The 12th International Conference of

 

ISSEI

 

In cooperation

With

International Society for the Study of European Ideas

 

 

Section IV: Literature, Art, Music, Theatre, Culture

and

Section V: Religion, Philosophy, Anthropology, Psychology, Language

 

Workshop: The Strange Role of the Animal in Western Thought and Fiction

 

Chair: Richard Findler

 

The overall theme of the 12th ISSEI conference is AThought in Science and Fiction.  The conference organizers understand the theme in terms of fostering the dialogue between science and literature in order to show their crucial interdependence.

In keeping with the theme of the conference, I am conducting a workshop that examines the strange role that animals have had for us.  In the contemporary world, animals serve many purposes.  For example, animals are our food and resource; they are used in experimentation; they are pets and at times function as ersatz humans.  At times, animals are considered to possess a link to the divine.  Thus, animals are treated as inferiors, equals and superiors B strange roles indeed. 

These different ideas of the animal are rooted in our history, and find their expression in the philosophical, scientific and literary works of western culture that have their beginning in Ancient Greek culture.  In this workshop, I would like to examine the different ideas of the animal that arise in these works to see how we have understood the place animals have occupied in our lives and to question these roles.

The purpose of the workshop is to gather together a diverse group of thinkers to discuss their research on this topic in a collegial atmosphere and an idyllic setting.

 

Abstracts of 150-200 words are due by March 31, 2006.  Individual presentations at the workshop are limited to 30 minutes, which must also include time for discussion.  A selection of refereed papers will eligible for publication in the Proceedings.  The papers are limited to 3000 words.

 

Contact Person: Richard Findler

Philosophy Department

Slippery Rock University

Slippery Rock, PA 16057

richard.findler@sru.edu

                         

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

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