Introduction
Philosophy is divided into three main requirements:
The first of these is theoretical, the most important of which is a critical review of the most important intellectual and cultural systems that form the basis of
our vision of the world and our perception of our place in it. The second is practical, most of which are how philosophy problematizes, or analyzes, social existence. And the third is harmonization, as it takes a combination between theoretical and practical, to synthesize knowledge and values on the one hand and between theory and application on the other.
Based on this division, what is required is harmony between the theoretical, conceptual, and intellectual sides, as they can be derived from the history of philosophy, and the practical side, which widens the door for us to think about social issues, politics, ethics, and coexistence. However, the contemporary philosophical field is no longer furnished with the major traditional topics of philosophy. Even the ancient questions, those related to politics, justice, virtue, duty, freedom, and existence, are being raised in a new, modern context.
There is no doubt that the question of progress remains a top philosophical priority today, despite its strong critics. What concerns us in thinking about progress and elevating it to the level of philosophical challenges is the question of the extent to which philosophy today can contribute to the progress and development of human societies, especially in the face of fierce competition from other forms of human knowledge. There are those who say that philosophy is dead because of the development and rise of social sciences and artificial intelligence, however modern development in these sciences still need philosophical studies. Income disparities, unbridled globalization and other economic forces provide an opportunity for philosophy to contribute to thinking about these other contemporary issues.
Faced with this situation, questions are raised about value of philosophy in the Arab-Islamic context and its major challenges. Hence, the Center for Philosophical Studies at Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities is organizing, on February 6 and 2024 ,7, its annual conference under the title “Philosophy and the Challenge of Theoretical and Social Progress”, and calls for reflection on it through the following philosophical themes:
Conference Themes
First theme: the concept of progress: indications and problems.
• This theme stands for the conceptual and problematic nature raised by the concept of progress.
• In Islamic philosophy.
• In contemporary Arab thought.
• In Western thought.
Second theme: Epistemological Contexts
• Philosophy and progression: in search of a “synthetic model” of philosophical rationality by addressing the model of scientific progress, modern and contemporary, and its impact on philosophy’s perception of the concept of social progress, with attention to sociology and the model of rationality to understand modern societies as well as technology, artificial intelligence, and progress.
Third theme: Ethical and aesthetic contexts
• The normative perspective of progress, in search of art or the aesthetic vision of progress, and how do literature, music and cinema contribute to the
making and development of philosophical thought?
Fourth theme: Progress and Citizenship, Current Problems
• Philosophy and the public sphere, by questioning the role of philosophy and religion today in the public sphere, by addressing philosophy and the challenge
of strengthening the national state: the spread of universal values, the development of globalization, and its impact on our perception of public space,
citizenship, power, and the state.
Fifth theme: Progress and the problems of contemporary humanity, the concept of human?
• Human today as a subject of reflection, while building on the contributions of contemporary jurisprudence in formulating the concept of man from the perspective of philosophical anthropology? As well as the problem posed by contemporary approaches to human understanding?
Sixth theme: What’s next for progress?
• In criticizing progress, it is proposed to address the dominance of the economy over the fields of culture, arts, and literature and to address the issues of defending the environment and protecting the planet.
Conferences Objectives
- Highlighting the problematic dimension of the concept of progress and the possibility of formulating a possible and reasonable understanding of it as
needed by our contemporary societies. - Determining the location of looking at our problem and the cultural context from which we proceed in understanding it, especially with the aspect in which progress appears as a moral dilemma, and a religious dilemma.
- Defending a model of rationality dominated by relativism and openness to the various sectors of knowledge contribute to crystallizing the reasonableness of the idea of progress in contemporary societal contexts.
- Work to update ethical values and principles to protect man and the earth from the results of technical progress.
Terms of participation
- The research should be related to one of the conference themes and topics.
- The research should be original and fulfill the scientific methodological conditions, and it should not have been previously published by any means of publication or submitted to another journal, institution, or conference.
- Research papers are accepted in Arabic and English, accompanied by a summary in both languages.
- The number of research pages should not be less than (20) pages and not more than (30) pages.
- The research is printed in Times New Roman font with double spacing, size 14.
- Use the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities scientific research
citation and formatting guide. - Research is subject to approved scientific evaluation at international conferences.
Conference Scientific Committee
- Dr. Najla Alnaqbi Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Sector.
- Prof. Radwan El Sayed Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
- Prof. Brahim Bourchachene Head of the Philosophy Center.
- Prof. Saeed Bentager Professor of Higher Education at Hassan II University - Casablanca.
- Dr. Sabrin Zaghloul Member of the Philosophy Center
- Prof. Fathi Engazou Member of the Philosophy Center
- Prof. Suleman AL Dakhir Professor Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities
Important Dates:
- The conference will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 2024 ,6–7.
- Deadline for sending abstracts, resumes, high-quality personal photos, registration forms, and a copy of passport is 2 July 2023.
- Date of response to the accepted abstracts participants is 17 July 2023.
- Last date for submitting research papers 30 September 2023.
- Participants will be informed of the approval of their papers before 15, October 2023.
- Abstracts and papers are subject to arbitration by a specialized committee.
- Acceptance of abstracts does not necessarily mean acceptance of participation.
- Approved scientific papers by the arbitration committee will be published bythe Center for Philosophical Studies.
- Abstracts and research papers will not be accepted aer the specified dates.
- Research papers sent without a registration link or email will not be accepted.