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Call for Papers
"Philosophy in East Africa: Towards Critical Thinking,
Professionalism and Democracy"
International Conference
Philosophy Unit, University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM)
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
18-20 November 2009
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Conference on the current challenges, future developments
and roles of academic philosophy within the East African
Community of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania.
In conjunction with:
The UNESCO World Philosophy Day, 2009.
Hosted by:
The Philosophy Unit, University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM),
Tanzania
In cooperation with:
UNESCO, Dar es Salaam
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Dar es Salaam
Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University
of Nairobi, Kenya
Department of Philosophy, Makerere University, Uganda
Department of Social and Moral Philosophy, University of
Helsinki, Finland
The Embassy of Finland, Dar es Salaam (to be confirmed)
Conference outline
Teaching philosophy - critical analysis and independent
thinking, political philosophy and (professional) ethics -
plays a central role in the development of democracy and
enlightened citizenry. Focusing on the protection and
promotion of human rights, professional conduct, good
governance, issues of social justice, as well as on research
ethics, philosophers within the East African Community have
a significant role in developing, leading, as well as
implementing the appropriate codes of conduct both within as
well as outside the academia. Concentrating especially on
social, political and moral philosophy as well as on ethics
(including professional ethics and development ethics), the
Philosophy Unit at UDSM gives essential training, and
contributes to the public discussions by providing well
argued, critical perspectives on public policies, research
ethics (including medical ethics and bioethics), and current
affairs. The UDSM also leads the way in setting the
standards of teaching philosophy in Tanzania, being the only
Philosophy Unit within the country. The Philosophy
Departments at the University of Nairobi and Makerere
University in Kampala - with longer traditions in teaching
philosophy - also have strong focuses on combining academic
philosophy with the current state of affairs, including
specifically tailored Masters programmes in Ethics and
Public Management, and in Human Rights (Makerere).
Despite the central role of (especially) social and moral
philosophy for the development within the region, the
Philosophy Units and Departments face enormous challenges,
both internally as well as in finding their place in the
often complicated relations between the governmental and
non-governmental organizations, academic institutional
structures, as well as the general public. Besides the lack
of material resources, qualified staff and the ever
increasing number of students, the expansion and development
of Philosophy is often slowed down by bureaucracy and by the
lack of political will. Being a relatively new discipline at
the Universities in East Africa, Philosophy Units and
Departments are still in the process of establishing their
places both within the academia, as well as in the public
sphere.
This conference brings together scholars from the University
of Nairobi, Makerere University, UDSM, as well as from other
African universities (including several universities within
Tanzania, who are currently only able to offer few courses
in philosophy) to discuss the current state, challenges and
future developments of teaching philosophy in East Africa.
The conference is organized in co-operation with the
Department of Social and Moral Philosophy, University of
Helsinki, and the Social Groups, Moral Autonomy and
Responsibility (MoRes) Academy of Finland research project,
and is supported by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, DSM,
UNESCO, DSM and the Embassy of Finland, DSM. The conference
aims at creating a forum for scholars from different
countries to discuss the current state and role of
Philosophy within the East African Community, and establish
more institutionalized links between the Philosophy Units
and Departments within the region. The conference also
advances research co-operation, and the North-South link
between University of Helsinki and the collaborating
universities of Nairobi, Makerere and Dar es Salaam.
Conference Programme
Wednesday, 18th November
The Opening of the Conference
Guest Speaker of Honour, UNESCO
10.30-12.00 Keynote address
Current State and Development of Philosophy in East Africa
12.00-13.00 Lunch
13.00-15.00 1st Workshop Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi
15.30-18.00 2nd Workshop Philosophy in Tanzania
18.00- Dinner
Thursday, 19th November
Keynote address
The Role of Philosophy in the Public Sphere
11.00-13.00 3rd Workshop Philosophy and Public Policy
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-16.00 4th Workshop Good Governance and Professional
Ethics
16.30-18.30 5th Workshop Research Ethics
18.30- Dinner
Friday, 20th November
Keynote address
What is specifically African in African Philosophy?
11.00-13.00 6th Workshop African Philosophy and
International Cooperation
13.00-14.00 Lunch
Keynote address
& 7th Workshop
Philosophy and the Youth
(Organised by the Philosophy Club, UDSM)
Panel discussion
The Future of Philosophy in East Africa
Contact:
Dr. Masoud Nassor
School of Journalism and Philosophy Unit
University of Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Tel: +255 71 369 1011
Fax: +255 22 241 0648
Email: [email protected]
Ms. Annamari Vitikainen
Dept. of Social and Moral Philosophy
University of Helsinki
PO Box 9
00014 University of Helsinki
Finland
Tel: +358 9 191 29273
Fax: +358 9 191 29273
Email: [email protected]
Contact details by University:
University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Dr. Adolf Mihanjo Dr. Azaveli Lwaitama
[email protected] [email protected]
+255 75 609 1981 +255 78 443 2696
University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Francis Owakah, Department of Philosophy and Religious
Studies
[email protected]
+254 72 464 8959
Makerere University, Uganda
Dr. Byaruhanga Rukooko, Department of Philosophy
[email protected]
+256 78 249 1142
University of Helsinki, Finland
Prof. Heta Gylling, Department of Social and Moral
Philosophy
[email protected]
+358 50 549 9890
Institutional Academic Cooperation Advisor:
Dr. Sirkku Hellsten, Embassy of Finland, Nairobi and
Department of Social and Moral Philosophy, Helsinki
[email protected]
+254 72 085 8561 / +358 50 344 0124
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