The Philosophy and Theology of Immortality

he Philosophy and Theology of Immortality

21-23 May 2015

International and Interdisciplinary Conference

&

Pre-Conference Workshop: 20 May 2015

The School of Politics, Philosophy, and International Studies & The School of Social Sciences

University of Hull

The Conference

Human beings, like other biological organisms, die and their bodies decay. But is death the end of existence or a gateway to an afterlife? The postponement of death or the hope for some form of post-mortem existence remain preoccupations of humanity, despite an overtly materialistic or secular stance in many Western societies. Whether this is understood as merely the temporary, though extreme, extension of life or as life everlasting, these notions raise profound philosophical and theological questions relating to personal identity, the nature of the human person, the nature of consciousness and its contingency (or otherwise) on the body, the desirability and meaningfulness of immortality, the badness of death and the goodness of life, the relationship between death and meaning, and so forth. Historically, religious traditions have claimed the prerogative of speculation and interpretation in all matters of eternal life and immortality. More recently, however, some people have turned to science and technology (e.g., cryogenics, nanotechnology, regenerative medicine, cybernetics, and mind uploading) for the realisation of what William Godwin once called ‘earthly immortality’.

Funded by a generous research grant from the Immortality Project at the University of California, Riverside (supported by the John Templeton Foundation), this event will focus on philosophical and theological issues pertaining both to traditional conceptions of immortality and contemporary ‘trans-humanist’ notions of radical life extension.

About the Conference

This conference is funded by a generous research grant from the Immortality  Project at the University of California, Riverside (supported by the John Templeton Foundation).

Confirmed Keynote Speakers

John Harris, Sir David Alliance Professor of Bioethics, University of Manchester

Richard Swinburne, Emeritus Nolloth Professor of the Christian Religion, University of Oxford

Pre-Conference Workshop

Transhumanism and Immortality

20 May 2014

We will be holding a pre-conference workshop with invited guest speakers on philosophical and theological issues pertaining to transhumanism and radical life extension/immortality. Attendance at the workshop is free, though we ask participants to register for the workshop. More information about the workshop and the registration link for the workshop can be found online: http://www.hull.ac.uk/immortality.

Invited speakers for the workshop are:

Benedikt Göcke, Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Michael Hauskeller, University of Exeter

Anders Sandberg, University of Oxford

Susan Schneider, University of Connecticut

Stefan Sorgner, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Conference Venue:

University of Hull

Cottingham Road

Hull, HU6 7RX

United Kingdom

Conference Funding / Costs / Registration:

We are pleased to be able to offer bursaries for speakers/delegates. Bursaries will cover the conference fee, refreshments, conference reception and conference dinner, a bus excursion to Beverley Minster (http://beverleyminster.org.uk/) and a generous subsidy for accommodation for two nights. In the first instance, bursaries shall be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to speakers whose papers are accepted for presentation. If any bursaries remain, they will then be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to postgraduate student delegates.

Registration details and registration fees for delegates without a bursary will be announced on the conference website:

http://www.hull.ac.uk/immortality.

VISA and UK Border Control

Unfortunately, we are unable to assist with any VISA related queries. We recommend that you contact your embassy.

Conference Website / Contact

Website: http://www.hull.ac.uk/immortality

Paper submissions: [email protected]

Enquiries: [email protected]

Organizing Team

Dr. Stephen Burwood

Philosophy, University of Hull

[email protected]

Dr. Daniel Came

Philosophy, University of Hull

[email protected]

Dr. Alexander D. Ornella

Religion, University of Hull

[email protected]