Applied Epistemology in Ancient Philosophy and Science

International Conference at the University of Trier (Germany), July, 3-5 2014

Adapting to epistemology the well-known distinction between general ethical theory and applied ethics, one could say that it is the job of applied epistemology to clarify what it means to know/explain/understand facts of a particular kind (e.g., to diagnose diseases, to explain the movements of the stars, to produce a mathematical proof and thus to grasp the truth of a mathematical proposition), while general epistemology is concerned with questions of what it means to know/explain/understand something in general – whatever it may be. Such a distinction, though potentially misleading, serves to call attention both to the discipline-specificity of knowledge and to the possibility that the conditions, both necessary and sufficient, for knowledge may vary depending on the subject matter, as Aristotle already observed: „For the educated person seeks exactness in each area to the extent that the nature of the subject allows“ (Nicomachean Ethics, 1094b23-25, transl. Irwin).

The aim of the conference is twofold: first, to explore the ancient discussion about the discipline-specificity of knowledge; second, to reconstruct discipline-specific accounts of knowledge/explanation/understanding that figure prominently in ancient texts, both philosophical and scientific; papers may approach the subject with respect to a single discipline (such as medicine, astronomy, mathematics) or from a comparative perspective. There will not be any restrictions on the choice of discipline(s); the emphasis will be on ensuring that the ancient tradition of ‘applied epistemology’ is covered as completely as possible, from the beginnings of ancient philosophy and science to the end of antiquity. – Papers dealing with modern accounts of discipline-specific knowledge are welcome as well, provided there is a clear link with the ancient tradition.

► Participants
Mainly young scholars (PhD-Candidates and Post Docs) who are working on topics of applied epistemology as defined above.

► Dates and deadlines
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 31.10.2013
Decisions announced: 30.11.2013
Conference: 03.-05.07.2014

► Travel and accommodation costs
Speakers’ travel and accommodation costs are covered by the generous funding of the Schwarz-Liebermann von Wahlendorf’sche-Stiftung.

► Conference location
University of Trier (Germany); see here: http://www.uni-trier.de/index.php?id=46582&L=2

► Conference languages
English and German.

► Time slots
Time slots for papers are one hour (40 minute paper plus discussion).

► Publication
Accepted papers will be published in volume IX of the series AKAN – Antike Naturwissenschaft und ihre Rezeption – Einzelschriften

► Submission of proposals
Please submit your title and abstract (up to 300 words) with your personal data (name, affiliation, e-mail, CV) via e-mail to the following address: [email protected]

JProf. Dr. Benedikt Strobel
Department of Philosophy
University of Trier
D-54286 Trier (Germany)
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +49(0)651-201-2340
Fax: +49(0)651-201-3922

Prof. Dr. Georg Wöhrle
Department of Classical Philology
University of Trier
D-54286 Trier (Germany)
E-Mail: woehrle[email protected]
Phone: +49(0)651-201-2357
Fax: +49(0)651-201-3948

Email: [email protected]