Dutch-Flemish Association for Intercultural Philosophy NVVIF
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Research Group Seminars Dutch-Flemish Association for Intercultural Philosophy NVVIF |
| Nederlands-Vlaamse Vereniging voor Interculturele Filosofie |
NEXT MEETING OF THE RESEARCH GROUP SEMINAR (SPIRITUALITY): JUNE 16, 2000
Our last meeting, of April 28, 2000, was well attended and was characterised by a lively discussion. There were extensive oral presentations by Reini Raatgever (on the basis of a written paper) and by Henk Oosterling, in addition to a written text by Wim van Binsbergen, a somewhat revised version (13.5.2000) of which is attached here:
click here for: Wim van Binsbergen: 'Derrida on religion: Glimpses of interculturality'
The initiative to inject
new life into our group by circulating, for our April 28, 2000
meeting, the Derrida/Vattimo/Gadamer book was welcomed in
principle, but it turned out that most people attending had
increasing doubts as to whether a Research Group on Intercultural
philosophy is likely to reap lasting benefits from approaching
spirituality from a North Atlantic/continental philosophy of
difference approach. The last part of our meeting was devoted to
venting criticism of the overall orientation, while exploring
alternatives. So far this led to the following decisions taken by
the group as a whole:
1. after the Summer vacation 2000 we shall re-orientate the
Research Group, but we still have to make up our mind as to
alternatives to our current approach.
2. until the Summer vacation 2000 we shall continue along the
existing lines. Our next meeting will be on
.
Perhaps we should try to
re-establish what was a wonderful tradition under the
chairpersonship of Heinz Kimmerle, and conclude the meeting with
drinks and a meal. In that case it will have to be a Dutch treat
i.e. everyone pays for herself/himself, as in the past
3. It was felt that Wim van Binsbergen's paper had not been given
an extensive critical discussion, which is why it shall be back
on the agenda for the June 16 meeting.
4. It was also felt that we do not explore sufficiently the rich
stores of interculturality and spirituality all of us have access
to as members of the Research Group. Wim proposed to open the
meeting with a display of African spirituality, and to throw in a
new paper on African spirituality from a point of view of
interculturality. But we must not allow this Research Group to be
turned into a one- or two-men show. What is particularly welcome
is papers by the other members, if possible circulated in advance
by e-mail, and addressing aspects of our research topic on the
basis of personal fascination, expertise, experience, etc.
Sometimes the feeling arises that we are not trying hard enough
to make this Research Group a success. Let us try once more!
5. We have invested considerably in spirituality, and have a few
papers to show, and some seminal discussions behind us. Therefore
it was proposed to yet try and organise a one-day conference, of
modest proportions, for the Autumn of 2000.
BACKGROUND
The first meeting of the regular monthly research seminar in the academic year 1999-2000 took place on: |
Friday, 17 September, 1999, Philosophical Faculty, EUR, Rotterdam, 16.00 hrs |
| On that occasion we determined in
greater detail how to approach the specific topic which
will guide our discussions in the next two years, leading
on to an international conference -- possibly in the
context of the Rotterdam 2001 'cultural capital'
manifestations: |
Spirituality: Approaches from intercultural philosophy |
Taking spirituality as our thematic
focus, and the contemporary multicultural society of
Western Europe as our principal referent for empirical
grounding, we shall explore the
intercultural-philosophical problem of how to
conceptualise, and turn to philosophically underpinned
praxis in concrete and topical social settings,
Focussing on a concrete empirical setting in space and time does not preclude the central involvement -- as has been the NVVIF's tradition and strength since its inception) of philosophers, philosophical traditions, and philosophically inspired or relevant social science approaches from outside the North Atlantic. On the contrary, it is certain that (inter-)relation cannot be adequately thought from the North Atlantic philosophical tradition alone, and needs to be elucidated both
In preparation of the meeting, we distributed three seminal texts by Henk Oosterling relevant to this topic, as well as a short introductory statement by the same author:
These texts may be consulted by clicking on the above hyperlinks. We regret that, due to the initial and experimental stage in which this proposed research project finds itself, we have not been able to offer these texts in English yet. But their being in the author's native Dutch does not mean a change of policy within the NVVIF: English will remain the principal language of communication, both written and orally. The next meeting of the Research Seminar took place on Friday 29 October, 1999. On this occasion Wim van Binsbergen presented a paper entitled: of which an expanded draft appears here. The
paper generated a lively discussion, a protocol of
which has been included in the present website. In addition, two other papers were
distributed: Meanwhile the number of participants of the Research Seminar is steadily expanding. In November 1999 the meeting of the Research Seminar took place on Friday 19, 1999, again at 16.00 hrs, Philosophical Faculty building, Oostmaaslaan 950-952. Then Marty Monteiro (who holds a M.A. in psychology) presented a paper dwelling on issues of universality and relativism. Tde relevant reading material was e-mailed to the members of the Research Seminar. Gerrit Steunebrink (who holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and specialises on the philosophy of the multicultural society) presented a paper at the Research Group's meeting of 17 December, 1999, usual time and place. He discussed two papers, one dealing with the interpretation of Islam by a Christian French orientalist, the other exploring aspects of the multicultural society. The meetings of the Research Group are to continue on a monthly basis through the year 2000. Details will be announced in due time. |
| page last modified: 09-06-00 16:04:35 |