DRAFT PROGRAMME

SOPHIA EUROPA in association with IAN RAMSEY CENTRE

INTERNATI0NAL CONFERENCE

Conference Director:  Dr. M. M. Yee; Co-Director: Dr. Mike Parsons

Harris Lecture Theatre, Oriel College, University of Oxford, 3-6 September, 2007 (Supported by Metanexus Institute and John Templeton Foundation) 

THEME:

HUMAN PERSONS AND THE GOD OF NATURE 

Monday, 3rd September, 2007

Registration: 2-4 pm.

Tea/Coffee:  3.30-4pm.

 4 pm – Welcome –

Professor John Hedley Brooke, University of Oxford;           

Professor Antonio Russo, Co-ordinating Director of Sophia

Europe. 4.15 pm

Opening Address:

Dr. Margaret M. Yee, Hon. Associate Director, Ian Ramsey Centre; Chairperson & Joint Convener, Sophia Europa Oxford; Senior Research Fellow, St. Cross College.

 “A BIGGER VIEW OF THE WORLD – EXPLORING REALITY."

This presentation will introduce an important framework of thought of the Oxford Theologian/Philosopher, Austin Farrer, who has been acclaimed "the genius of Anglican theology for the 20th century" and possibly the 21st century.

  5 pm

First Speaker:

Prof. Edward Henderson, Philosopher, Louisiana State University.

“PERSONS, GOD AND DIVINE ACTION.”

Abstract:  “This essay argues three main points: first, that we know the irreducible reality of persons by living with them; second, that we reasonably believe the reality of God in living a life of active engagement with God; and third, that we most intelligibly think the engaging action of God in the world as action by double agency: God acting in rather than on the actions of creatures.  The essay defends the double agency idea against several criticisms and shows how it lets us see the compatibility of belief in God with the understanding of nature given by science.”

(Reference:  "The Human Person in God's World - Studies to Commemorate the Austin Farrer Centenary - ed. By B. Hebblethwaite and D. Hedley, SCM, 2006)

Chair:  Professor Ann Loades, University of Durham, UK.

 6.15 pm

Reception – Gardens of Oriel College  

7.15 pm

Dinner in Oriel College Dining Room 

8.30 pm

Evening Speaker:

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Ehlers, Physics, Mathematics and Philosophy, and former Director of the Max Planck Institute of Gravitational Physics, Golm/Potsdam, Germany. 

“PHYSICS AS A HUMAN ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND NATURE”

Abstract:  “1. My first aim is to describe the method of Physics as an interaction between perceiving, observing, experimenting, and measuring on the one hand and forming theories on the other hand. The latter activity consists of inventing concepts and laws, formulising them mathematically and relating them to empirical data by means of interpretation rules. I shall emphasise the roles of invention, selection, and idealisation in the process of theory formation. 2.  I then wish to consider the limitations of the method outlined; limitations in scope and detail, but more importantly shortcomings in kind. Physicists, by taking into account only what is publicly accessible and repeatable and coding it in a formal language, disregard human persons as individuals with contiousness, feelings and inner, private experiences. As a consequence, by their very method physicists as such cannot find meaning, purpose or values in their account of Nature.3.   Thirdly I shall outline what astrophysicists have discovered about the world at large, the cosmic network of galaxies and its evolution out of an ill-understood big bang. The resulting world view, the standard model of the universe, exhibits an enormous disproportion between human scales of size and age and those of the material world. Why this expenditure?Perhaps these considerations, particularly those in sections 2 and 3, may help to initiate a dialogue between theologians and scientists.”  

Tuesday, 4th September, 2007.

9.30 am

(Morning Session) 

Speakers:  HUMAN PERSONS AND NATURE

Prof. Ron Cole-Turner: Genetics and Theology, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

“POTENTIAL PERSONS AND OTHER ODDITIES”

Abstract:  “This talk will probe the question, what makes humans human, in light of recent proposals concerning human-animal chimeras and ‘altered nuclear transfer.’” 

11 – 11.30 a.m.

Morning Tea/Coffee 

11.30 a.m.

Prof. Nancey Murphy, Fuller Seminary, California.

"NONREDUCTIVE PHYSICALISM, DIVINE ACTION, AND STRIVING TO KNOW THE WILL OF GOD."

Abstract: “This paper will assume, as Austin Farrer does, a physicalist but nonreductive account of human nature.  I shall use resources from contemporary science and from Catholic modernist theologian George Tyrrell (writing 100 years ago) to propose a hypothesis, more explicit than Farrer’s, of how it is that humans may come to know the will of God and test the effects of conforming their wills to his.”

