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International Symposium Bildung and paideia: philosophical models of intelligence, Hvar, October 12-17, 2013

Philosophy, humanities and the arts are of existential importance for human beings. Without them, our lives are impoverished, our imagination deprived, our powers of reflection remain underdeveloped, our judgment becomes clouded, our compassion for others is undermined and our sense of orientation lost.
Art, culture and philosophy are an integral and unalienable part of being human. Culture, philosophy and the arts invest human life with meaning, and satisfy the fundamental need of all human beings to create something which gives expression to their own unique identity and experience, reflecting their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Philosophical questions like the question of knowledge and reality, freedom and necessity, value and purpose – and what it means to be human, are an indispensable aspect not only of philosophy and humanities research, but of every individual human life, and reflection upon them is an essential part of our thought and actions as conscious, free and responsible beings. The question of meaning is of greater importance and farther- reaching consequences than questions of fact, and is the guiding force in every form of human action.In a period of economic crisis, when technological and scientific advances alone have proven incapable of resolving the most pressing issues confronting humankind, the topic of education and culture is emerging as one of central importance. Contemporary attempts to reduce educational outcomes to measurable competencies for the purpose of increased economic competitiveness and improvement of economically exploitable skills are in opposition to educational ideals which take into account the whole human being, and our search for direction and a meaningful context for our lives as individuals, as part of nature and as members of the whole human community. The tendency of government policy the world over to concentrate funding in the natural sciences, medicine and technology while reducing funding for the humanities, culture, the arts – and attempting to mould study and research in the humanities into something more like natural sciences, has created a dangerous imbalance in the area of education, skewing and undermining the original character of philosophy, humanities and the arts, as well as the naturally comprehensive aim and character of education itself. The present emphasis of educational policy on competencies and marketability of skills derails indispensable aspects of the education of the human personality and the whole individual, like cultivation of aesthetic and artistic ability and imagination, of metaphorical, symbolic and analogical thinking, and the study of cultural heritage, and so undermines its own goal of promoting innovativeness and creativity for the sake of increased economic competitiveness. 


The International Symposium: "Bildung" & "Paideia" – Philosophical Models of Education addresses these issues, aims to renew interest in wholistic models of education which cultivate all our human abilities, to establish sustained dialogue with experts and policy-makers, and to implement change. We need to raise 13, 000€ in order to ensure the success of the symposium and associated activities aiming to promote education for humanity. 

For more information on the International Symposium Bildung & Paideia - Philosophical Models of Education please visit the Plato Society of Zagreb web-page at: http://platonovo-drustvo.hr/conferences.html and our conference page: http://bildungandpaideia.platonovo-drustvo.hr.




The Plato Society of Zagreb 
Ulica grada Vukovara 54 (Institute of Philosophy)
 HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Prof. dr. Marie-Élise Zovko, President
 webpage: www.platonovo.drustvo.hr 

invites your support for the:

 International Symposium of the Plato Society of Zagreb: Bildung and Paideia: Philosophical Models of Education

organized in cooperation with:
the Institute of Philosophy, Zagreb
the Hegel Society, Zadar
and the City of Hvar 

under the official patronage of:
the President of the Republic of Croatia, Prof. dr. Ivo Josipović
and 
the Croatian Commission for UNESCO

Hvar, October 12-17, 2013


What people are saying:

"I received your announcement regarding the organization of the international conference 'Bildung & Paideia – Philosophical models of education' in Hvar from October 12-17, 2013 for which I thank you. I have the highest regard for your work and for the entire contribution of your organization to the promotion of the humanities and especially of philosophy as a way of life founded on the transmission and promotion of human values and respect for human beings as members of a multicultural society. I welcome the organization of this symposium, aimed at reflection on humanistically-oriented education as a contribution to a culture of humanity, peace, and non- violence. 
Convinced as I am that this international, interdisciplinary conference of renowned scholars and experts from the area of philosophy will contribute to the creation of philosophical models of education, it is with special pleasure that I accept the official patronage of the conference ..."

Prof. dr. IVO JOSIPOVIĆ, President of the Republic of Croatia

"I have the highest regard for your and your colleagues' decision not to be deterrred by the present economic crisis, and to organize once again an international symposium, this time under the title 'Bildung & Paideia'...To accentuate the elements of the concept of 'Bildung' not contained in the concept of 'education'..it would be worthwhile to reflect on the implications of the beautiful saying 'That person is educated [gebildet], who understands what he says, ' a sentence, which is by no means trivial." 

