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Conference Announcement Theme: Order and Disorder in the Age of Globalization(s) Subtitle: Philosophy and the Development of Cultures Type: COMIUCAP Inter-Continental Congress Institution: Conférence Mondiale des Institutions Universitaires Catholiques de Philosophie (COMIUCAP) St. Augustine College of South Africa Location: Johannesburg (South Africa) Date: 13.–17.11.2013 __________________________________________________ We are now firmly situated in an Age of Globalizations. Successive waves of globalization have radically changed human society, affected cultures and changed economic and political activities. The ongoing processes of globalization have brought order and benefit but also disorder and destruction. When taken neutrally globalization is simply the set of processes that have led to greater interconnectivity at different levels of human life. But when globalization is narrowly seen as a predominantly economic process its negative aspects begin to emerge. So for example a corporate-led globalisation can become a “juggernaut driven by greed and notions of market efficiency” which can negatively affect personal and social and cultural life. Such globalisation tends to relentlessly pursue its goals of wealth creation for the few no matter what the cost to the environment or to the values that hold communities and cultures together. What role can philosophy play in analysing, evaluating and responding to one-sided notions of globalization? What alternatives can it articulate? It may be argued that philosophy can respond in a number of ways to the order and disorder brought about by globalization. In the first place as well as economic development there is a wider integral human development to be fostered. A key role of philosophy is to develop a full account of what such integral human development might involve. There is a great need to reflect on how the world can be interconnected at the level of human living and not just at the level of business. Philosophy has the resources to contribute to this. It can foster local philosophies and cultures as well as encourage the kind of intercultural dialogue that leads to ‘economic wisdom’ or to a ‘world cultural consciousness’. It can reflect on and evaluate the social and political and the moral and religious implications of globalization. It can reflect on what constitutes the common good in a situation of pluralism. Many questions arise. What are the dimensions of global democracy to be fostered? What kind of economies and of economic reflection is needed to serve the human good? Is an Ethical Economics Possible? What is the Good of Business? What kind of institutions do we need to promote the common good? What is the ethical status of corporate identity? Is a shared moral discourse possible in a pluralistic world? How is international law to be related to Sovereignty of Nations? Is human dignity a transcultural notion? Are human rights cross-cultural? How should be understand ‘terrorism’ in a global context? Is a moral military possible? What kind of education is required in a globalized world? Is there any role for religion in an increasingly secular world? In a context of a world ordered and disordered by globalization philosophers are challenged to reflect on what their responsibility might be to foster order and resist disorder. According to Eric Voegelin, philosophy has its origin not just in the desire to understand the world in a deep way but also in ‘the philosopher’s felt awareness of and resistance to the disorder in his surrounding culture or society – an awareness that threatens the philosopher’s own soul’. If this is so then the need for authentic and responsible philosophizing in the face of globalization is clear. Subthemes: - Metaphysics and Religion - Philosophy, Cultures and Dialogue - Economy, Justice & Development - Socio-Political and Ethical Challenges - Education, Peace and Non-Violence - African Issues For further detailed information on this upcoming event, visit the website: http://www.comiucap.net __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