Chair:  Professor Paul Fiddes, Principal, Regent’s Park, College, Oxford. (to be confirmed)

 1 pm

Lunch 

2.15 pm

(Afternoon Session)

CAMEOS:  (Half-hour slots + feedback)

(i)  ON HUMAN DIGNITY - 3 papers

2.15 pm–2.45 pm -

Dr. Patricia Rehm, Internationale Maurice Blondel-Forschungsstelle für Religionsphilosophie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz:

“Why action is connecting man and God – Maurice Blondel’s view”

 2.45-3.15 pm - 

Dr. Thomas Moellenbeck, Theologische Fakultät, Paderborn:

"Is human dignity constituted by free will? - Some scotist remarks on its discovery at Oxford"

 3.15-3.45 pm - 

Dr. Stephan Schaede, Heidelberg:

"Is human dignity constituted naturally? - Some sportive remarks of a protestant."

 +Brief Discussion

 4-4.30 pm

Tea/Coffee 

4.30pm

CAMEOS:

(Continued) (ii)  ON HUMAN NATURE -

4.30-5pm - Colin Tudge (Biologist and Author) – A short select paper.

5-6.30 pm - Culture, Music Art and Religion:  A presentation with Musical Instruments and Readings - Prof. Michael Howlett (Poetry), Dr Colette Moloney (Music) and Fiona Dowling (Creative Designer)  - Waterford University, Ireland.

+ Discussion – contrasts with other cultures, particularly India, Africa, S.Africa. 

7.15 pm

Dinner in Oriel College Dining Room

 8.30 pm

Evening Speaker:

Prof. Burkhard Liebsch,  apl. Professor of Philosophie, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.

“The Human Person: Vulnerability and Responsiveness Reflections on Human Dignity, Religio and the other’s voice”

Chair:  Professor Roger Trigg, Interim Director, Ian Ramsey Centre.

 Wednesday, 5th September, 2007 

(Morning Session)

9.30 a.m.

Public Forum:

Exploring Reality – Creation and Evolution:  3 Questions to be put to a panel of invited academics, made up of (i)  scientists (ii) theologians (iii) philosophers

Professor Antonio Russo; Professor Roberto Poli;  Dr. Peter Hodgson;  Dr. Tom Kemp; Professor Pauline Rudd; Dr. Mike Parsons;  Dr. Joanna McGrath, Dr. Olivera Petrovich, Dr. Harriet Harris, Professor Nancey Murphy, Dr. Dirk Solies.

Chair: Prof. John Hedley Brooke, Joint Convener, Sophia Europa Oxford.  

11-11.30 a.m.

Morning Tea/Coffee

 11.30 a.m

CAMEO: 

(Half hour presentations + Discussion)(iii)

 ON HUMAN PERSONHOOD –

2 papers (a)  Prof. John Ozolins, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia;

“Embryology, Evolutionary Biology and Human Nature”

 (b)   Ms. Angeliki Kerasidou, Harris Manchester College, Oxford.

“On Beings and Persons (Is the human embryo a human person?) – Definition of personhood through the prism of a holistic anthropology.”

 + Discussion with Professor Julian Savulescu (Public Ethics), Prof. Ron Cole-Turner and Ms Amanda Hayes (LawLecturer, Waterford University)  

1 pm

Lunch

 2 pm 

(Afternoon Session)

Presentation of brief 15-minute short papers selected to be read to small discussion groups (optional). 

Chaired by Dr. Mike Parsons and Dr. Margaret Yee. 

4-4.30 pm

Tea/Coffee

4.30 pm

Final Speaker:

Rev. Dr. John Polkinghorne, CBE, FRS., Queens’ College, Cambridge

"The Context of Hominid Evolution" 

5.45 pm

Closing Address:

Prof. John Hedley Brooke,

Emeritus Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, Oxford

“Closing Reflections”

 6.30 pm

Drinks Reception

 7.30 pm

Conference Dinner

Guest Speaker:  Dr. Eric Weislogel, Metanexus Institute, Philadelphia, USA.  

Thursday, 6th September, 2007. 

(Post-conference morning meeting of Sophia Europe +other interested international members of conference)

9.30 a.m.

Panel Presentation and Discussion:  "Days Ahead" (i)  Europe and beyond(ii) Global outreach

Chair:  Dr. Margaret M.Yee.

Speakers:  Dr. Eric Weislogel, Prof Antonio Russo, Prof. Roberto Poli and Chairpersons of Sophia Europa Groups. 

Close:  11.30 a.m.

Buffet Lunch.