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Call for Papers Theme: The Problem of Evil and Images of (In)Humanity Type: Cross-disciplinary Workshop and PhD Course Institution: Center for the Study of Jewish Thought in Modern Culture (CJMC), University of Copenhagen Location: Copenhagen Date: 6.–7.10.2016 Deadline: 1.8.2016 __________________________________________________ This cross-disciplinary workshop and PhD course addresses the problem of evil and the ensuing challenge of re-orientation after catastrophic crises: violent conflicts, wars, and genocide. The aim of the workshop is to explore the potential of imagination as a means of ethical re-orientation and societal integration in the aftermath of atrocity. Given that people can treat their fellow human beings with disrespect and even as if they were sub-human, the question is: What mental, linguistic or graphic images of humanity can yield navigational tools and norms of orientation? We will focus on the overt or covert normativity of images of humanity or inhumanity in a pluri-religious, multi-cultural, and multi-media context. Competing world views and conceptions of the human being will be considered when contrapositioning different ideas of ’humanity’ and ’inhumanity.’ Images have the power to move those who perceive or conceive them. How do images that depict our common humanity differ from counter-images that distort the image of ’the other’? And, more generally, how can destructive images be differentiated from healing images in terms of how they interact with their beholders? Of special interest are differences regarding their pragmatics, their functioning and effects: What are the ways in which they appear to and affect their viewers? Such questions will be discussed in a dialogue between literary and visual studies, philosophy, psychology, theology, theories of emotion and recognition, and the classic exegetical, historical, and systematic disciplines comprised by the umbrella term ’Jewish Studies.’ The role of re-orienting images will be examined in three respects: (1) regarding their potential to confront perpetrators with their guilt, to invite them to repair their relations to the injured party, if this is possible, or to take responsibility for irreparable damage they have caused (2) regarding their potential to help victims to regain their dignity and to deal with overwhelming feelings of grief, powerlessness, anxiety, depression, and shame (3) regarding their potential to prompt critical reflection, empathy, and civil courage in those who witnessed the event, are implicated in it, or at least informed about what happened. Confirmed speakers: Jennifer Geddes (Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, University of Virginia); Søren Holst (Department of Biblical Exegesis, University of Copenhagen); Ruth Illman (Donner Institute, Åbo Akademi University); Eva Schürmann (Institut für Philosophie, Universität Magdeburg); Philipp Stoellger (Faculty of Theology, University of Heidelberg) Participation is free, but online registration is required. Call for PhD papers: PhD students who are interested in contributing to the conference themes are welcome to send the title of their paper and an abstract of 200-300 words to Claudia Welz (c...@teol.ku.dk) by August 1, 2016. Participation without presenting a paper: 1,3 ECTS; participation with paper: 2,8 ECTS. If you are a PhD student and want to participate with or without paper, please register both via this website and via e-mail (otherwise you won't receive ECTS documentation). For more information, see: http://teol.ku.dk/cjmc/english/events/2016/the_problem_of_evil_and_images_of_inhumanity/ Contact: Prof. Claudia Welz Department of Systematic Theology University of Copenhagen Købmagergade 44-46, 3rd Floor, Room 354 DK-1150 Copenhagen K Denmark Tel. +45 - 353 23682 Email: c...@teol.ku.dk __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org InterPhil List Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/interphil@list.polylog.org/ __________________________________________________
