__________________________________________________
Call for Applications Theme: Transgression and Normativity Type: Theory and Philosophy Summer School 2013 Institution: School of Sociology and Philosophy, University College Cork Location: Castletownroche (Ireland) Date: 29.4.–3.5.2013 Deadline: 1.3.2013 __________________________________________________ The Theory and Philosophy Summer School is an intensive course in theories, concepts and methods of inquiry designed for the needs of postgraduate students & researchers, especially doctoral candidates, in the Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences, in Sociology, Philosophy, History, Anthropology, Politics, Languages, Arts, Literature and Classics, from universities throughout Ireland, Europe and around the world who are developing theoretical and interpretive paradigms for their research. TAPSS offers a student-centered and collaborative setting in which students participate in sessions led by academics from UCC and guest professors. Conventional didactic presentations are bolstered by small group work, student-led seminars and discussions, peer-group presentation and feedback sessions. To optimize students’ learning experience participants will be limited to 30. Transgression and Normativity are two defining antinomies of modern civilization. Renaissance, Reformation, democratic, communist, nationalist, industrial and scientific revolutions entail a transgressive breaking of paradigms; and transgressive, libertarian and avant-garde movements in art, culture and everyday life drive modern civilization’s political-libidinal economies. Some would argue that the critical spirit of Modernity that values transgression in the pursuit of individual self-actualization has eclipsed normativity to the point where all values are debased and trivialized; in a pervasive culture of meaninglessness late, or post-modern energies discharge themselves formlessly as the excesses of neo-liberal global capitalism, mass-mediatized democracy, neo-libertine consumption and planetary ecocide. On the other hand, others argue that the spirit of modernity is equally animated by a quest for normativity: to be modern is to seek agreement on the question ‘how ought we live? By the light of what ideals do we critically evaluate and reflexively reform ourselves?’ Modern civilization seeks foundations for a secular, post-conventional morality that can be the basis of solidarity and social order. Collective and individual liberties instigated by acts of transgression are regulated, institutionalized, harmonized as reciprocal duties and responsibilities within frameworks of republican citizenship and the rule of law, and by the ongoing elaboration of institutions of liberal democratic and cosmopolitan global governance. The spirit of modernity has been animated by the antinomies and dialectics of transgression and normativity from the start, but recently it has, arguably, reached apotheosis. Do we need a normative renaissance and restoration of ideals? Can a normativity for the 21st Century to be found in Classical, deep-historical, or political-anthropological sources? Can normativity for our times be found in paradigms outside of the Judeo-Christian and Western canons, in Asian philosophies, for example? Or, is a normative regeneration desirable at all? At The Theory and Philosophy Summer School you will: - Develop high-level conceptual & communicative tools - Deepen your disciplinary knowledge & prepare yourself for inter-disciplinary co-operation - Learn to evaluate & employ methodological skills. TAPSS 2013 will approach the problem of Transgression and Normativity in an inter-disciplinary & international context to facilitate problem-orientated & team-based research on the doctoral level in the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. To apply please send: (i) A letter indicating your institution, programme and level; your field of study and your research topic, indicating how 'Transgression and Normativity’ are themes relevant to your work. (ii) A letter of support from your supervisor. (To be Emailed Separately) (iii) A limited number of Scholarships are available. Please indicate in your application if you wish to be considered for a Scholarship. Please email applications to: [email protected] Contact: Lorcan Byrne, TAPSS 2013 Coordinator School of Sociology and Philosophy University College Cork Ireland Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.tapss.ie __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
