THE 11th
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF
ISSEI
International Society for the Study of European Ideas
in cooperation with
Section IV: Art, Theatre, Literature, Music, Culture
Workshop:
“Science without Conscience
is but Ruin to the Soul” (Rabelais):
Centuries Old Truth as
Reflected in European Literature, Visual Arts and Music
Chair: Aurelia Roman
“Science
sans conscience n’est que ruine de l’âme” wrote the great French humanist,
Rabelais, alerting the world at a time when the human knowledge and culture
were facing new challenges at the light of intelligence, at a time of
extraordinary new discoveries, of societies in full mutation, of the birth of
Modern European States and of the switching from Latin to the national
languages for legal and scholarly documents.
The
interconnection between science and literature is, certainly, expressed both
ways. Plato would not let anyone enter his philosophical Academy without
knowing the science of geometry. And our fascination for the great works of art
of Michelangelo or Da Vinci is a reflexion of their serious study of the
sciences of perspective and of the human anatomy.
Born
from the inquisitive human mind, Science and Technology as well as Art and
Literature share the moral and ethical dilemma to which Rabelais alerted us.
Today, with the extraordinary progress of all sciences and particularly with
the breathtaking biomedical research and information technology, this dilemma is
of an utmost importance. The potential hazards of scientific research and
endeavors could endanger the very life of our planet and therefore thinkers,
writers and artists must take a stand if we don't want also to lose our very
souls.The participants to this workshop are invited to consider the reciprocal
impact between scientists, writers and artists towards a thoughtful and ethical
new world.
Aurelia Roman
French Department
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