Hermeneutics in the History of Political Thought

Description

The question of hermeneutics in politics covers four important and interrelated lines. The first has to do with the question of the relations between power (on the side of politics) and force (on the side of nature): should we cash out this distinction in terms of the distinction of meaning and objectivity and what are the consequences? The second has to do with the question of pluralism and cohesion in politics: if politics is determined as a realm of meaning (and not of truth), should we say that this offers resources to evade polarisation and ground pluralism and toleration? The third has to do with the question of political agency: is the political art something like an art of reading and writing, and if so, what are the implications? Finally, it has to do with the relations between morality and politics: if politics is best defined as a field of interpretations, does it make it independent from (some forms of) moral systems? The course will address some of the foundational moments and debates around these questions from throughout the history of philosophy.

This course is meant to be of interest to historians of any period of political thought. You will gain insight on the history of the role of discourse (both linguistic and non-linguistic) in politics, with emphasis on its relations with the question of force, and the role of truth and moral truth in the constitution of the political imaginary.

Keynote speakers:

  • Jacques Bos (UvA)
  • Eric Schliesser (UvA)
  • Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach (VU)

Practical information

Primary target group PhD candidates, ReMa students
If places available also open to All
Type of activity Course
Certificate credit points 1-2,5
Organizer Leiden University (Dr. Frank Chouraqui)
Location Wassenaarseweg 52
Date September 26, 2024 @ 09:00
Venue Pieter de la Court Building Room-OB.23 (Faculteit Sociale Wetenschappen)

Program

09:00-09:30 Welcome 

9:30-10:45 Keynote Jacques Bos (UvA)

“Reading the Circumstances: Machiavelli, Politics, and History”

10:45-11:30 Silene Gambino (UvA)

“The Hermeneutics of Just War”

Break

11:45-12:30 Riccardo Boeri (UvA)

“What is the Emancipatory Potential of Agamben’s Philosophical Archaeology?”

12:30-13:15 Lunch

13:15-14:30 Keynote Eric Schliesser (UvA)

“The Missing Liberal Art of Government”

Break

14:45-15:30 Renatta Bos (Leiden)

“A Hegelian take on the Difference between Truth and Meaning.”

15:30-16:45 Keynote Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach (VU, Amsterdam):

“How Do We Know? Muhammad Iqbal’s Understanding of  Ethical Freedom Under Conditions of Coloniality.”

Preparation and assessment

The preparations will consist of readings, assignments, participation and papers.

  • Participants will receive 1 EC upon completion, they can earn 1 additional EC by submitting a 4000 essay within six weeks after the event to . This will be graded on a pass/fail basis.
  • Presenters will receive 2,5 credits upon completion.

Costs and registration

Costs:

  • Attendance is free for PhD candidates and ReMA students who are a members of the OZSW or another Research School in Humanitie (LOGOS);
  • Attendance is 300 euros for all others.

How to register:

All may register for the course via this link.

The registration deadline is September 9, 2024. If registration has been closed because the maximum amount of participants has been reached, you can submit your name to the waiting list by sending an email to Eva Hendriks (). Please also indicate whether you are a ReMA student or PhD candidate and whether you are a member of the OZSW or not.

The OZSW registration and cancellation policy applies to this activity (to be found here)

Contact information

Name Leiden University (Dr. Frank Chouraqui)
Email