“Culture and Modernity: The Authority of the Past”
July 30 – August 12, 1989
In 1939 Charles A. Moore convened the first East-West Philosophers’ Conference at the University of Hawaii. Its aim was to explore the significance of Eastern ways of thinking for Western thought and development of a possible synthesis of the ideas and ideals of East and West. Subsequently, East-West Philosophers’ conferences were held in 1949, 1959, and 1964 under Professor Moore’s leadership, and in 1969 under the direction of Visiting Professor Abraham Kaplan. These conferences moved ahead considerably from the initial “synthesis” approach to an examination of specific philosophical issues and themes which could be addressed from the background of different cultural perspectives.
The Sixth Philosophers’ Conference will address the general theme “Culture and Modernity.” Within this broad theme the Conference will focus primarily on the “Authority of the Past,” examining such basic concepts as appropriation and interpretation, canon and creativity, tradition and progress. These concepts will be examined within three general areas of cultural interest: art and religion; morality and political institutions; science and technology.
