ISN Summer Conference 2008:
"Hans Jonas and the Rediscovery of Nature"
The ISN's second annual Summer Conference for scholars
and students follows the Summer Seminar.
What: A one and one-half day academic conference with one or two keynote
addresses, and the presentation of academic papers. This year’s conference will
center on the phenomenologist Hans Jonas and his thought on science, technology,
and nature. Papers are welcome on related topics ranging from
anti-reductionism/holism, self-organization, systems theory, and
complexity in science, to papers in natural philosophy in the neo-Aristotelian
or phenomenological traditions. See the ISN “Articles,
essays, and books” page to get a sense of the range or relevant topics.
Papers need not focus on Jonas’s thought but should tie in to the conference
theme in some respect. Given Jonas’s broad interests and deep insights, a tie-in
to the theme from a broad range of possible paper topics should not be
difficult.
Who: The keynote
speakers will be Lenny Moss and Michael Denton. Scholars interested in giving papers are welcome to submit their proposals
along with a CV by May 11th. Those whose papers are selected will have their
travel expenses reimbursed, and may also receive a small stipend (to be
determined). Any interested scholar may attend, but please notify us
by May 30th that you plan to come. We have
reserved some rooms at a special conference rate of $159/night +
taxes at
the Kendall Hotel
adjacent to campus and the Kendall Square/MIT 'T' stop;
it is too late to book your room at that rate with the
Kendall yourself, but we have reserved some extra rooms
there at that rate and may be able to assign one to you if you
contact us. Also, we hope and expect the students from
the immediately preceding Summer Seminar will remain to participate, as this
conference has been specially scheduled to make it convenient for them to do so.
When: The Summer Conference begins on Friday afternoon, June 13th, at 3:30pm, and
ends on Saturday evening. A block of hotel rooms will be reserved, and those
whose papers are accepted will have their lodging reimbursed and the Conference
fee waived. The full
schedule has now been posted.
Parking in (ungated) MIT lots is free weekdays after 3pm and on
weekends.
Where: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (Boston),
Massachusetts. Limited information about travel and other logistics is available on the
conference logistics page.
More specific information will be sent to those who let
us know they are coming.
How: Please contact ISN Director John Keck by
May 30th if you plan to attend. The
$50 fee for the Summer Conference includes a group dinner on Saturday evening.
The fee can be reduced or waived on a showing of need. Attendees not presenting
are expected to cover their own travel expenses, but exceptions will be
considered on a case-by-case basis. Paper proposals and accompanying CVs must be
received by May 11th, 2007; those submitting proposals will be notified within
two weeks. Electronic submission of proposals and CVs is strongly encouraged.
