| The Delights of Philosophy |
Conference:
Autumn 2011 |
Well, this is serious. |
Provisional title: "Ancient rationalism and modern mysticism: the former as antidote to the latter".
The conference will address the question of why the philosophy of Parmenides is important in a modern context. Specifically this question addresses two aspects of Parmenides. The first considers Nestor Cordero's ( University of Rennes ) contention that Parmenides was as much a scientist as a philosopher, in that his poem is a thesis on rational inquiry as opposed to opinion. The second aspect is that rational inquiry provides a powerful countercheck on superstition and the dangers that lie in superstitious belief. What can be viewed as particularly powerful about Parmenides' thesis, it might be argued, is that his answer to the origins of Being avoids a creator or god. One interesting corollary is the possibility that Parmenides was an atheist; or at least, despite apparently being a mystic, the possibility that he did not take the gods of his day too seriously.
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| Previous Conference: 27-29 May 2011
"Better to be an unhappy man than a happy pig". Was Mill right?
Keynote address
Timothy Chappell: Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Ethics Centre, The Open University
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| Contribute |
| Student volunteers can apply to help develop and promote the Parmenideum. In exchange we can offer a couple of weeks in the Cilento. More... |
| Musicians: bring your instruments and perform. |
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For a limited time only, the Parmenideum is offering FREE philosophical problems to idly think about instead of doing something useful. HURRY and claim your FREE philosophical problem while stocks last. |
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