The 24th ISCP Conference
"Addressing Global Crises and Reimagining Solutions through Chinese Philosophy"
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Hosted by the Department of Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts, Ljubljana University
June 20 to 23, 2025
The 24th ISCP conference in Ljubljana will revolve around the compelling theme of
"Addressing Global Crises and Reimagining Solutions through Chinese Philosophy."
The current crises, such as severe environmental disasters, unequal distribution of resources, viral pandemics, etc., are global problems that cannot be fully solved within the narrow framework of individual countries or nation-states . They must also be addressed within the larger framework of global cooperation and solidarity. Such strategies require the development of genuine intercultural dialogue, i.e., dialogue that goes beyond the currently fashionable terminologies and can lead to a truly equal transcultural exchange of knowledge and ideas. In this endeavor, this conference will focus on the traditional and contemporary Chinese philosophy.
Chinese philosophy offers various insights and principles that can potentially contribute to reimagining solutions for global crises. Here are a few examples:
1. Environmental Sustainability: Chinese philosophy emphasizes harmony with nature and the maintenance of equilibrium. By integrating these principles into environmental policies and practices, it can help foster sustainable development, promote ecological balance, and address issues like climate change and biodiversity loss.
2. Social Harmony and Conflict Resolution: Chinese philosophy places significant emphasis on social harmony and balance. It offers valuable perspectives on conflict resolution, emphasizing communication, mediation, and finding common ground. Applying these principles can aid in addressing social conflicts, promoting inclusivity, and fostering peaceful coexistence.
4. Holistic Health and Well-being: Traditional Chinese medicine and philosophies such as Daoism promote a holistic approach to health and well-being. Integrating these principles into healthcare systems can offer alternative perspectives on preventive care, mind-body balance, and the integration of natural therapies, potentially contributing to improving global health outcomes.
3. Relationism, an ethical framework deeply rooted in Confucian discourses, offers a profound perspective that places a strong emphasis on the interconnectedness and interdependence of individuals within a social context. Central to this philosophy is the recognition that the self is not an isolated entity but rather a relational self, with its identity being shaped and constituted through meaningful relations with fellow human beings and even non-human entities. Such ethics is not based upon values such as rivalry and interpersonal competition, but rather on empathy, solidarity, and cooperation. These values guide individuals to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of others and to foster harmonious relationships based on mutual respect and care. By cultivating empathy, relationism encourages individuals to extend their understanding and compassion beyond their own experiences, fostering a sense of interconnectedness and shared humanity.
5. Economic Equity and Balance: Chinese philosophy, including concepts like the Middle Way, advocates for balance and equitable distribution. These principles can inform economic policies that aim to reduce wealth disparities, promote inclusive growth, and address global economic crises such as income inequality and poverty.
Undoubtedly, a global perspective is of great importance for the development of all scientific and academic disciplines of our time. This is especially true for the humanities, which have hitherto developed in a fragmentary manner, within the framework of individual discourses isolated from one another, often confined to the framework of particular histories of ideas and languages. Therefore, we need to promote the transcultural exchange of knowledge and ideas, which is more important than ever in today’s globalized world and in a time of widespread crises. As the central crises and problems of our time manifest themselves on a global scale, a globalization of epistemology is also necessary, since such crises and problems can only be solved through informed and up-to-date scholarship that takes into account the issues of equality and justice of all cultures and peoples while meeting the demands of our time. Importantly, this globalization of scientific discourse must not be based on standardization rooted (as it has been) in the economic-political supremacy of those regions that have established the current centres of global power and dominance, but on equality that is different from sameness because it is based on cultural, linguistic, and axiological diversity.
Therefore, the conference will also welcome issues linked to comparative and post-comparative transcultural philosophy as a significant way of exchanging knowledge and ideas beyond the narrow confines of individual languages, histories and cultures.
In this respect, this academic gathering will include comparative analyses of different ethical models with the different culturally conditioned views of the Other and with the question of different types of humanism. On this basis, we are interested in examining the ideational foundations of the Self and subjectivity in the Chinese philosophical traditions on the one hand and in global intellectual histories on the other. In these perspective, the conference will welcome elaboration of issues related to the concept and protection of privacy as well as personal freedom and autonomy in the face of new technologies of digital control and the exploitation of personal data.
I hope that our dialogues will make at least a small contribution to solving the axiological, and thus also the social and political crises, of today’s world, to bringing together seemingly distant cultures and traditions, and to structuring intersubjectivity and the relationship between the individual and society in such a way as to be based on a new, solidaric conceptualization of humaneness, while at the same time taking into account the personal dignity and integrity of all individuals.
