The Interdisciplinary Centre for Aristotle Studies (DI.K.A.M.) was established by the Senate of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.TH.) on July 6, 2011, as an act of acknowledgement of the close bond that connects it with Aristotle, as well as an act of acknowledgement of the enormous significance of the Stageirite’s work, with regard both to its continued influence on human thought for a period of 2,500 years, and to the amazing range of topics dealt with by Aristotle; topics covering all major branches of philosophy, extending though, in an impressive way, into the basic areas of science, as well.
The goal of DI.K.A.M. is to study Aristotle’s work from an interdisciplinary perspective and promote it, on an international scale, in areas covering traditional branches of Philosophy, as well as areas related to a big number of scientific fields, such as, Humanities, Biology, Physics, Mathematics Law/Political Sciences, Health Sciences and Technological Sciences. This, moreover, is what comprises the innovative character of the Centre, making it unique on an international scale.
It is our ambition that the “Interdisciplinary Centre for Aristotle Studies” becomes a pole of attraction and a point of reference, both for Aristotle scholars and students worldwide, as well as for those who are interested in getting acquainted with the work of the Stageirite philosopher. Furthermore, it has the unique privilege not only of operating in the country where Aristotle was born, but more specifically at Aristotle University that bears his name and is located a breath’s distance away from Stageira, the birthplace of the Macedonian philosopher and from Mieza, the place of his teachings with Alexander as his student.
More importantly, though, because Aristotle is the universal philosopher, whose work has left indelible marks on the Hellenistic world, on Byzantine scholarly tradition, on the Arab world and on the Medieval thought of Europe, and continues to have an influence on the intellectual life of contemporary Western civilization. We thus befieve that the study of Aristotle’s work, apart from showing its universal and timeless character, can also lead us to a deepening and understanding of concepts, ideas and problems of today in global scale.