Discourse, debates & exchange in the spirit of a "free and public enquiry"... among the olives

The May Philosophic Encounter

This time, the question that has kept everyone busy ever since Parmenides asked it, or something like it:

Why is there something rather than nothing?

The Question
If you are a thinker, and you think you may have an interesting take on this question that the rest of us haven't thought of, you are invited to give an account of it during the week at the Parmenideum. Most everyone finds this question interesting - even if fleetingly - yet probably few get a chance to idly (let alone profoundly) consider it, especially in the company of other people. The question, a close relative of rather more plaintive pleas such as "what's it all about?" or "what is the purpose of my life?!" is notoriously resistant to an answer outside dogmatic belief and so most people tend either to ignore it or plump for the dogma.

Which, apart from being a poor use of our faculties, is also a quite perilous thing to do. The alternative to thinking about it oneself is to let other people think about it, with the result that they will come up with the answers that possibly we are encouraged to accept. One such answer being the one that arrives to us from dogmatic thinkers (if that isn't too obvious an oxymoron), and it is quite clear where that has lead us at times in the past. Not only down an infinite garden path filled with an infinite regress of question begging, but quite possibly to each others throats (my god says that...therefore, I'm going to...).

In fact, going on the general trend in world affairs, now seems like a good time to consider other possible answers to this stubborn though irresistible question. (Has it ever been any different?). There is no better place to start than with Parmenides' classic articulation of it and no better place to do it than in the very land in which this great philosopher lived.

But why is the question of so much importance? More

The Week
We have to emphasis that what visitors do during the stay at the Parmenideum is entirely a matter of libera volunta. You may attend as many or as little of the talks, discussions and debates as you wish, spending your time independently. You will be given your very own olive tree to sit and contemplate beneath and perhaps fall asleep under, if you find yourself working too hard. (If your stay happens to be in the olive season you can pick the olives from your own tree, press them to oil and take home some of the produce).

During the week in May, there will be two invited speakers with professional experience in the fields of philosophy and science, both of whom will talk on topics that bear significantly on this wonderful question. Though the talks will be held on fixed days, they may sometimes be given in various locations, perhaps on a veranda or maybe at the archeological site of Elea itself.

Moreover, at times lunch will be held during discussions, or discussions during lunch, whichever seems more appropriate, and the evenings can be your own or you can be part of whatever is taking place at the Parmenideum. Usually, there will be an evening meal, followed by anything that seems to be a good thing to do. That might mean more discussions and debates, or perhaps a musical concert (for which there are several excellent folk, jazz and classical groups). Or perhaps a film (without guns or car chases) shown in the excellent auditorium at the Fondazione Alario.

One other aspect to the week will be the obvious opportunity to indulge in any other issue in philosophy, and you will be free to propose any topic open for discussion. If you are a student, academic or writer, you may find this encounter invaluable, particularly since there will be two expert contributors attending on some of the days. Discussions are not limited to philosophy and science.

More on weeks at the Parmenideum
Some of the Delights

The Speakers

Roberto Baldini (University of Parma, Italy)
Languages: Italian, English
Roberto Baldini holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Parma. His graduation thesis was on the poem of Parmenides. He now undertakes independent research on the subject of ancient Greek philosophy, particularly pre-socratic, with especial interest in the influences of these on the psychology and history of the development of religious thought.

Prof. Lars Aagaard-Mogensen Ph.D. (Philosophy, Aarhus University, Denmark)
Languages: Danish, English, Italian
Professor Aagaard-Mogensen is Danish and since 2003 has made his home with his wife at Elea. Writer and author of articles and several books on philosophy of aesthetics. Publications include: Art and Culture (NJ, USA 1976), On Tolerance (Grenå, DK 1976), Æstetisk kultur (Copenhagen 1978), Contemporary Aesthetics (Lund, Sweden 1980), Text, Literature and Aesthetics (Amsterdam, NL 1986), The Idea of the Museum (NY, USA 1988), Real Art (Gent, Belgium 1994), as well as 125 articles in various international journals. He is fluent in English and has a life long interest in art and music. He is also president of Elea Artists' Club. He will be speaking about Parmenides' poem and philosophy, and pre-Socratic philosophy of the ancient world in general.

Schedule
First day - Ancient Greek Philosophy
Dinner. Organic foods, wine and olive oil produced by our host family are served as the local Cilentan cuisine. Preliminary introductory talk by Professor Aagaard-Mogensen on the philosophy and cosmogony of the ancients (pre-Socratics) including Thales, Pythagoras and Heraclitus.

Second Day - Talk given by Roberto Baldini on Parmenides' poem On Nature.
Lunch at the ancient settlement of Elea. Question and his philosophy. Evening talk further on Parmenides and also Zeno of Elea; the later Atomists Democritus and Lucretius, and their resolution of the conflicting philosophies of Parmenides and Heraclitus. Dinner and live musical entertainment in the evening. There may also be local attendance at the musical concert, an opportunity to meet the descendents of Parmenides.

Third day - Modern Cosmology as an approach to answering/understanding Parmenides
SP will give several (accessible) talks on Big Bang cosmology, quantum physics in relation to uncertainty and the relevance of these to the emergence of something from nothing, or the possibility that something has always existed. Lunch and evening meal with Prof Aagaard and SP. and film "Dogma". Opportunity to contribute.

Fourth Day - Free Idea Forum
Morning and lunch at the Temple at Paestum. Presentation of visitor "papers" and free idea forum. Open discussion. Evening meal, followed by traditional Cilentan musicians.

Fifth Day -
Independent. No formal activities planned,. Visitors can can take advantage of excursions by ferry or boat to Amalfi, Positano, Naples or Capri or continue to explore the Cilento or simply enjoy the local beaches. There are also horse riding facilities. Those wishing to continue debates and discussions may do so at any location of their choice (transport and prepared lunch will be provided).

Sixth Day - Independent
Independent till the evening when there will be a dinner with Prof. Aagaard-Mogensen and SP. Prize for the best reading of parmenides' Poem out loud. Live musical entertainment.

Seventh Day - Farewell
Breakfast and departures.

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