The Conference which will take place on the AEGEAN ISLAND OF SAMOS (AUGUST 2 - 7, 2002), is under the Aegis of the President of the Hellenic Republic and the direction of an International Academic Committee.

The Conference has a twofold aim: it hopes to combine and productively use the conceptual tools and the problematic of the past for the present and simultaneously, through these problems, to contribute to the clarification of existing positions and ideas as well as to open the guidelines for the future.

A. First, taking as its point of departure the conceptual investigation of ancient Greek thought and philosophy (the Pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, the Epicureans, the Cynics, and the Neo-Platonists), along with ideas being elaborated and defended in current research and literature, the Conference aims at defining the fundamental and essential constitutive elements and principles of polis and cosmopolis in order to use them as proper guidance for coping with present-day problems.

B. Secondly, starting from the present and its crucial and burning (ethical, political, economical, technological, communicational and ecological) issues, the Conference aims at the articulation of philosophical discourse about the situation and the development of the contemporary world with reference to the principles that govern the polis and cosmopolis.

Naturally, the main goal of the Conference is not simply the historical investigation of the topic. The goal of the Conference is the systematic philosophical treatment of the problems of society and state in their various contemporary forms, as well as the pointing out of possible clarifications and solutions, in order to shed light on political and social issues related to the development of culture.

The Conference is open to all philosophers, including specialists in Greek philosophy and classics with a philosophical train of mind, to historians of philosophy, to political philosophers, to theoreticians of economy, values and communication, and to those specializing in ecological theory. It is also open to creative persons in all the arts and sciences who, taking into consideration contemporary discussions of the problems raised by our age, are able to articulate consistent discourse concerning the problems that confront us, problems relating to the development of Culture and cultural forms, the necessity for a global community or government, the forms of contemporary states and countries, the constraints upon and responsibilities of national states, the flow of economic goods, the limits of the Market (understood as an economic space), and the problem of values and the form of community appropriate to the contemporary cosmopolis.

The aims of the Conference encompass a number of issues, historical, theoretical, critical and practical, and lend themselves to the discussion of several topics, including the following:

1. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE POLIS

The idea and the characteristics of the citizen, of the polis and of culture. The principles of autonomy, freedom, equality, justice and the governing of the state. Justice between city states (Plato and Thucydides) and international justice. The common good and the ideal of the good life. The philosophy of man and the principles of Greek theory of virtue and political philosophy. The principles of the economical life of the polis.

2. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE COSMOPOLIS

The concept and the characteristics of cosmopolis. The political philosophy of the Cynics. The Stoic conception of Logos, nature and the state. The cosmopolis and the Alexandrine states of the Hellenistic period. The principles of a global government. Polis, cosmopolis and the imperium.

3. GLOBALISATION AS IDEA AND REALITY

Social, ethical and political parameters of globalisation. The idea of the market (exchange values and ethical values). Open society and its principles/foundations. Ways and forms of life and the cultures today. Global or International Justice. Technological, communicational and ecological problems and the cosmopolis.

There are three categories of presentation:

Category a: The presentation of original academic Papers (approx. ten to twelve) by Invited Speakers of 30 mins. duration (i.e. a maximum of ten typed pages double-spaced, and page coverage 16 x 20).

Category b: The presentation of original academic Papers of 20 mins. duration (i.e. a maximum of seven typed pages, double-spaced, and page coverage 16 x 20).

Category c: Short presentation of papers on a Conference topic of 10-15 mins. duration.

The Papers in Category A will address the problems, evaluate the research undertaken in connection with the subject, and examine systematically current philosophical problems concerning communication in relation to problems raised in Greek Philosophy.

Participants who wish to be considered for Category A should express their interest promptly and state their preferences concerning the topic they wish to deal with, sending all the necessary information (a detailed Curriculum Vitae and a substantive Abstract of their paper) to the Organising Committee until 30th December 2001. The Organising Committee hopes to cover the cost of board and accommodation for Invited Speakers during the Conference.

However, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to provide up to 30 min. of speaking time to members of the Conference whose expenses will not be covered as Invited Speakers.

Moreover, in keeping with a standard principle of the IAGP, every endeavour will be made to ease the financial burden of Speakers at the Conference. All participants will be notified by mail regarding the category to which they have been assigned in March 2002.

The texts to be read at the Conference in their final form should be saved on 3.5 diskette and on an Apple computer (Software MS Word 4.0 and upward (6.0) and in Times New Roman font or equivalent) or in Word 6.0 for Windows (preferably 95) using Times New Roman fonts with page coverage 18 x 12.

All papers presented at the Conference and selected for publication are copyrighted by the International Center for Greek Philosophy and Culture (ICGPC) and cannot be republished without the express permission of the ICGPC.

Fuller texts of Papers (15-20 pages) in both categories (a and b) will be published in the Conference Proceedings. Texts in their final form for publication must be on diskette in accordance with the specifications above[see also FORM No. 7] .The diskette (3.5) should be sent, together with one printed hard copy of the Paper, to the IAGP.

