International Society for MacIntyrean Enquiry (ISME)
6th Annual Conference
University of Nottingham,
19th-21st July, 2012
Registration
Form
Conference
Theme: Well-Being
Call for Papers
The 6th Annual Conference of ISME,
co-organized with the Centre for the Study of Social and Global Justice
(CSSGJ), University of Nottingham, and the Centre for Aristotelian Studies in
Ethics and Politics (CASEP). London Metropolitan University, is to be held at
the University of Nottingham in July 2012. The academic convenors for the
Conference are Tony Burns (Co-Director CSSGJ) and Kelvin Knight (Director,
CASEP). The proposed theme for the conference is Well-Being.
The idea of ‘well-being’ has been in the news media in the UK quite a lot of
late, and it lies close to the heart of the thinking and policies of the
current ‘Con-Dem’ Government, as is evidenced by the speeches and writings of
Prime Minister David Cameron. It can be connected to the idea of ‘the big
society.’ This has become controversial recently, as the Arts and Humanities
Research Council (AHRC) of the UK recently made a commitment to fund research
which explores this idea and has, in consequence, been accused of
bias/partiality in favour of government sponsored, ‘ideologically driven’
research projects. The thinking behind this initiative is also associated with
the work of Richard Layard at the London School of Economics and with the
British ‘think-tank,’ The Social Market Foundation.
The idea behind the conference is to explore the notion of well-being, both in
theory and in practice (policy). More specifically, it is hoped that papers
will engage critically with some of the current thinking about well-being and
its policy implications from the standpoint of Alasdair MacIntyre and/or
Aristotelian practical philosophy, a core concept for which is that of eudaimonia, variously translated as
‘happiness,’ ‘flourishing’ or ‘well-being.’ Contributions might also engage
with the ideas of other contemporary Aristotelian thinkers, for example the
‘capabilities approach’ of Martha Nussbaum and Amartya Sen.
It is not envisaged that all of the papers presented at the conference will
address this theme and contributions devoted to other aspects of the work of
Alasdair MacIntyre are, as always, most welcome.
The academic convenors for the conference are Dr. Tony Burns (CSSGJ, University
of Nottingham) and Dr. Kelvin Knight (CASEP, London Metropolitan University).
The local organizer is Tony Burns. E-Mail addresses of convenors are: Tony Burns; Kelvin Knight.
Proposals
should include a title, an abstract, and a some brief biographical information.
Proposals from postgraduate research students are welcome.
The deadline for submission of proposals is
30th April, 2012.
*
Confirmed Keynote Speakers
Dr. Mary Midgley
Title TBC
Dr. Midgley is one of the leading British moral philosophers of the twentieth
century, writing for both academic and lay readerships. Her books include Utopias, Dolphins and
Computers and Beast and Man: The Roots
of Human Nature
Professor John Milbank
School of Theology & Religious Studies (University of Nottingham,
UK)
Title TBC
Professor Millbank is the author of several books including Theology and Social
Theory and
Being
Reconciled: Ontology and Pardon. He is also one of the editors of the Radical Orthodoxy collection of essays which
occasioned much debate.
Professor Greg Curry
Department of Philosophy (University of Nottingham, UK)
Title 'Is Narrative Good for You?”
Professor Curry is involved in editing several journals and his publications
include a collection of essays, Arts and Minds and his most recent monograph, Narratives and Narrators.
