Theory & Philosophy for the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Summer School
The School of Sociology and Philosophy are delighted to announce details for the Theory and Philosophy Summer School 2013
The annual Theory and Philosophy Summer School is an interdisciplinary residential course in theories, concepts and methods of inquiry designed for the needs of postgraduate students & researchers, especially doctoral candidates, in the Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences, from universities throughout Ireland, Europeand around the world who are developing theoretical and interpretive paradigms for their research. TAPSS offers a student-centered and collaborative setting in which students participate in sessions led by academics from UCC and guest professors. Conventional didactic presentations are bolstered by small group work, student-led seminars and discussions, peer-group presentation and feedback sessions.
This year’s theme is ‘Transgression and Normativity’. The School will be held in Blackwater Castle, Co Cork, from Monday April 29th to Friday May 3rd. See below a summary of this years theme.
You can also visit our website for further details about this years theme.
http://www.tapss.ie/index.html
Theme Summary
Transgression and Normativity are two defining antinomies of modern civilization. Renaissance, Reformation, democratic, communist, nationalist, industrial and scientific revolutions entail a transgressive breaking of paradigms; and transgressive, libertarian and avant-garde movements in art, culture and everyday life drive modern civilization’s political-libidinal economies. Some would argue that the critical spirit of Modernity that values transgression in the pursuit of individual self-actualization has eclipsed normativity to the point where all values are debased and trivialized; in a pervasive culture of meaninglessness late, or post-modern energies discharge themselves formlessly as the excesses of neo-liberal global capitalism, mass-mediatized democracy, neo-libertine consumption and planetary ecocide. On the other hand, others argue that the spirit of modernity is equally animated by a quest for normativity: to be modern is to seek agreement on the question ‘how ought we live? By the light of what ideals do we critically evaluate and reflexively reform ourselves?’ Modern civilization seeks foundations for a secular, post-conventional morality that can be the basis of solidarity and social order. Collective and individual liberties instigated by acts of transgression are regulated, institutionalized, harmonized as reciprocal duties and responsibilities within frameworks of republican citizenship and the rule of law, and by the ongoing elaboration of institutions of liberal democratic and cosmopolitan global governance. The spirit of modernity has been animated by the antinomies and dialectics of transgression and normativity from the start, but recently it has, arguably, reached apotheosis. Do we need a normative renaissance and restoration of ideals?
Can a normativity for the 21st Century to be found in Classical, deep-historical, or political-anthropological sources? Can normativity for our times be found in paradigms outside of the Judeo-Christian and Western canons, in Asian philosophies, for example? Or, is a normative regeneration desirable at all?
Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
a) Describe the field of inquiry represented in the Summer School, outlining its historical development, scope and methodologies.
b) Identify major theories and paradigms employed and define key concepts and ideas.
c) Apply theories and concepts and relate them to particular problems, issues and phenomena addressed in the student's own research.
d) Analyze aspects of the student's own field of inquiry and illustrate them in terms of theories and concepts presented in the Summer School.
e) Explain phenomena and formulate particular research problems in terms of general theories presented in Summer School.
f) Criticize topics and evaluate issues and debates in terms of paradigms & theories presented in the Summer School.
Further Information: Professor Graham Parkes, g.parkes@ucc.ie
Course Date: Teaching Period 3, Summer School, One Week Duration (April 29 - May 3 2013)
Credit Weighting: PG7010 (5 Credits); PG7011 (10 Credits)
Applicability: PhD Students
Website: www.tapss.ie
Contact: admin@tapss.ie
Theory & Philosophy Summer School has been designed for the needs of post-graduate students & researchers, especially doctoral candidates, in the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, in Sociology, Philosophy, History, Anthropology, Politics, Languages, Arts, Literature & Classics; from universities throughout Ireland, Europe & around the world who are developing theoretical & interpretive paradigms for their research.
