What is the Sophia-Iberia in Europe Project?
An open forum on the ultimate questions of science
Aims. Sophia-Iberia in Europe aims to promote scientific and philosophic reflection regarding the latest questions of meaning which have arisen in metaphysics and theology. The objective is to do so by creating a network to connect the reflection carried out in Spain, Portugal and Latin America with those reflections taking place in Europe. Spain and Portugal are countries with long philosophical and theological traditions, but they have not integrated sufficiently into the streams of European and international thought until now. The Sophia-Iberia in Europe Project endeavors to contribute to a greater integration, by creating instruments for combined reflection and mutual understanding.
Activities. In order to achieve this, a participatory discussion forum will be created in order to share ideas and discuss them, thus enriching the in-depth views of the world of those who participate and offer information of the content of the reflection in the course of the project. Participation is free and open to all. The fruitfulness of the project arises from the participation due to the interest in the issues proposed and debated.
More informationInstitutional management. This is a project promoted by the Chair of Science, Technology and Religion at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería of the Universidad Pontificia Comillas (Madrid). The project is supported by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation (Philadelphia, U.S.A.). However, the design, management and content of the project are the exclusive responsibility of its Management Committee and the team of the Chair of Science, Technology and Religion.
More informationDialogue. The project is directed by a Catholic Jesuit University, which is aware that there is a variety of religious beliefs within Christianity as well as others. The personal or group ideologies of the participants may also show differences, including agnosticism, atheism and a general lack of belief. The project will ensure universal dialogue with a spirit of respect for the ideas and the existential honesty of the interlocutors in the spirit of critical tolerance of our culture at the beginning of the XXI century.
Methodology of the project
Areas of dialogue on issues which are existentially disquieting
The instruments which have been designed to achieve the objectives of the project are three main activities and several secondary actions. The main activities are: 1) The organisation of a web-based workshop which will go from June 2007 to June 2008; 2) The international academic conference in September 6-8, 2007 in Madrid,Spain on the same themes as the workshop; 3) The academic seminars (one in 2008-2009 and another in 2009-2010) in which a select group of professors will discuss the themes of a programme with restricted access; as each of the themes concludes, the results will appear on the web and the public will contribute with comments and participation papers. The secondary actions are oriented towards increasing the participation in European and Latin American forums and establishing a network between existing groups, as well as a research project (oriented towards its publication). This will involve the participation of approximately thirty university researchers and professors.
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