The Interdisciplinary Centre for Aristotle Studies (DIKAM), of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, has completed twelve years of activity. It was established in July 2011 by the decision of the Senate of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Its goal is the study of Aristotle’s work from an interdisciplinary perspective and its promotion on an international scale, in fields that cover not only the traditional branches of Philosophy, but also the basic fields of the Sciences. This constitutes the innovative character of the Centre, making it unique of its kind at an international level.
Activities with which the goal of DIKAM has been achieved so far, are the organization of International Scientific Conferences and Seminars, Cultural Events and Lectures for the general public, participation in International Conferences, publications of scientific volumes, and Conference Proceedings.
The highlight of the events of DIKAM was the organization of the World Congress “Aristotle 2400 Years,” under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Prokopios Pavlopoulos, in May 2016 at AUTh, in ancient Stageira and ancient Mieza. The Congress, which opened the curtain of events for the UNESCO “Anniversary Year of Aristotle” worldwide, hosted 250 speakers and 600 attendees from 40 countries all over the world. A publication of the Proceedings followed in two volumes: Aristotle –Contemporary Perspectives on his Thought (Demetra Sfendoni-Mentzou ed., Berlin: De Gruyter, 2018) και Proceedings of the World Congress “Aristotle and Contemporary Science (Demetra Sfendoni-Mentzou ed., Thessaloniki: AUTh & DIKAM, 2019).
The recognition of the importance of the goals served by DIKAM, but also of the enormous impact of the emblematic figure of Aristotle, who was born in Stageira, Halkidiki (384-322), has been demonstrated in practice by leading figures of State, such as the Presidents of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias and Prokopios Pavlopoulos, the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, the Vice-President of the European Council, Margaritis Schinas, the President of the European Commission for Education and Culture, Sylvia Costa, the President of the International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP), Dermot Moran and the current President of FISP, Luca Maria Scarantino.
At the same time, leading Aristotle scholars with worldwide recognition, as well as, International Foundations and Research Centers in Greece and abroad, such as the Academy of Athens, the International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP), and the International Association for Presocratic Philosophy, have given with their cooperation at all levels significant prestige to the twelve-years activity of DI.K.A.M.
Recently, the Interdisciplinary Center for Aristotle Studies, AUTh, expanded the horizon of its collaborations to China, as well, with the organization of the “Aristotle-Confucius Symposium on Ethics for the 21st Century” in July 2023 at AUTh, in ancient Stageira and ancient Mieza, with co-organizers the Academy of Athens, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the Confucius Foundation of China. This Symposium will be hosted in 2024 in Qufu and Beijing by the China Confucius Foundation and with the same co-organizers. DIKAM will also be organizing three Invited Sessions on Aristotle, at the 25th World Congress of Philosophy, in Rome in August 2024 (https://wcprome2024.com/).
With its activity during the last 12 years, DIKAM has succeeded in giving a significant impetus to the study of Aristotle’s work from an interdisciplinary perspective, and at the same time promote on a global scale the emblematic figure of Aristotle, whose work exercises a constant impact on the history of human thought for a period of twenty-four centuries and continues to be present.
You can watch the video for the 12 years of DIKAM here