Esteemed colleagues, dear friends,
As the current president of the International Society for Chinese Philosophy, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 24th ISCP Conference, hosted this year in the culturally vibrant city of Ljubljana, Slovenia. I must say, if there’s ever been an ideal place to ponder ancient wisdom and reimagine the future, it’s this charming town at the crossroads of European cultures, where a rich history seamlessly mingles with a vibrant, modern spirit.
Our theme, "Addressing Global Crises and Reimagining Solutions through Chinese Philosophy," resonates deeply with our shared commitment to explore the timeless insights of Chinese philosophical traditions and apply them to our contemporary, ever-changing world—where, let’s be honest, a little ancient wisdom couldn’t hurt.
As we gather to exchange ideas and perspectives, we are reminded of the unique insights that Chinese philosophy offers in addressing the complex challenges of our time. Issues such as environmental degradation, social inequality, military conflicts, and the ethical dilemmas inherent in technology and governance invite promising examination through the lenses of Confucianism, Daoism, and other key schools of Chinese thought. These traditions, along with their contemporary developments and (re)interpretations, offer intellectual frameworks that are both deeply insightful and practically applicable for reimagining effective solutions.
It is a privilege to welcome the assembly of distinguished scholars, theoreticians, and students from around the globe. I am convinced that your participation will not only enrich our current global discussions in the field of philosophy, but also enhance the bonds within our international community, fostering an atmosphere of collaboration and mutual respect.
We look forward to the engaging presentations, insightful discussions, and meaningful connections that this conference promises. May our time together in Ljubljana be both intellectually stimulating and personally rewarding. I also hope that we will not only spark some brilliant ideas but also share a few laughs, catch up with old friends, and make some new ones along the way, because deep thinking and good company can always go hand in hand.
Thank you for your valuable contributions, and welcome to the 24th ISCP Conference.
With sincere regards,
Jana S. Rošker
President of the International Society for Chinese Philosophy
The program will be posted in January 2025.
To demonstrate our deep respect for diversity and inclusion, which can unfold in the most exciting way through the exchange of ideas and knowledge as well as transcultural dialogues, this conference will also be the inaugural part of the European Summer of Chinese Philosophy 2025. The 24th ISCP Conference will convene in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from June 20 to 23. Following this, the 5th Conference of the European Association for Chinese Philosophy (EACP), themed "Selfhood and Externality," is scheduled for June 26 to 28 at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik (contact person: Geir Sigurðsson, email: geirs@hi.is). Subsequently, from July 4 to 6, the 1st Education Network of the European Association of Chinese Philosophy (EN-EACP) Conference will take place at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. This event is titled “Mirroring Civilizations: Paths Between Daoist and pre-Socratic Philosophies” (contact person: Fabian Heubel, email: fabian.heubel@posteo.de).
The 24th ISCP conference will also mark a major milestone in the history of our society as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. It will once again demonstrate that the Society, founded by Professor Cheng Chung-Ying in 1975, has proven to be one of the most important bridges between Western and Chinese philosophy and an important platform for a much-needed transcultural philosophical dialog in the half century of its existence. With this historic meeting, we want to show that it has developed and will continue to flourish in a highly positive manner, demonstrating its respect for diversity and inclusion, which are also among the most important features of the Chinese philosophical tradition.
Timeline:
Deadline for submission of abstracts and panel proposals: October 15, 2024
Communication of acceptance: December 15th 2024
Online registration will be opened from March 1, 2025
Conference venue: Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 2, Ljubljana.¸
The conference booklet will be published in February 2025.
Jana S. Rošker (chief academic organizer) jana.rosker@ff.uni-lj.si
Maja Maria Kosec (chief coordinator) MajaMaria.Kosec@ff.uni-lj.si
Téa Sernelj tea.sernelj@ff.uni-lj.si
Marko Ogrizek marko.ogrizek@ff.uni-lj.si
Severin Lorenčič severin.lorencic@ff.uni-lj.si
Jasna Bavec jasna.bavec@ff.uni-lj.si
The conference host will organize trips to both the Slovenian coast and the Alps. Detailed information about each trip will be available in January 2025.
Theater performance
The Department of Asian Studies at the University of Ljubljana proudly presents a dynamic cultural program to enhance this year's ISCP conference. This event goes beyond the conventional academic framework, embracing a fusion of theory and art that has become a cherished tradition within our department.