Texts in their final form (Diskette and hard copy with the indication: FINAL TEXT FOR PUBLICATION) must be submitted no later than the end of September 2002.

The Conference is, of course, open to anyone (Greek or not) who wishes to attend, provided that he or she contacts the Organising Committee and completes the necessary forms (No. 1, 2 and 3 ) and pays the Conference fee. Persons accompanying participants should also complete the forms and pay the Conference fee specified in PARTICIPATION form No. 3.

The official languages at the Conference will be Greek, English, French and German. However, due to the prohibitively high cost of simultaneous translation, only the first two of these languages will be simultaneously translated; scholars presenting papers in French or German are requested to make available summaries of their papers in English for distribution at the conference.

Greeks who present Papers are kindly asked to submit an acceptable English translation of the latest version of their Papers which will be read at the Conference. This should be submitted to the Conference Secretary two months before the opening of the Conference.

Applications for all kinds of participation must be received by: 30 December 2001.

Applications should be made on PARTICIPATION FORM No. 1.

PARTICIPATION FORM No. 2 should be sent no later than : 30 January 2002. PARTICIPATION FORM No. 2 should be accompanied by an Abstract of the Paper to be presented together with an English translation in the case of Greek scholars. The Abstract should be written in such a way as to give a clear indication of ideas and the line of argument that the finished paper will be pursuing.

The full texts of the Papers (two copies) should be sent to the Organising committee by: 30 June 2002.

During the Conference, there will be an EXHIBITION OF BOOKS ON PHILOSOPHY. Authors of books, particularly those connected with the topic of the Conference, are kindly requested to send copies of their books so these may be included in the exhibition (FORM No. 5).

Conference participants who are coming to the Conference for the first time are advised that cancellations cause major logistical, scheduling and economic problems for the organization of an international Conference of this scope. Outings, receptions and other activities are seriously disrupted by cancellations and schedule changes. We ask that only those who are certain of their attendance submit the forms for participation.

The Conference attempts to achieve the spirit of Hellenic philosophy as a way of life and consequently tries to include many activities whose purpose is to enrich participants with exposure to Greek culture, both ancient and modern, and to an environment where discourse may occur with the warmth of hospitality, friendship and intervals of relaxation and feasts. Conference sessions are scheduled for 8:30 - 13:30 (morning session) and 17:00-20:00 (afternoon / evening session). This allows participants plenty of free time to enjoy swimming in the beautiful waters of the Aegean, or to enjoy the wonderful Mediterranean atmosphere and hospitality that the Conference locale offers.

Further details concerning the organisation of the Conference will be given in the Second Circular, which will be sent only to all those expressing a wish to participate in the Conference and who have already sent their PARTICIPATION FORM No. 1.

Correspondence relating to the Conference should be sent to the following address:

Professor Konstantine Boudouris
President of the Organising Committee
Fourteenth International Conference of Greek Philosophy
5 Simonidou Str., 174 56 ALIMOS (ATHENS) - GREECE
TEL. 301-727.7545, FAX. 301-7248979,301-9923281,
E-Mail: [email protected]

Persons living in North America (USA or Canada) may contact for information on any matter relating to their participation in the Conference:

a. Professor Gerasimos Santas
University of California -Irvine
Department of Philosophy
Irvine, California 92717
USA.
Tel. : 001 704-804-6145.
E-mail: [email protected].

c.Professor Alexander Nehamas
University of Princeton
Department of Philosophy
1789 Hall
Princeton, NJ 08544-1005
USA
Tel. 609-258-6125, FAX:609-258-2137
E-mail: [email protected]

e. Professor Joanne Waugh
Department of Philosophy, CPR 107
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida 33620,
USA .
FAX. 813-974-5918.
E- mail: [email protected]

b. Professor Thomas M. Robinson
Honorary President of the IAGP
Department of Philosophy
University of Toronto, 15 Huron St. 9th Floor
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1
Tel. 416-978-2824. Fax: 416-978-8703.
E-mail: [email protected]

d. Professor John Poulakos
Communication Department
University of Pittsburgh
1117 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA15260
USA.
Tel.412-624-6567. FAX: 412-624-1878.
E-mail: [email protected]

Persons living in Japan may contact for information on any matter relating to their participation in the Conference:
f. Professor Hideya Yamakawa
Tezukayama 1-24-7
631-0062 Nara City, Japan.
TEL. 0742-46-6933. FAX. 0742-45-4946. E-mail: [email protected]

Any other person who has not already received the present Circular can get information (circular,forms etc.) related to the Conference at our home-page:http://www.hri.org/iagp/

In the belief that this Conference will present an exceptional opportunity for research, thought and clarification of aspects on a burning subject of great political and philosophical significance, we hope that the Conference will also provide participants with an opportunity for true recreation and leisure (schole).

With kind regards

Professor Konstantine Boudouris
President of the Organising Committee

FIRST CIRCULAR
SEPTEMBER 2001