Call for Papers: “The Idea of Person – Between Being and Becoming” International Interdisciplinary Conference
The Idea of Person – Between Being and Becoming
International Interdisciplinary Conference
School of Arts and Humanities
University of Lisbon, Portugal
April 3-5, 2023
Presentation
The inquiry on the idea of person, that is to say, on the essence and specific traits of human personhood, unfolds at the intersection of multiple disciplines and various cultural traditions, whose dialogue this scientific event intends to promote and stimulate under the aegis of philosophy.
First and foremost, the idea of person discloses metaphysical and theological horizons, entangles the realms of ethics, law and politics, demonstrates the originally creative unity of all cultural productions, establishes a working alliance between the Humanities and the Sciences, conjoining descriptive and normative approaches as well as hermeneutic and explanatory methods.
Moreover, to center one’s own research on the ‘idea of person’ constitutes a potentially self-transformational practice in which the researchers engage themselves in the epistemic and existential ventures of personal knowledge and personal concern, cognitio sui and cura sui. It hence follows that the ultimate meaning of ‘personality’ and ‘personhood’ encompasses a self-critical and self-recognitional dimension that must be duly examined, and that can also provide a model to examine the intimate relationship between subjectivity, experiential learning, epistemic interests, and knowledge production.
Call for Papers
The organizers of this Conference invite all interested researchers to submit paper abstracts on the ‘Idea of Person,’ considering the following topical points:
1. The Conceptual History of the Person: Self, Person, and Humanity in the History of Culture and History of Philosophy;
2. The Theology of the Person: Religious Perspectives on Divine and Human Personality;
3. The Science of the Person: Understanding and Explaining ‘Personhood’ in Social and Natural Sciences;
4. The Ontology of the Person: The ‘essence’ of personhood (in contrast with animality and thinghood); essentialism, existentialism, and cultural/historical relativism;
5. The Phenomenology of the Person: Personal ipseity/alterity, Personal unity/multiplicity, Personal continuity/discontinuity, Processes of ‘personalization’ (e.g., autobiographical memory, socioemotional relationships, narrative imagination);
6. The Ethics of the Person: Personhood, Inter-personality, Virtues, Duties, Rights and Universal Dignitas(absolute intrinsic worth);
7. The Politics of the Person: Political and Legal Dimensions of Personhood; Just Institutions and the Development of Personal Capabilities;
8. The Aesthetics of the Person: Creativity and Personality; the Art of Living and Life as an Artwork; the Infinity and Plasticity of Human Development (the Critique of Post- and Trans-Humanism)
Submissions
Both individual paper submissions and panel submissions (i.e., a thematically coherent set of 3 or 4 papers) are most welcome. This event will have a hybrid format. Therefore, participants may freely choose to present their contributions either in person or online (via Zoom). Every presentation may last up to 30 minutes in one of the following languages: English, French, Portuguese or Spanish.
Every submission should contain two separate documents as follows:
1. an anonymous word or pdf document containing title, abstract (approx. 200 words per paper) and 5 keywords;
2. a word or pdf document conveying the identification of the author(s) (i.e., brief bio-notes, contact info, statement of preference regarding in-person or online participation).
All submissions must be sent to fernandomsilva@campus.ul.pt and paulorenatus@campus.ul.pt until December 31st, 2022.
Scientific and Organizing Committee
Ana Lúcia Mandelli de Marsillac (UFSC, Brazil)
Arthur Ferreira (UFRJ, Brazil)
Fernando Silva (CFUL, Portugal)
Lucian Delescu (St. John’s University & St. Francis College, NY, USA)
Maria Encarnación Urrea Solano (Alicante University, Spain)
Maria Manuela Brito Martins (UCP-Porto, Portugal)
Marita Rainsborough (Leuphana Uni., Germany, & CFUL, Portugal)
Nuno Miguel Proença (CHAM, NOVA FCSH, Portugal)
Nuria Sánchez Madrid (Complutense U. Madrid, Spain, & CFUL, Portugal)
Paulo Jesus (CFUL, Portugal)
Soraya Nour Sckell (NOVA Law School & CFUL, Portugal)
Stefano Bory (Naples University, Italy)
Tomás N. Castro (CFUL, Portugal)
Ubirajara Marques (UNESP, Brazil, & CFUL, Portugal)
Organizing and Host Institution
Centre of Philosophy of the University of Lisbon (CFUL)
Co-Organizing Institutions
Poetics of Selfhood – Society for Interdisciplinary Biographical and Narrative Studies / Poetica do Eu – Associação de Estudos Interdisciplinares Biográficos e Narrativos, Portugal)
Conference venue
Faculdade de Letras, Alameda da Universidade, 1600-214 Lisboa, Portugal