Hope and Fear

Hope and Fear: Interdisciplinary Conference in the Humanities

Our social, political, and religious climate has been dominated recently by a mood of collective fear, regarding everything from economic anxiety, the outbreak of new and frightening diseases, mass shootings, social tension and violence between law enforcement and communities of color, environmental and technological dangers, and the threat of terrorism both foreign and domestic.  Where is there room for hope in such times of uncertainty and fear?  Indeed, what would hope look like?  What might the interplay be between hope and fear as we reflect on the past, present, and future not only of this country, but of humanity as a whole?  How might respect and compassion overcome division and mistrust in our discourse and interactions? What do the various disciplines of the humanities have to offer on the subjects of hope and fear, both in our own time as well as for all time?

The keynote speaker for the conference is renowned historian Nell Irvin Painter, Professor Emeritus at Princeton University, who has written extensively and movingly on the history of race and gender relations in America.