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CALL FOR PAPERS / ANNOUNCEMENT
Empowering Humanity. Work in progress
Conference
8th and 9th July 2002
University for Humanist Studies, Utrecht
The Netherlands
Thematic outline
The University for Humanist Studies in The Netherlands is organising a
conference on 'Empowering Humanity'. A book on this subject, a ‘state of
the art' in humanist studies, will be presented. The conference also marks
the 50th anniversary of the International Humanist and Ethical Union. It
will aim to discuss some of the major issues addressed in our ‘Humanism,
Meanings of Life, Care and Citizenship' research programme. Academics with
an interest in humanist studies are invited to share their insights with
us, either by submitting a paper or by participating in the discussions.
‘Empowering humanity' can best be described as a political, moral and
existential programme in which humanity is related to meanings of life,
human dignity, quality of life and inclusive citizenship. Our research
aims to develop humanity-empowering strategies in which bottom-up
approaches are a key element. The University for Humanist Studies was
established in 1989 and the aim behind both our teaching and research is
to develop 'a science with a human face'; i.e. a science that promotes
humanity and human potential. This raises many questions, such as: - How
can academic research be combined with a political, moral and existential
programme? - What does 'humanist inspiration' imply in such research? -
How can humanist studies as an academic discipline be combined with
humanist practices? - Which strategies can be developed for empowering
humanity and what role can research play in this? - How can the
principles of equality and diversity be combined in these empowering
strategies? - And, seen from this perspective, how can 'quality of life'
be discussed?
These and similar questions will be addressed by the conference's
keynote speakers, Prof. Ann Phoenix (Open University, London) and
Prof. Harry Kunneman (University for Humanist Studies). They will also be
discussed during the workshops. We intend to have interactive sessions in
which there will be ample scope for diversity and tolerance. Presentations
and discussions will be given in four workshops:
- Humanism in local contexts: theories and practices
- Humanist studies as a new academic discipline
- Equality and diversity
- Quality of life and wellbeing
Outline of the workshops
1. Humanism in local contexts: theories and practices.
Chair: Dr. Peter Derkx (University for Humanist Studies)
This workshop deals with humanism. Debates as to the nature of
humanism are as old as the humanist movement itself. This workshop
aims to discuss humanism by taking explicit account of regional and
national contexts. We will endeavour to present papers by humanists
from different parts of the globe which address such questions as:
What is, and/or what should be, the dominant conception of humanism in my
country or region? What humanist practices are (or should be) given the
highest priority in my native country? What is the relationship between
this type of humanism and the social and political situation in my
country? We believe that discussing humanism in this "localized" and
"contextual" manner could prove extremely enlightening and interesting.
2. Humanist studies as a new academic discipline.
Chair: Dr. Adri Smaling (University for Humanist Studies)
In this workshop humanist studies are discussed from a metatheoretical
perspective. Presentations and discussions might revolve around the
following thematic questions: What should its main object of study be?
E.g. Humanism in its broadest sense? The existential aspects of human
existence? Which meta-theoretical approaches would be most adequate? For
example: Existential phenomenology? Hermeneutics? Constructivism?
Narrativism? Postmodernism? And which research methods would be most
appropriate – quantitative or qualitative methods? How should the
practical and normative, and in particular humanising, goals be integrated
and realised? Over the past twelve years, the University for Humanist
Studies has worked on the development of this new academic discipline, and
has formulated several answers to these questions. These will be presented
and discussed. Other contributions dealing with the above-mentioned topics
are welcomed.
3. Equality and diversity
Chair: Dr. Annemie Halsema (University for Humanist Studies)
This workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss ethical and
political themes and will focus on the problem of diversity and its
implications for humanist studies. What implications does living
together with people of different ethnic backgrounds, skin colours,
genders, ages and states of health have for humanist studies? Should
we start from the principle of equality or should we focus on
differences? Should humanists start from the principle that we all
share a common and general notion of humanity, or should we develop a
notion of humanism that incorporates diversity? And could the notion of
empowerment help us develop humanist studies of this kind? Papers focusing
on the following themes will be particularly welcome: human rights, the
ethics of care, empowerment, the relationship between feminism and
humanism, and the implications of multiculturalism.
4. Quality of life and wellbeing
Chair: Dr. Joep Dohmen (University for Humanist Studies)
Philosophers and social scientists have argued for and against a
variety of different notions of the concept of quality of life. The
issue is discussed on different levels and from different perspectives
which rely partly on a 'narrow or thick (vague) conception of the good'
and partly on a concept of the meaning of life. Psychologists continue to
debate the merits of measuring the quality of human life in terms of
‘utility', which is taken to mean happiness, subjective wellbeing or the
satisfying of desires or preferences. Some philosophers take a different
approach and present a so-called 'capability approach' which defines the
many different types of activity that ‘quality of life' should
incorporate. Other social scientists and philosophers, and particularly
those in the humanist tradition, view this notion in terms of values,
goals, self-fulfilment, and meaning of life. Papers are invited which deal
with (one of) the three above approaches to this subject, i.e. either from
the (subjective) wellbeing standpoint, from the capability and value
theory standpoint, or from the standpoint of a (narrow or thick)
conception of what ‘good' and what the ‘meaning of life' represent.
Programme
The programme of the conference is diverse and will consist of keynote
speaches, paper presentations, group discussions, and plenaries. Keynote
lectures will be given by:
prof Ann Phoenix, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the Open
University in London, specializes in research on identities, young
people, race and gender
prof. Harry Kunneman, Professor in Social Theory and
Vice-Chancellor of the University for Humanist Studies
Location and accommodation
The conference will be held at the University for Humanist Studies in
Utrecht, The Netherlands on Monday 8th July and Tuesday 9th July 2002.
Directions on how to get here will be sent to you once we receive your
registration form. Further information about accommodation can be obtained
from our website at http://www.uvh.nl/conference/
Registration
You can participate in this conference either by presenting a paper or by
attending the sessions. The conference fee is EUR 150 (EUR 50 for
students), whether you present a paper or not. An early response is
recommended due to the limited amount of places available.
If you want to present a paper, please send your abstract (max 250
words) and the registration form by email to research@uvh.nl or send
it to the address below.
Indicate clearly in which workshop you would like to present your
paper. Please do not submit complete papers. Notification of
acceptances or rejections will occur by February 2002.
The deadline for submitting an abstract is January 1st, 2002
The deadline for registering without presenting a paper is April 1st, 2002
You can register via our website at http://www.uvh.nl/conference/ or
by completing and sending the attached form. Alternatively, you can
fax the form to: + 31 30 2390170
Terms and conditions
Please note that submission of the signed registration form is a
commitment to pay the conference fee. You will be sent an invoice once we
receive your registration form. Registrations may be cancelled - in
writing - by 15 June 2002 at the latest. We will charge a handling fee of
EUR 10 for refunds. The conference fee will not be refunded for any
cancellations received after that date. Registration form
I would like to present a paper at the Empowering Humanity
conference, in Workshop No. ....
(I enclose my abstract, max. 250 words)
I would like to attend the Empowering Humanity conference but I do
not wish to present a paper
(please tick the appropriate box)
Surname
Title
First name
Institution
Address
Email
Telephone/fax
Conference fee (for two days, including coffee/tea/ lunch/closing
buffet) (please tick the appropriate box)
EUR 150
EUR 50 (for students)
You will be sent an invoice once we receive your registration form.
Date
Signature
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