This interfaculty workshop addresses the themes of selfhood, subject-formation, and subject-overcoming from the angle of soteriology: which strategies do human beings develop to address the structural problems inherent in the human predicament? Our approach to this question is cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary. We look at selfhood practices in ancient Greek, Jewish and Asian thought, as well as in the Western philosophical tradition, and we invite contributions from other disciplines and civilizations. The starting point of our conversation is the assumption that soteriological strategies play a crucial role in constructing and deconstructing the self, both at the social and at the individual level. We are particularly interested in ascetic practices and the ways in which the subject can be formed, transformed, or even erased by means of a variety of exercises, reflections, and through the performance of text and ritual. This workshop is a pilot for an interfaculty seminar series on this theme. Our meeting will start with two brief talks devoted to delineating the field of inquiry and we will continue with a group discussion in which participants can exchange ideas about the more specific direction that they wish to give to the seminar series. First meeting: Friday 17th December, 14:00-15:45, room BETA, Faculty of Philosophy, Oude Boteringestraat 52. Info: a.sangiacomo@rug.nl and a.f.bakker@rug.nl Registration is highly appreciated, to register please use the following form: https://forms.gle/23QE4J6Tqf2NEFkv9 All registration data will be kept privately and used exclusively for the purposes of organizing the workshop.