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Conference Anouncement "Faith, Reason and Peace in a Global Age" International Conference Iranian Institute of Philosophy (IRIP) Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (RVP) Tehran (Iran) 18-24 May 2007 __________________________________________________ As we enter upon the global age, the range of interchange between peoples broadens and deepens. Horizontally and economically we find ourselves in an expanding network which puts goods from the other side of the world on our table, indeed on our backs. In turn, the European economic network evolves into the political European Union. Profit thus becomes power and, like tectonic plates, powers tend to collide as they extend their reach in terms of self-interest, It is here that the challenge emerges. Is it possible to direct the economic and political orders not simply in terms of self-interest which separates, but of a broader common good that unites? A positive answer is obviously needed, but is not so easily come by. For, since the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, the modern mind has been shaped in terms of the empirical and the material where what belongs to one cannot belong to another. In these terms humanity divides and competes, and education in the social sciences trains one to do so with a vengeance. Thus the problem becomes how to open our minds and hearts to other levels of meaning where we can be concerned with justice, and to other cultures built on harmony and compassion. Reason, in other words, has to grow with the times to recuperate for the new global age its ancient wisdom of unity. It is here that reason meets faith, which in the nonotheistic Abrahamic traditions has moved down from the One source and goal of all to the multiple; both in principle and purpose this vision is truly global. But in our philosophically diversified world, separated by physical barriers of mountains, deserts and oceans, the many peoples have come to appreciate this Unity in diverse ways; the Prophet would say that to each people a prophet has been sent. Hence, for peace in our day we need: (a) to expand reason in a broader, more open and sharing manner in order to recognize others horizontally across cultures, and (b) to deepen reason to its transcendent dimensions in order to appreciate the convergence of its highest, i.e., religious, aspirations and commitments These now rise from the multiple peoples and cultures to the divine unity that is both their source and their goal. Conversely, we need: (c) to assure that these commitments in faith are not blind assertions on the basis of texts that are sacred but unreflected. Rather, their guidance must be received in deep meditation and active reflection with the expanded capacities of the human mind and heart which al-Ghazali refers to as not only tasting but savoring the holy truth. This path of enriching reason in order to enable faith to proceed on its authentic mission of peace is essential in our day. Without this we cannot but attempt to apply outdated paradigms to present problems with nothing but mischievous indeed disastrous - results for our day. But this work of understanding is not of itself sufficient. We live in a world of deep and not unwarranted alienation between peoples. Hence, it is necessary at the same time to build first hand acquaintances and mutual confidence in the good will of the other. Without this, appropriate insight will not be received or shared, just as attempts at cooperation built on the now outmoded liberal individualist paradigm of the Enlightenment can assure only the conflict into which the world seems to be sinking day by day. Hence two dimensions are needed for this conference, the one is theory, the other is mutual personal discovery between persons. Contact: Prof. Dr. Gholamreza Aavani Director Iranian Institute of Philosophy (IRIP) No.6, Araklian Neufl-Le-Chateau St., Vali-e-asr Ave. Tehran Iran E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.crvp.org/conf/2007/Tehran.htm __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org
