INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
DARWIN’S IMPACT ON SCIENCE, SOCIETY AND CULTURE
A 21st CENTURY REASSESSMENT
200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth
150th anniversary of the publication of Origin of Species
10-12 September 2009
Abstract Deadline: April 30, 2009
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF PORTUGAL
Faculty of Philosophy
Braga – Portugal
The Centre of Philosophical and Humanistic Studies of the Faculty of Philosophy of Braga (Portugal) is organizing an International Congress to celebrate two remarkable anniversaries: the birth of Charles Darwin and the publication of his major work, Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
Needless to say, the world changed dramatically after Darwin, and we are still coming to terms with the Darwinian revolution, as well as its impact on virtually every domain of human culture. We will reassess this impact especially on science (Biology, genetics, Artificial Life, Psychology and Linguistics), philosophy (Anthropology, Ethics, Epistemology, Aesthetics), and religion (Christianity, Islam, Budhism, Hinduism and other religious faiths). The reception of Darwinism in the different countries and cultures will also be a major issue that is to be addressed in the Congress.
MAIN AREAS
DARWINISM
Darwin and Evolution
Origins of Life
Origins of Species
Natural Selection
The Survival of the Fittest
The Reception of Darwinism
Neo-Darwinism
DARWIN’S IMPACT ON SCIENCE
Biology
Psychology
Genetics
Linguistics
Sociology
Artificial Life
DARWIN’S IMPACT ON PHILOSOPHY
Ethics
Anthropology
Epistemology
Philosophy of Science
Aesthetics
DARWIN’S IMPACT ON RELIGION
The Evangelical Response
The Catholic Response
The Islamic Response
The Buddhist Response
The Hindu Response
Creationism
Intelligent Design
On the (in)compatibility of biological evolutionism and religion
PLENARY SPEAKERS
Alfredo Dinis
Associate Professor, Faculty of Philosophy of Braga
Augusto Silva
Associate Professor, Faculty of Philosophy of Braga
Fiorenzo Facchini
Professor of Anthropology at the University of Bologna (1978-2005), where he was responsible for the Unit of Anthropology in the Department of Evolutionistic and Experimental Biology. He is now emeritus professor of the same University.
Francisco Ayala
Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Irvine
George Coyne
Former Director of the Vatican Observatory
Godehard Bruentrup
Hochschule für Philosophie, München
"Darwinism and Naturalism - a Perfect Fit?"
In this talk I argue that non-materialist metaphysics can give an equal or better account of evolution as Neo-Darwinism plus materialist naturalism.
Isabel Varanda
Auxiliar Professor of the Faculty of Theology of Braga
Ivo Chelo
Gulbenkian Institute of Science (Genetics)
João José Fraústo da Silva
Departament of Chemical Engeneering, Higher Technical Institute, Technical University of Lisbon.
John F. Haught,
Senior Fellow, Science & Religion, Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University
José Miguel Dias Costa
Auxiliar Professor of the Faculty of Philosophy of Braga
Manuel Sumares
Associate Professor of the Faculty of Philosophy of Braga
Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Program in the History and Philosophy of Science, Florida State University.
Rodrigo de Sá Nogueira Saraiva
Associate Professor of the Faculty of Psychology and Science Education, University of Lisbon – Evolutionary Psychology
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Carlos Fernandes, Aveiro University
Domingos Terra, Catholic University of Portugal
Eleonora Costa, Catholic University of Portugal
François Euvé, Centre Sèvres, Paris
João Duque, Catholic University of Portugal
José Henrique Silveira de Brito, Catholic University of Portugal
João Justo, Lisbon University
Leandro Sequeiros, Salamanca University
Luis Archer, New University of Lisbon
Roque Cabral, Catholic University of Portugal
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Ana Paula
Artur Galvão
Helena Palhinha
José António Alves
Miguel Gonçalves
Manuela Campelo
REGISTRATION FEES
Until August 31:
General Public: € 180 (€ 220 thereafter)
Former FacFil students: € 120 (€ 150 thereafter)
Graduate students: € 80 (€ 120 thereafter)
Undergraduate students: € 50 (fora de prazo: 80).
VENUE
The venue of the conference is the Faculty of Philosophy of Braga (Faculdade de Filosofia de Braga) (http://www.facfil.ucp.pt), located in the center of the town.
Faculty of Philosophy of Braga
Praça da Faculdade, 1
4710-297 Braga - Portugal
GEOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Braga is the capital of Minho, the most northern and ancient province of Portugal. Having a history that goes back more than 2,250 years, the city is an important religious, social and cultural center, and is one of the oldest Christian towns, being known as “The Portuguese Rome”. Braga offers a very diversified touristic-cultural program, a civilizable route, provided with documents since the Pre-Historical period to our days. Here we can find the most different and important monumental concentration predominating the Romanic, the Baroque, the Religious Art presented in most of the Churches and Convents, the Civil Art of Palaces and Manor Houses, the "Castros" and Archaeological ruins where the unchangeable secular tranquility remains. The city is 50 km from Oporto and 75 km from the Spanish boarder, and is linked to other European cities via railway (with some shortcomings), highway and Oporto international airport (half an hour from Braga). Click here for a brief historical and geographical note on Braga and Minho.
The Catholic University of Portugal was established in 1967, and has a regional configuration. It was born in the North, extended to Lisbon, where the Rector’s office is located, and continued its expansion to Oporto, Viseu, Figueira da Foz, Leiria and Sintra (in that order) in response to local needs. It has a total of nearly 10,000 students.
The Faculty of Philosophy of Braga was founded by the Jesuits in 1945 and in 1967 it became the first Faculty of the newly created Catholic University of Portugal. It offers undergraduate studies in Philosophy and in Humanities (Portuguese and Classical languages, literatures and cultures). It also offers a first degree that combines Philosophy and Humanities, and another that combines Philosophy and Business Administration. The four main post-graduation areas are Bioethics, Portuguese Literature and Linguistics, Cognitive Sciences and Documental Sciences. There are two main Research Centers: Philosophy (which includes a Cognitive Sciences Group) and Humanities (Linguistics, Portuguese Literature and Classical Studies).
SOCIAL PROGRAM
To be announced
CONTACTS