Announcement

INTERNATIONAL COLLOQUIUM IN CONTEMPORARY
PHILOSOPHY AND CULTURE
Home and Journey around the GlobeMay 30 - June 1, 2019
Location: Ala-Too International University,Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan(in conjunction with the Society for Philosophy
as Global Conversation)

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On the Idea of the Colloquium
The first record of a conjoined usage of philos and sophia is in Herodotus’ Histories from 5thcentury 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) tolanguage 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 interms of home (Heim) and homecoming (Heimkehr).
In this sense, philosophy can be seen as a journey around the globe, which is at once alsohomecoming. 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 ofculture. Thus, understanding philosophy as conversation means embracing differences ofopinions 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: manyof 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 notlimited 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 BiopoliticsGLOBAL CONVERSATIONS

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*Conference organizers will consider conference presentations for publication (after a reviewprocess) 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 andresearch*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 obtainvisas 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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