Call for Papers: International Congress on Medieval Studies

The general call for papers is out for the annual International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, MI. This year’s conference will be held May 12-15, 2011. Planned sessions on Aquinas include:

• Know Thyself: Memory and Self-Knowledge in Augustine and Aquinas
• The Theological Methodologies of Thomas Aquinas and Other Scholastic Theologians
• Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas
• Thomas Aquinas

Also of note are:

• The Philosophy and Theology of Nicolas of Cusa
• Robert Grosseteste and Natural Philosophy
• Robert Grosseteste and the Cura Pastoralis
• Nature and Word in Medieval Philosophy
• Natural Law and Moral Philosophy
• Natural Law and Political Philosophy

Another installment of the annual session How to Get Published: Advice from Editors and Insiders sponsored by La corónica is also planned. Past sessions have been wonderful and the advice offered is quite good.

Call for papers: Fordham conference on the Metaphysics of Aquinas (March 26-27, 2011)

From the Center for Medieval Studies, Fordham University, a call for papers for their 31st Annual Conference of the Center for Medieval Studies (Lincoln Center Campus, March 26-27, 2011), entitled “The Metaphysics of Aquinas and Its Modern Interpreters: Theological and Philosophical Perspectives.” Their description:

Fordham University’s Center for Medieval Studies invites scholars from different disciplines and scholarly methodologies to explore Aquinas’s metaphysics and how it relates to various aspects of his philosophy and theology and/or to modern retrievals of his thought.

The Conference seeks to capitalize on the pluralism of Thomistic studies by inviting papers from a wide range of areas within the disciplines of philosophy and theology. Conference organizers welcome papers that may approach the topic from various branches of philosophy (such as the philosophy of religion, ontology, or natural theology), or various fields of theology, such as historical, fundamental, or systematic theology (including such areas as Trinitarian theology, Christology, or theological anthropology). Conference organizers also seek a representative variety of approaches to Aquinas and to Thomism, including those of the Dominican commentators, Transcendental Thomism, Existential Thomism, analytic philosophy, and postmodernism. 

The Conference will include a special strand of sessions on what many regard as one of the central problems in the contemporary retrieval of Aquinas?s thought, namely, how to account for the mind?s knowledge of being qua being, or as this issue is often referred to, the discovery of the being of metaphysics.

If you are interested in speaking at this conference, please send a cover letter with contact information and an abstract of your paper to the Conference Committee at medievals@fordham.edu, or by regular mail to Fordham Center for Medieval Studies, Faculty Memorial Hall 405B, Bronx, New York 10458. The deadline for submissions is September 10, 2010.

Participants include:

Christopher Cullen, S.J
Brian Davies, O.P.
Lawrence Dewan, O.P.
Stephen Fields, S.J.
Paul Gondreau
Franklin T. Harkins
Gyula Klima
John Knasas
R. James Long
Steven Long
Giorgio Pini
Eleonore Stump
Rudi te Velde
Joseph Wawrykow
John Wippel

There is a PDF of the conference announcement here.

Mediaevalia Philosophica Polonorum: call for papers

In from Professor Elżbieta Jung, of the Institute of Philosophy, University of Lódz in Poland.

Mediaevalia Philosophica Polonorum seeks submissions for a forthcoming issue of the journal.

It is open for contributions in history of medieval philosophy, theology and science in English, French, German and Latin and editions of medieval texts of approximately 30 printed pages (ca 54000 signs). We will welcome papers on any topic concerning history of medieval philosophy, theology and science. The deadline is 30th March 2010.

With best regards,
Professor Elżbieta Jung
Editor of Mediaevalia Philosophica Polonorum
Director of the Department of History Premodern Philosophy
Institute of Philosophy, University of Lódz,
ul. Kopcinskiego 16/18, 90-232 Lódz

Contact Person: Dr Monika Michalowska, the Secretary of MPP
monikamichalowska@o2.pl

Upcoming conference: Renewing the Face of the Earth: The Church and the Order of Creation (St. Paul, MN)

From the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity (at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota), comes a call for papers (PDF) for their conference, “Renewing the Face of the Earth: The Church and the Order of Creation,” to be held in St. Paul on October 29-31, 2009. Here is the announcement:

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

It would be an understatement to say that the natural environment is a current topic of concern in contemporary culture. And yet, though many may share in the concern, little work has been done to arrive at a common framework for considering possible solutions.

While a myriad of practical proposals have been aired in the public sector, this conference emerges from the conviction that more fundamental theological questions lie at the heart of the concern for our care of the earth, questions which the Catholic intellectual tradition is uniquely equipped to address: What is responsible stewardship? What is the meaning, value and destiny of created goods? How does one situate the dignity of the human person vis a vis created things? And are there distinctive Catholic features to any authentic response?