This year’s spectacle, titled “Frog in the well -A Tale of Everything in Nothing” is thematically linked to the conference topics and is a highlight of our accompanying cultural program.
The performance blends theater, music, and dance, all enriched by the timeless wisdom of Zhuangzi, a classical Chinese Daoist philosopher. We revisit his tale of the frog limited to the view from its well—until a sea turtle offers a glimpse of a broader horizon. Inspired, the frog ventures worldwide, tackling contemporary wonders and problems, pleasures and sufferings, only to return home with a new perspective: What once was a mere well appears as a gateway to an infinite abyss of nothingness.
This metaphor invites us to break free from our narrow viewpoints and embrace broader perspectives—though accepting this invitation is entirely optional, and formal attire is not required.
Join us as we plunge into deep self-awareness and ascend into the vast, intricate webs of our globalized existence. Together, we'll explore the paradox of an interconnected universe, navigating the tumult of human life as we confront the void, uncovering the subtle, often somber beauties of nothingness.
VENUE
The cultural and congress center Cankarjev dom, (https://www.cd-cc.si/en), Prešernova cesta 10 in Ljubljana.
DATE AND TIME
Sunday, June 22, 2025, at 8:00 PM
CAST
Director and choreographer: Ryuzo Fukuhara
Script and production: Jana S. Rošker
Frog: Marko Ogrizek
Turtle: Téa Sernelj
Mr. Greedmore and Guerilla contact: Luka Culiberg
Dictator: Ryuzo Fukuhara
Intellectual dissident and Reader: Tajda Kolenc
Child and Heart: Noami Zaviršek Bercht
Omnipresent voice (AI) and Mind: Vida Krevs
Soldier and Common subject: Anja Bradić
Dancers: Tajda Kolenc, Patumtip Nuanmalang, Marija Mitevska
Music: The Eternal Problems Trio
- Piano: Dejan Berden
- Saxophone, clarinet: Marjan Farič
- Vocal: Jana S. Rošker
MUSIC
One Meatball (Music by Hy Zaret, lyrics by Lou Singer)
Money Makes the World go Around (from Cabaret, Music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb)
Where Did All the Flowers Go (Music and original lyrics by Pete Seeger. The German lyrics were adapted by Max Colpet)
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free (Music by Billy Taylor, lyrics by Dick Dallas)
You’re Innocent When You Dream (Music and lyrics by Tom Waits)
Going Home (instrumental version); (Music by Antonín Dvořák, adapted from the Largo movement of his Symphony No. 9)
The Axis of the World (Music by Billy Strayhorn, lyrics by Jana S. Rošker)
Here are different transportation options from Ljubljana Airport to your hotel:
There are different possibilities (shuttle bus, taxi, public bus, etc) to get from the Ljubljana airport to the hotel. You can explore them here.
1. Shuttle Bus:
- 4 different providers (see the following link) who offer flexible timings and can drop you off directly at your hotel. You can book tickets in advance online for better rates.
2. Taxi:
- Location: Taxi stand outside the arrivals area
- Cost: Approximately €40 to the city center. Prices can vary depending on the taxi company and time of day.
- Travel Time: About 20-30 minutes to the city center, depending on traffic.
3. Public Bus: (see the following link)
- Main provider: Ljubljana Public Transport - LPP
- Route Number: 28
- Schedule: Buses run hourly from the airport to the city center.
- Cost: Around €4.10 per person.
- Travel Time: Approximately 45 minutes to the central bus station.
4. Car Rental: (see the following link )
- Providers: Several options including Avis, Europcar, and Hertz.
- Location: Desks at the airport arrivals hall.
- Details: This might be a cost-effective option if you plan to explore other areas of Slovenia.
5. Private Transfer: (see the following link)
- Details: Can be booked online through various services like Viator or directly through hotel concierge services.
- Advantages: Direct and private travel to your hotel with a fixed rate.
Please choose the option that best suits your schedule, budget, and comfort preferences.
Event registration will begin on Friday, June 20, at 8:00 AM, at the conference venue in the aula of the Faculty of Arts, Aškerčeva 2. Please note that the registration fee must be paid in advance. The link for online registration fee payment will be available in January 2025.
Selected papers from the conference will be featured in a special issue of the journal Asian Studies, published by the Department of Asian Studies at the University of Ljubljana's Faculty of Arts and edited by Jana S. Rošker in 2026. Detailed information will be provided at the closing ceremony of the conference.
