Leading Philosophers Participate in International Symposium at UCU

As explained by the vice rector of UCU and director of the newly established institute Volodymyr Turchynovskyy, in recent years the Department of Philosophy worked fruitfully in the field of ethics. This is evident not only by publications and research seminars, but also by the themes of certificate programs, summer schools and conferences that took place since 2008. As a result, as well as in response to a need of the Ukrainian society, the International Institute of Ethics was established.

Commenting on the creation of the International Institute for Ethics and Contemporary Issues, Rector Bishop Borys Gudziak said: “I think that this institute offers and introduces an alternative in programs, styles, management, and a novelty in our city and country. But our ambitions do not end there. From the very beginning of the development of the University, we worked with the conviction that we should serve the world community. Therefore, we have a great responsibility – to seek answers to the problems of the world, and I am convinced that we will make a contribution to this cause.”

One of the main speakers at the symposium was a permanent member and former vice president of the International Institute of Philosophy, Vice President of the Scientific and Strategic Orientation Committee of the Collège de France Peter McCormick. It was his library of philosophical works (over 6 thousand books), which he presented to UCU, that became a solid foundation for the development of the International Institute for Ethics and Contemporary Issues. This is also an opportunity for young scholars to research philosophical and ethical issues. Peter McCormick’s report was a reflection on bioethical issues related to developments in the nuclear power plant Fukushima and the responsibility of people for their actions to future generations.

Professor of Philosophy and Religion at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy Victor Malakhov focused on the problems of the loss of humanity and civic virtue with the spread of globalization in the world, especially as reflected in human relations. In his view, the modern person must set his own ethical principles of conduct. “Humanity should have a certain procedure of required moral ‘epoché,’ abstinence. That is not to allow ourselves to take part in activities and moral principles which are opaque to us, even if they still have a direct appeal,” said Viktor Malakhov.

Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University (USA) Jose Kasanova in his report “Civic Virtue, Human Dignity and the Emergence of a Pluralistic Global Civil Society” tried to link Catholicism, humanity, and global: “The fundamental fact of our modern, global world is the irreparable state of religious, ethical, cultural realism. In the second appeal of the Vatican Council regarding the attitude of the church toward non-Christian religions, representatives of the church began with the assertion that present relations between people are becoming stronger, and accordingly the church should seriously consider the relationship with other non-Christian religions in order to promote unity and love between people and states,” said Jose Kasanova. According to the scholar, the present situation requires special attention from both the church and the state for the formation of human values​​.

Each of the reports aroused considerable debate. Participants of the symposium reacted particularly critically to the thesis about the need to recognize sins of the past such as was done by the German society, as mentioned professor of moral theology at the interdiocesan seminary Saint Lambert in Germany Alois Buch and professor at the Department of Humanities at the University of Notre Dame (Lebanon) Edward Alam. Participants agreed that the dialogue at this stage must be built on common points of contact rather than dwell on what distinguishes us.

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UCU Press Service