The aim of the conference is to consider the significance of grasping anew the Catholic theological and philosophical principles which may be drawn upon to illuminate the problem o f the environment. We invite papers that bring the wisdom of our own intellectual heritage, especially that of St. Thomas Aquinas, to articulate an adequate vision of responsible stewardship, one that is coherent, meaningful and faithful.

The conference will be held at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul, Minnesota. Paper proposals should be sent to Dr. Deborah Savage at pdsavage@stthomas.edu by June 1, 2009.

As the announcement indicates, there is a certain forefronting of the doctrine of Aquinas. The conference’s website is here.

PMR 2009 (October 16-18, 2009)

Scraped from various announcements of this year’s PMR Conference at Villanova University (Philadelphia, PA):

Call for Papers Patristic, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies (PMR) at Villanova University invites you to participate in its 34th International P M R Conference October 16-18, 2009, featuring:

• John Van Engen (University of Notre Dame), author of Sisters and Brothers of the Common Life
• M. Michèle Mulchahey (Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, Toronto), author of First the Bow is Bent in Study

The P M R committee this year makes a special invitation to scholars from all disciplines in these fields to address our plenary theme: Ora et Labora. Pray and Work.
As always, the PMR makes an OPEN CALL to scholars, institutions, and societies to propose Papers, Panels, or Sponsored Sessions in all areas and topics in LATE ANTIQUITY/PATRISTICS, BYZANTINE STUDIES, MEDIEVAL STUDIES, ISLAMIC STUDIES, JEWISH STUDIES, and RENAISSANCE & REFORMATION STUDIES.

From the Christian liturgy of the hours to Jewish daily liturgy and the Muslim call to prayer, the cultures of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages marked the movement of the day's work with prayer. The day's frame was set by spiritual exercises of many sorts, and thus the fruits of one's labor, one's work, bore within it something of the fruits of the spirit. What is the relationship between the many forms of work – intellectual, manual, cultural, artistic, social, political, economic – and prayer? Are there points of tension? Resistance? From lectio divina and sacred theology, to scholastic philosophy and canon law; from the Divine Comedy and liturgical plays, to sacred architecture and iconography; from the Holy Roman Empire and educational foundations, to Byzantine schools and monasteries, to Jewish chevruta and Islamic madrasas, this year's thematic "conference within a conference" will explore these questions and more, opening up a fresh, new perspective on perennial questions of matter and spirit, reason and faith, politics and religion.

Deadline for submissions: May 29, 2009
Notice of acceptance will be made by June 30, 2009

For more information please visit the conference’s website.

Kalamazoo 2009 call-for-papers on Aquinas

In from Ed Houser (University of St. Thomas in Houston) and John F. Boyle (University of St. Thomas in St. Paul), a call-for-papers on Aquinas for Kalamazoo 2009 (May 7-10, 2009). The focus in previous years has been upon the seven virtues—with the possibility of eventual publication of papers in a series of volumes from CUA Press. This year's focus is upon the virtue of hope. Paper proposals are due by September 14, 2008, but, as Ed notes, "if past is any indication, we will run out of places well before then." You can download a flyer for the proposal in Word or PDF format.

Ed adds that "the first volume in the series, on temperance, is now being proof read for one last time before sending the manuscript to Catholic University Press."

Ethics of organ transplantation conference at University of St Thomas (Houston)

The Center for Thomistic Studies is sponsoring a conference on the ethics of organ transplantation (March 27–29, 2009). The mini-site for the conference has the following description:

The Ethics of Organ Transplantation, an interdisciplinary conference on medical and philosophical issues surrounding organ transplantation, will bring together experts from a variety of fields, such as philosophy, theology, and medicine. The conference seeks a coherent vision that promotes healing united with a respect for the dignity of each individual.

Keynote speakers include:

• D. Alan Shewmon, M.D., Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
  Topic: Brain Death
  
• Janet Smith, Ph.D., Fr. Michael J. McGivney Chair of Life Issues, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, MI
  Topic: The Ethics of Ova Donation for Stem Cell Research
  
• A.A. Howsepian, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Administration Central California Health Care System, Fresno, CA
  Topic: Organ Transplantation and Anencephalic Infants
  
• Christopher Kaczor, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Philosophy, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
  Topic: Organ Donations after Cardiac Death

It is possible to submit a paper for inclusion in the conference, responding to the call for papers. Papers will be accepted as they are received, preference given to earlier submissions, with a final deadline of January 1, 2009.

The Medieval Tradition of Natural Law at Kalamazoo

Harvey Brown from University of Western Ontario invites submissions for next year's Kalamazoo, in the sessions devoted to The Medieval Tradition of Natural Law.

