The Interdisciplinary Centre for Aristotle Studies (DIKAM), A.U.Th., made a dynamic presence with its key participation in the Conference on “Ancient Wisdom for Modern Challenges,” which has taken place from July 6th to 8th, 2022, in Athens. International scholars of philosophy, policy science, behavioural science, and other interdisciplinary fields, met at the Academy of Athens to explore how ancient philosophy, mainly Aristotle and Confucius, can inform our modern understanding of ethics and well-being, and thereby help to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

The tone for the relevance of Aristotle’s thought was set by the President of DIKAM, Demetra Sfendoni-Mentzou, Professor Emerita of Philosophy of Science. In her presentation, she pointed out that the reason why Aristotle’s work had a unique and uninterrupted effect on the human intellect over a period of twenty-four centuries, and is still alive, is the fact that he produced a multifarious work, which covers all areas of Philosophy and extends in an impressive way to all scientific disciplines. And she continued: Αs regards Aristotle’s work connected with science, «Certainly, one cannot but begin by saying that Aristotle delineated the object of the sciences, and one cannot but speak with admiration about the incredible wealth of his observations in all aspects of Nature. However, what makes Aristotle’s contribution to science even more valuable and timeless is the fact that he laid the foundations of the very concept of science (ἐπιστήμη), i.e. he contributed substantially to the birth, the genesis, of science as a special way of knowing (γιγνώσκειν)».

The relevance of Aristotle’s work today in different areas was also brought to light by members of the Executive Board and the Scientific Council of DIKAM: Zacharias Scouras, Professor Emeritus of Biology, Philimon Peonidis, Professor of Philosophy, Nikolaos Paraskevopoulos, Professor Emeritus of the School of Law, and Konstantinos Katsifarakis, Professor of Civil Engineering. The strong presence of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki also included the participation of Nicolaos Theodossiou, Professor of Civil Engineering and Chair of Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Black Sea, Anastasia Zabaniotou, Professor of Chemical Engineering, and Sofia-Eleftheria Gonida, Professor of Educational Psychology and Human Development.

The Workshop was organized by Professor Jeffrey David Sachs, Director of the CSD at Columbia University, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and Member of the Scientific Council of DIKAM, and by Phoebe Koundouri, Professor at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), and Co-Chair of SDSN Europe.

The workshop included six thematic areas and a guided visit to Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum.

It is important to note, that this successful workshop is a precursor of the ARISTOTLE-CONFUCIUS SYMPOSIUM which will be held next in July 2023 in Athens. The President of the Interdisciplinary Center for Aristotelian Studies, AUTh., Demetra Sfendoni-Mentzou,  member of the Steering Committee, has already proposed for part of the Conference to take place at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in ancient Stageira, the birthplace of Aristotle and in the ancient Mieza, the place where Aristotle taught Alexander the Great.

We consider it extremely important that, after the huge success of the World Congress “ARISTOTLE 2400 YEARS,” with the participation of speakers from 40 countries from the five Continents, the philosophical/Aristotelian community gathers again in the birthplace of the universal philosopher Aristotle.

PHOTOS

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