference Secretary two months before the opening of the Conference.
Applications for all kinds of participation must be received by: 30 December 99.
Applications should be made on PARTICIPATION FORM No 1.
PARTICIPATION FORM No. 2 should be sent no later than : 28 February 2000.
PARTICIPATION FORM No. 2 should be accompanied by an Abstract of the Paper to be presented together with an English translation in the case of Greek scholars. The Abstract should be written in such a way as to give a clear indication of ideas and the line of argument that the finished paper will be pursuing.
The full texts of the Papers (two copies) should be sent to the Organising committee by: 30 May 2000.
During the Conference, there will be an EXHIBITION OF BOOKS ON PHILOSOPHY. Authors of books, particularly those connected with the topic of the Conference, are kindly requested to send copies of their books so these may be included in the exhibition (FORM No. 5 ).
Conference participants who are coming to the Conference for the first time are advised that cancellations cause major logistical, scheduling and economic problems for the organization of an international conference of this scope. Outings, receptions and other activities are seriously disrupted by cancellations and schedule changes. We ask that only those who are certain of their attendance submit the forms for participation.
The Conference attempts to achieve the spirit of Hellenic philosophy as a way of life and consequently tries to include many activities whose purpose is to enrich participants with exposure to Greek culture, both ancient and modern, and to an environment where discourse may occur with the warmth of hospitality, friendship and intervals of relaxation and feasts.
The Conference includes simultaneous translation to facilitate communication among the participants.
Conference sessions are scheduled for 8:30 - 13:30 (morning session) and 17:00-20:00 (afternoon / evening session). This allows participants plenty of free time to enjoy swimming in the beautiful waters of the Aegean, or to enjoy the wonderful Mediterranean atmosphere and hospitality that the conference locale offers.
Further details concerning the organisation of the Conference will be given in the Second Circular, which will be sent only to all those expressing a wish to participate in the Conference and who have already sent their PARTICIPATION FORM No1.
Correspondence relating to the Conference should be sent to the following address:
Professor Konstantine Boudouris
President of the Organising Committee
Twelf International Conference of Greek Philosophy
5 Simonidou Str., 174 56 ALIMOS (ATHENS) - GREECE
TEL. 01-727.7545,
FAX. 01-7248979, 01-9923281,
E-mail:kboud@cc.uoa.gr
Persons living in North America (USA or Canada) may contact for information on any matter relating to their participation in the Conference:
Any other person who has not already received the present circular can get information (circular, forms etc.) related to the Conference at our INTERNET home-page: http://www.hri.org/iagp/
In the belief that this Conference will be of great significance and present an exceptional opportunity for research, thought and clarification of aspects on a subject of particular philosophical importance, we hope that the Conference will provide participants with an opportunity for true recreation and spiritual uplifting.
With kind regards
Professor Konstantine Boudouris
President of the Organising Committee
FIRST CIRCULAR
SEPTEMBER 1999