Philosophy: the New Generation. The Problem of Justification and the Ways of Argumentation

Everyone who tries to prove the verity of their assertions and to convince an opponent of the correctness of their position inevitably faces the problem of argumentation, justification and providing grounds for their statements. Argumentation, justification and strong grounds are what makes knowledge, unlike an opinion, valid for everybody. But as soon as the need for justification arises, it becomes evident that the process is problematic itself. How is it possible at all? What kind of justification could become generally valid? What characteristics the arguments should possess in order to be considered acceptable?

We propose that the conference participants consider a broad range of issues related to the problem of justification and argumentation – both in philosophy itself and at the intersection of philosophy with other areas of study (such as mathematics, history, cultural studies, psychology, political and social criticism, jurisprudence and other disciplines). During the conference we will try to find the answers to the questions such as:

• What is justification and argumentation in general? What are they needed for and what should they be like? How convincing is the criticism of rational argumentation in the context of criticism of modern rationality in general?
• Is generally valid argumentation possible in philosophy (and if it is, what makes it possible)? What are the peculiarities of justification and argumentation in particular philosophical disciplines and movements, in different periods of history of philosophy?
• Is philosophy capable of self-foundationing? What is its role in providing foundations for other areas of study? Do these areas of study need the foundations provided by philosophy?
• Which models and strategies of argumentation could be reconstructed by the methods of formal logic? What problems does the modern theory of argumentation solve?
• How exactly separate philosophers and their opponents ground and justify their theses? What do they refer to? Is their argumentation valid?
• What is the peculiarity of justification and argumentation in the realm of praxis? How is the justification of moral norms, the legitimization of claims for political power possible? How do the ideologies and political regimes legitimize one another?

In order to take part in the conference, please fill in the application form and send it along with the theses of your report to the mailbox orgkom@gmail.com. Please write “Conference2013” in the subject field of your letter. The application letters should be sent by February 10, 2013.

The working languages are Ukrainian, English, Russian.

The organizing committee reserves the right to refuse the applicants.

The participants’ fare is paid by the organisation which grants the academic trip.

The conference materials publication is planned.

Contacts:

Violetta Tchaikovska: +380 63 839 7673

Olexandr Shumilin:      +380 66 372 2550

e-mail: [email protected]

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