On Historicity of Cultural Identity/es

From 11 to 12 January 2014, 'polylog. Forum for Intercultural
Philosophy' is organising its 4th Intercultural Interdisciplinary
Colloquium, in cooperation with the Forum Scientiarum at the
University of Tübingen. The topic of the colloquium is:

On Historicity of Cultural Identity/es

A culture neither is a homogenous entity nor does she seal herself
and block influences from other cultures. On the contrary, cultural
reality ever since has been coined by the exchange between different
social groups and their respective cultural life forms. This holds
true for intra- just as for intercultural dimensions. Therefore,
cultures must not be differentiated by any kind of essential
character. However, the notion of culture does not become meaningless
either. Cultures do not dissolve and merge into a transcultural
society in which all different cultural life forms would mix at will.

One important reason for the consistency of cultures despite their
heterogeneity and their continuous alteration may be found in their
historicity. Alteration due to intra-cultural changes or
intercultural exchange does not contradict historical continuity but,
on the contrary, is part of the history of any culture. Any life form
of any social group is influenced by its own history at least to some
extend; the historical dimension, therefore, cannot easily be
ignored. Traditions may be critically reflected or even defied, but
by doing so cultural history still is perpetuated. Also, while life
forms from different cultures often can easily be adopted, their
particular history usually cannot. It may be described or even
explained but it does not become one's own history thereby.

It is the historicity of cultural life forms which resists adoption
and the dissolution of cultural differences in a global society.
Coming from these considerations papers are invited on the following
topics:

- Concepts of identity
- The notion of culture
- The notion of history
- Historicity of identities
- Historicity of cultures
- Intercultural concepts
- Transcultural concepts
- Breaks of identity
- Postcolonial identities
- Identity and otherness

Venue:
Forum Scientiarum, University of Tübingen, Germany
Website: http://www.forum-scientiarum.uni-tuebingen.de

Accommodation:
Participants can book accommodation in the Tübingen Youth Hostel (10
minute walk from Forum Scientiarum; approx. 28 EUR per person per
night): http://tuebingen.jugendherberge-bw.de
Unfortunately no travel funding is possible.

Organisers:
Niels Weidtmann (Tübingen) and Bertold Bernreuter (Mexico City)

Website of the Colloquium: