Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

SYMPOSIUM: VIRTUE ETHICS:
Interdisciplinary Perspectives
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, USA
4 - 6 August 2006

     The Symposium on Virtue Ethics will offer a comprehensive framework for addressing ethical concerns and challenges in all walks of life. Ethical issues are now central not only in philosophical discourse, but across a wide range of professional and existential concerns ranging from beginning and end of life issues, business/corporate ethics, medical ethics, ethics in scientific research, including bio-engineering, stem cells and cloning, to ethical conduct in government, public affairs, law and the professions. The Symposium thus presents an opportunity to reconsider major schools of ethical discourse, from purely utilitarian or cost-benefit, to full-fledged theistic ethics whose metaphysical underpinnings draw on assumptions, values, and norms which transcend the subjectivity of individual and group self-interests. The central question to be addressed, then, is how can there be a genuine ethics which safeguards human rights and liberties and enhances individual choice while connecting human choices and actions to universal norms valid for all times and places, that is, norms which clearly preserve both individuality and universality as reflected by Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative and the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament? And, how can Old Testament virtues which emphasize justice and redress for wrongs be reconciled with the New Testament vision of compassion, mercy, forgiveness, and love? In sum, what are the prospects for an objective, universal grounding of ethics in cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspective?

 KEYNOTE  SPEAKER:   Dr. Raymond L. Dennehy
"Moral Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society"

 CONFERENCE GUIDELINES:

   The Symposium theme is ideally suited for bringing together scholars from a wide range of disciplines and denominations. Conference Venue: VIRTUE ETHICS is hosted by the University of San Francisco in the beautiful City By the Bay in scenic Northern California, with many cultural and sightseeing opportunities. Abstracts (250 words) due: 1 June 2006. Presenting a paper is not a prerequisite for participation. Send Abstracts to: Dr. O. Gruenwald, JIS Editor, 1065 Pine Bluff Dr., Pasadena, CA 91107 or as e-mail attachments (WordPerfect 5 or 8, or Rich Text Format). Publication: Fully-developed papers will be considered for publication in the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies XIX 2007. Website: www.JIS3.org  Registration: Conference participants must preregister: $75 by 1 June 2006; $100 after 1 June 2006; $150 after 1 July 2006.

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