Seminar 2010

Montaigne and the Origins of Modern Philosophy

Organizers: Ann Hartle and Harvey C. Mansfield (Harvard University)
Location: Emory University, 202 Bowden Hall

The Emory University Institute for the History of Philosophy will host its third annual summer seminar from June 8 – 17, 2010 on the topic of “Montaigne and the Origins of Modern Philosophy.” The seminar will focus mostly on Montaigne but will also include discussions of Machiavelli, Descartes, and Hobbes. Ann Hartle (Emory University) will direct the seminar and Harvey C. Mansfield (William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Government, Harvard University) will be the guest seminar leader.

IHP Summer Seminars are designed to bring together a group of scholars specializing in specific areas of the history of philosophy for seminar sessions focused around a shared reading list. The IHP’s goal is to foster conversations that will inform future scholarly work within the philosophical community. Previous IHP seminars addressed Neoplatonism in the Late Ancient/ Early Medieval period and Heidegger’s reading of Nietzsche, with future sessions on other areas of the history of philosophy in the planning.

This year’s IHP Summer Seminar will bring together scholars who have a strong interest in the origins of modern philosophy. Seminar sessions will consist of discussion of a set of readings selected by the director and Harvey Mansfield, and will be led by the director, by Harvey Mansfield (2 sessions), and by individual seminar participants.

The Institute will provide room, board, and travel expenses for the ten participants accepted into the seminar. Guests will be housed at the University Inn, located on the Emory University campus, within walking distance of the central meeting location in the Philosophy Department. An optional excursion to a Civil War site is planned for the weekend. Savannah is about a five hour drive for those who would like to take a weekend trip.

To apply for the seminar, please send a letter discussing your interest in the topic, along with your CV, to Ann Hartle at the address below. The application deadline is December 15th, 2009. Decisions will be announced mid-January 2010.

For additional information concerning this and other IHP events, please visit the IHP website at www.philosophy.emory.edu/ihp.

Co-Director: Ann Hartle
Philosophy Department
Emory University
Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
ahartle@emory.edu