• I Natural Law and Political Philosophy
• II Natural Law and Moral Philosophy

Proposals should be sent, by Sept. 15, 2007, to :

Harvey Brown
Political Science Dept.
University of Western Ontario
London, Ont., Canada N6A 5C2

e-mail: hbrown2@uwo.ca

New journal: American Theological Inquiry

Got the following in this morning’s e-mail:

AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL INQUIRY (www.atijournal.org)

A Biannual Journal of Theology, Philosophy of Religion, Culture, & History (forthcoming: January 15, 2008).

Particular topics of interest include:

• (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Reformed, or Evangelical) Perspectives on the Current State of American Christianity.
• Current theological/philosophical trends in the Western world.
• Cultural/philosophical apologetics.
• Ecumenism and/or criticism of other traditions (ostensively) within the scope of ancient orthodoxy (Creedal Christianity)
• Systematic theology.
• Perspectives on history/historical events from an orthodox viewpoint.
• Engaging contemporary culture with the gospel.
• Engagement with the Patristical literature.

Please visit: http://www.atijournal.org for SUBMISSION GUIDELINES and additional information about the Journal.

Thanks to private funding, access to American Theological Inquiry is FREE. The Journal will be published in a PDF format, biannually, on January and July 15th.

As ATI prepares for its first edition on January, 15, 2008, we welcome the suggestions, ideas, and feedback of the American community of Christian scholars. To provide feedback to the Journal, please follow this link.

It may be something of a stretch to post it here, but the journal might be a place for a Thomist to say something interesting. I’d rather be too thorough. Those who submit articles are also asked explicitly to affirm their adherence to the four early creeds.

(Sotto voce: I’ve been meaning to think about ecclesial community, its creeds, and its sacred texts; maybe I’ll put together a post on my personal web site…).

"Semana Tomista" in Argentina

The Sociedad Tomista Argentina, founded by the Argentine Thomist Mgr. Octavio Derisi  (1907-2002), holds its annual “Thomist Week” in Buenos Aires from 10-14 September 2007 on the topic “Philosophy of the Body”. Papers can be submitted before May 31, 2007. Here is the PDF with all the information (in Spanish, of course!). In it you can find the info on how to contact the secretary of the Society, Prof. María Célestina Donadío Maggi de Gandolfi!

Two Sessions on Transcendentals at Kalamazoo 2007

There will be two sessions at next spring’s Medieval Congress in Kalamazoo devoted to the doctrine of the transcendentals. Richard Taylor (from Marquette University’s Philosophy Department) writes:

Deadline for Abstract / Proposal with title: September 15.

42nd International Congress on Medieval Studies (May 10-13, 2007) Call For Papers

(http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/congress/42cfp/index.html)

Society for Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy (2): Transcendentals in Medieval Philosophy: Sources and Doctrines I-II

Richard C. Taylor
Marquette University
Philosophy Deptartment
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
Phone:wk) 414-288-5649;
E-mail: richard.taylor@marquette.edu
Web site: www.smrphil.org

See you at the ‘Zoo!

Call for papers on Aquinas for Kalamazoo (May 10-13, 2007)

CENTER FOR THOMISTIC STUDIES (HOUSTON) and UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS (MN)

Call for papers on the thought of ST. THOMAS AQUINAS at the 42^nd INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF MEDIEVAL STUDIES

Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan (May 10-13, 2007)

There will be a total of 6 sessions devoted to Medieval philosophical and theological thought, especially Aquinas, sponsored by:

• The Center for Thomistic Studies , c/o R.E. Houser, Center for Thomistic Studies, University of St. Thomas (TX), 3800 Montrose, Houston, TX 77006-4696. FAX: (713) 942-3464. email: houser@stthom.edu. The topic for 2007 will be the theological virtue of FAITH. Papers about Aquinas, his sources, or contemporary applications of his thought on the topic of faith, in itself or in relation to philosophy, will be considered for publication in a volume to be published for the Center for Thomistic Studies by The Catholic University of America Press.
• The Thomas Aquinas Society , c/o John F. Boyle, Department of Theology #4257, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, 55105, FAX ( 651) 962-5310, email: jfboyle@stthomas.edu. Proposals on any topic dealing with Aquinas are welcome.

Papers are 20 minutes in length. Deadline for 300 word abstract for presentation at Kalamazoo: 15 Sep 2006. Deadline for completed paper on faith for consideration for publication: 1 July 2007. The Kalamazoo conference is the largest congress for Medieval Studies in the world. Cost of room and board is quite moderate, and the atmosphere congenial to those interested in Aquinas.