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Call for Papers Theme: Towards A Better World Order Subtitle: The Family As The Basic Building Block Type: 2nd International Conference on the Development Philosophy of Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Institution: Department of Philosophy, University of Ibadan Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation Location: Ibadan (Nigeria) Date: 5.–7.2.2014 Deadline: 30.11.2014 __________________________________________________ In pursuance of their mandate (the Department of philosophy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria and the Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation, Nigeria with its affiliate Africa Institute for Leadership, Research and Development, South Africa, to employ the original thoughts of Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe for the construction of a coherent and plausible development philosophy that would serve as a viable foundation for sustainable development in Nigeria and other developing societies) the Department of Philosophy, University of Ibadan in conjunction with Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation is organizing the 2nd International Conference on the Development Philosophy of Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe, with the central theme: Towards A Better World Order: The Family As The Basic Building Block. The Conference would take place between 5th – 7th February, 2014 Venue: Conference Centre University of Ibadan, Ibadan - Nigeria Synopsis of the Conference Theme Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe’s reflections, rich in philosophy, revolve around his concept of a Holistic Approach To Human Existence and Development. According to him, an adequate understanding of the universe must be preceded by a prior knowledge of the inviolable fact that human beings are a function of the spiritual, the economic and the socio-political principles. This is what he refers to as the Three Constituents of Existence, which undergird the architecture of knowledge of his treatises on the family, youth, economic empowerment, democratic governance, culture, education, peace advocacy, development, science and technology, etc. These issues, as espoused by Anyiam-Osigwe, are being examined and interrogated by African philosophers and other scholars from different persuasions and disciplinary divides. For the sake of brevity, Anyiam-Osigwe’s views are categorized into three broad areas namely: - Personal Values, Personal Awareness and Self-Mastery; - Enhancement of Socio-political Existence and Order; - Economic Existence, Awareness and Responsibility The family, which is the central theme of the conference, is located in the first triad. Anyiam-Osigwe acknowledges the centrality of the family and kinship in regulating human behavior and conduct as well as in engendering good social order. For him, the family is the first port of call for the child at birth where the core values of the society like honesty, humility, sincerity, reciprocity, courage, truth-telling, hardwork, are imparted to the child. Anyiam-Osigwe appreciates the progress brought to humanity by science and technology, but worries about the callous neglect and erosion of family values and morality as a result of globalization. Now, what we witness in both developed and developing countries is a spiritual and moral collapse with its untoward consequences like drug addiction, gangsterism, violent conflicts, terrorism, corruption, rape, ritual killings, witchcraft, cultism and other forms of criminalities. Thus, Anyiam-Osigwe advocated, for the amelioration of the human condition, a return to the pristine family values. This is anchored on his belief that the “family is a manifestation of Divinity as Divinity is indeed a family as it bears on the Quadrants Principle of the God Phenomenon”. In sum, Anyiam-Osigwe avers that “if we get it right at the family level, it will translate to a better community which in turn would impact on the larger society thereby contributing to a better world order”. Sub-Themes Participants at the conference are expected, in preparing their papers, to address but not necessarily limit themselves to any of the following sub-themes: - African Traditional Family System - Modern African Family Unit - Christian Perspective of Family - Family and Islam - Ifa on Family - Family, Youth and Education - Family and Confucius Teachings - Family and the Media - Family, Homelessness and Vulnerable Persons - Family and Environmental Issues - Family and Public Health Education - Family and Kinship Bond - Family, and Gender Issues - Family and Technology - Family, Production and Consumerism - Family, Education and Child rearing - Widowhood, Single Parenthood and Child Rights - Family and Nation-Building - Family and Sustenance of Core Societal Values - Family and Poverty Alleviation - Family and the Culture of Peace - Family and Career in modern world - Family and Literature - Family and Afrocentricism Guidelines for Submission All interested participants are to send a one page abstract to the e-mail addresses below on or before 30th November, 2013. Participants would be informed about the status of their papers by 15th December, 2013 and are expected to submit full papers electronically by 24th December, 2013. To submit your abstract(s) and paper(s), please use this online form: http://osigwedp.org.ng/node/29 Conference Fee No fees will be charged for participation. Rather, an honorarium would be paid to participants after submitting the corrected version of their papers and their presentation at the conference. There is provision for tea and lunch for all participants. However, participants will be responsible for their own accommodation and transport to and from the conference venue. There are a few hotels around the University town whose prices range from N5,000 ($31) to N20,000 ($125) per night. The airfare of international participants i.e. from outside Nigeria may be subsidized. Local Organising Committee Dr. C.A. Udefi Head of Department Department of Philosophy University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria e-mail: [email protected] +2348035036401 Professor Dipo Irele Department of Philosophy University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria e-mail: [email protected] +2348153131442 Dr. I.E. Ukpokolo Department of Philosophy University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria e-mail: [email protected] +2348076555252 Dr. (Mrs) Bolatito Lanre-Abass Department of Philosophy University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria e-mail: [email protected] +2348060643545 Mr Michael Anyiam-Osigwe Co-ordinator-General Osigwe-Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation, Lagos-Nigeria +2348054475029 Email: [email protected] Conference website: http://osigwedp.org.ng/node/27 __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
