The Netherlands Organisation of Scientific Research (NWO) and the Catholic University of Nijmegen co-sponsor a research programme on the development of medieval moral consciousness. The programme, entitled "A Genealogy of Morals: The Cardinal Virtues in Medieval Discourse", started in June 2001. Its aim is to improve our understanding of Western moral consciousness through the study of the cardinal virtues in the normative discourse of medieval Christendom.

The programme is organising an international colloquium, to be held in Nijmegen on 5 and 6 September 2003. The theme is "Virtue and Ethics in the Twelfth Century". The twelfth century appears to mark a turning point in Western moral thought, with important new elements such as the greater attention to the psychology of the moral agent, the increasing emphasis on charity as a basic virtue, and the debate of Christian intellectuals with ancient moral philosophy. The colloquium aims at exploring the twelfth-century renewal of moral thought and investigating its effects in later periods.

We welcome proposals for papers discussing issues, works or authors related to twelfth-century moral thought, in particular to virtue(s). The papers will eventually be published and should therefore present original research. The conference languages are English, French and German. Funding to minimise the costs of travel, lodging etc. of speakers is available. Deadline: 1 November 2002.