Two is One
One of the oldest philosophical questions is how to relate the One and the Many. Nondualism is a radical (dis)solution (of)to this question, since it argues that the One and the Many are neither reducible to one another, nor genuinely different from one another. The One is essentially Manifold, and the Many are essentially Unified. This seemingly abstract metaphysical view is rich in ontological, cognitive, linguistic, aesthetic, and socio-political implications. The goal of this summer school is to create an interdisciplinary platform to explore the metaphysical, aesthetical and sociological ramifications of non-dualism in a cross-cultural perspective.
As reference points for this investigation, we shall take two of the most representative non-dualistic philosophies emerged both in Western and Eastern thought. We shall bring into dialogue Baruch Spinoza’s philosophy, rooted in the early modern period in Europe, with the non-dual strands of the Śaiva Tantra tradition flourished in medieval Kashmir (including authors such as Utpaladeva and Abhinavagupta), which then spread throughout India.
This summer school aims at creating a platform for the cross-cultural study of nondualism in both of these philosophical and religious traditions, and beyond by fostering interdisciplinary exchanges between established scholars, and engaging advanced students and early career researchers as well.
The event will be hybrid. We’ll host four weekly online reading groups before the in-person period (which will take place in Rotterdam). These online activities will enable all participants to gain an equal footing in the root texts. The in-person event will have the format of a conference, with keynote speakers and shorter presentations. This will then be followed by another online period for joint-presentations and round table discussions from the participants.
| Last modified: | 15 April 2024 3.56 p.m. |