Prof. dr. dr. emer. WOLFGANG WIELAND, Heidelberg, Germany

"I am delighted to hear that the Plato Society of Zagreb will organize an International Symposium on the topic 'Bildung and Paideia: Philosophical Models of Education' in Hvar, Croatia from October 12-17, 2013. Following on its earlier Symposium in 2006, on 'Platonism and Forms of Intelligence', which brought together a most stimulating mix of experts on both antiquity and modern science (and which resulted in a most useful volume of essays in 2008), this Symposium once again addresses a question of fundamental importance to modern civilisation, the proper nature of education. Especially in times of financial stringency, the temptation is to abandon all else to the imperative of training young people for useful employment, usually in the area of technology. But while this aim should surely not be neglected, the problem is that the larger question of the education of the whole human being can come to be forgotten, with the attendant danger of losing contact with whole areas of a nation's cultural tradition.
Once again, Dr Zovko is doing the whole of Europe a significant service in highlighting these problems in an international conference which I have no doubt will attract lively interest from a wide variety of experts, and result once again in a most useful publication, conferring distinction on Croatia and its Academy of Sciences."

Prof. JOHN DILLON, Regius Professor of Greek (Emeritus), Trinity College Dublin ; Director Emeritus, Dublin Centre for the Study of the Platonic Tradition

"It is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to recommend to you in the strongest positive terms this Symposium as an intellectual event of excellence and high quality that will be of significant importance both to Croatian intellectual life as well as internationally. 
The theme of the philosophy of education is quite topical and urgent especially in times of crisis when reflecting upon education and culture is of paramount importance in overcoming such crises worldwide. An intellectual conference like this that contributes significantly to such a need will definitely put Croatia and the supporting bodies like your Academy on the map internationally. 
The scholars expected to participate in the Symposium will be well-known academics from all over the world, leading experts in philosophy and education, and related fields. 
I have also had personal knowledge of the members of the Plato Society, and of the Institute of Philosophy at Zagreb, in the past and have been impressed by their organizational abilities in organizing a most successful conference before at Hvar. I also consider it important that the organizing committee has planned to have young researchers, doctoral and diploma students involved in the organization and in the Symposium itself."
A positive aspect of this event is the inclusion of less central areas of Croatia in the academic life of the country, such as Hvar, the involvement of local sponsors, e.g. The Hvar Museum and Hvar Theatre, businesses as well as local schools, the latter actively participating with their students in the Symposium, something quite appropriate for a symposium on education. The Symposium will also include a cultural program promoting Croatian heritage and its connection to European cultural heritage. 
I am confident that this Symposium will be a great success and have a significant impact on cultural and academic matters both in Croatia and internationally." 

Professor BYRON KALDIS 
Professor of Philosophy/ Director of Studies
School of Humanities, The Hellenic Open University, Greece

bildung; paideia; philosophy; culture; humanism; humanities; education; imagination; reflection; community; policy

Međunarodni simpozij Platonovog društva i Instituta za filozofiju, Zagreb, Bildung i paideia. Filozofski modeli odgoj i obrazovanja održavao se od 12.-17. listopada 2013. u Hvaru. Suorganizatori su bili: Institut za filozofiju, Zagreb, Grad Hvar, Hegelovo društvo Zagreb. Visoki pokrovitelji su bili Predsjednik RH Dr. Ivo Josipović, te Hrvatsko povjerenstvo za UNESCO. Sponzori simpozija su bili Grad Hvar, Ministarstvo znanosti, obrazovanja i sporta, Ministarstvo kulture, te Hegelovo društvo. Simpozij se organizirao u suradnji sa Muzejom hvarske baštine, Muzej Stari Grad, Franjevački samostan, Hvar, i brojnim privatnim sponzorima. The International Symposium of the Plato Society and the Institute of Philosophy, Zagreb: Bildung and Paideia: Philosophical Models of Education was held from October 12-17 in Hvar, Croatia. The symposium was organized under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Croatia Dr. Ivo Josipović and the Croatian Commission for UNESCO, and in cooperation with the Institute of Philosophy, Zagreb, the City of Hvar, and the Hegel Society of Zagreb, as well as with: Hvar Heritage Museum, Stari Grad Museum, the Franciscan Monastery, Hvar, and numerous pr