This conference will take place Feb. 28 - March 2, 2007, on the Marquette campus.

This will be a conference with particular emphasis on the rich medieval heritages of the Jewish, Christian and Islamic philosophical and theological traditions. The Conference will highlight and expound the common intellectual and religious foundations of these three great Abrahamic faiths in the context of inter-religious dialogue and cross-cultural discussions of philosophical and theological principles and doctrines which became prominent in the Middle Ages. The emphasis will be on influences, conceptual connections, and parallel intellectual developments between or among key thinkers of that period, among them Moses Maimonides, Thomas Aquinas, al-Farabi, and many more.

We consider this project important because it will both expose and expound the depth and strength of connections and relations among intellectuals of the Abrahamic tradition.  Participants will be able to better understand the commonalities of very diverse beliefs.  It will also provide a very special learning opportunity for participants and attendees from Marquette and area communities.

Related events on inter religious dialogue and understanding will take place on the Marquette Campus through the entire week.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

“The Muslim, Christian, and Jewish Heritage: Philosophical and Theological Explorations in the Abrahamic Traditions”

Wednesday, Feb 28 - Friday, March 2, 2007

Free for all with Marquette ID.

Registration Required for Visitors.

(See information at the bottom of this page.)

Wednesday, February 28: Raynor Conference Center 1.00 pm - 6.00 pm. For location, see https://www.marquette.edu/contact/finder/memorial.shtml

1.00-1.30 pm - Welcome Remarks: Provost Dr. Madeline Wake;  Rev. John Laurance, S.J., Chair, Department of Theology; Dr. Susanne Foster, Assistant Chair, Department of Philosophy

Session I

Chairperson: Rev. Joe Mueller, S.J.,  Theology Department, Marquette University

1:30-2:30 (1) Dr. Therese-Anne Druart, The Catholic University of America,

“Islam and Christianity: One Divine and Human Language or Many Human Languages”

2:30-3:30 (2) Rev. Alexander Golitzin, Marquette University

“Merkavah Mystics and Holy Hesychasts: Reflection on the Study of Jewish and Eastern Christian Mysticism”

3:30-4 coffee break

Session II

Chairperson: Dr. Isabelle Moulin, University of Notre Dame

4-5 (3) Dr. John Jones, Marquette University, “Dionsyius the Areopagite and the Eastern Christian Antinomical ‘Conception’ of God”

5-6 (4) Dr. Luis Lopez Farjeat, Universidad Panamericana, Mexico City, "Faith, reason and religious diversity in al-Fârâbî's Book of Letters"

6-7 Dinner at AMU cafeteria

Special Session:

7:30-9:30 Rev. Thomas Michel, S.J.,  “Contemporary Muslim Peace Movements: A Dynamic Alternative to Violence.” Location: Alumni Memorial Union Ballrooms CDE

Reception to follow the lecture. For location, see https://www.marquette.edu/contact/finder/union.shtml

Thursday, March 1: 9.00 am - 6.30 pm

9 am - 12 noon Alumni Memorial Union Ballrooms CD For location, see https://www.marquette.edu/contact/finder/union.shtml 

(coffee, et alia 8:30 am)

Session III

Chairperson: Dr. Wanda Cizewski, Theology Department, Marquette University

9-10 (5) Dr. Deborah Black, University of Toronto, “Avicenna on Individuation, Self-Awareness, and God’s Knowledge of Particulars”

10-11 (6) Dr. Mehdi Aminrazavi, University of Mary Washington,

“He who knows himself knows his Lord.  Reflections on Ibn Sina's Suspended Man Argument”

11-12 (7) Dr. David Twetten, Marquette University

“Epistemology as the Key to Causality in Averroes’ Aristotelian Cosmos”

12-2 lunch break.

2 - 6:30 pm Raynor Conference Center. For location, see https://www.marquette.edu/contact/finder/memorial.shtml

Session IV

Chairperson: Dr. Angela Jaffray (independent scholar)

2-3 (8) Dr. Richard C. Taylor, Marquette University,

“Averroes on the Shari`ah of the Philosophers”

3-4 (9) Dr. Deirdre Dempsey, Marquette University

“The Transmission of Scripture according to Ibn at-Taiyib”

4-4:30 coffee break

Session V

Chairperson: Dr. Timothy Noone, School of Philosophy & Director, Medieval and Byzantine Studies, The Catholic University of America

4.30-5.30 (10) Dr. Philip Naylor, Marquette University,

“Islamic Humanism in the Thought of Ibn Khaldun and Malek Bennabi (Malik bn Nabi)”

5.30-6.30 (11) Dr. Irfan Omar, Marquette University,

“Delhi's Debates on 'People of the Book': Eclectic and Syncretistic Religious Movements in Late Medieval India”

7:30-9 Presenters’ dinner at the Bavarian Inn, 700 W. Lexington Blvd., Milwaukee 53217, (tel. 414-964-0300) (www.bavarianinnmilw.com)

Friday, March 2:  9.00 am - 6:15 pm

Raynor Conference Center (Coffee, et alia 8:30 am) For location, see https://www.marquette.edu/contact/finder/memorial.shtml

Session VI

Chairperson: Dr. Robert Masson, Theology Department, Marquette University

9-10 (12)  Rev. Roland Teske, Marquette University, “Some Aspects of Henry of Ghent’s Debt to Avicenna’s Metaphysics”

10-11 (13) Dr. Jörg Tellkamp, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico City, “Albert the Great on Structure and Function of the Inner Senses”

11-12 (14) Dr. Josef Stern, University of Chicago

“The Unbinding of Isaac: Maimonides on the Aqedah (Genesis 22)”

12-1:30 lunch break

Session VII

Chairperson: Dr Siobhan Nash-Marshall, University of St. Thomas (Minn.)

1:30-2:30 (15) Dr. James Robinson, University of Chicago

“Al-Farabi, Avicenna, and Averroes in Hebrew: Remarks on the Indirect Transmission of Arabic Philosophy in Medieval Judaism”

2.30-3.30 Break

VIII (Final) Session, hosted by Dr Sebastian Luft, Philosophy Department, Marquette University

3.30-5.00 pm (16) Dr. B. Carlos Bazán, Ottawa. Conference Capstone: “Thomas Aquinas and Averroes' Great Commentary on the De anima.”

(open and free to the public)

5:00-5:15 Closing remarks

5:15-6:15 Reception

7 pm  Dinner for presenters at Shahrazad Restaurant (2847 N Oakland Ave

Milwaukee, WI 53211 (414- 964-5475) with following 9 PM evening dessert gathering at the home of Prof. Taylor.

Other Invited Guests:

Prof. Heidi Ravven, Hamilton College

http://www.religionandpluralism.org/HeidiRavven.htm

Prof. Siobhan Nash-Marshall, Department of Philosophy, University of St. Thomas (Minn.)

Conference Organizers:

Richard C. Taylor, Philosophy Department

Irfan Omar, Theology Department

David Twetten, Philosophy Department

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION:

Free to those with MU ID.

Registration at the door for non-MU visitors: $35.

For information contact:

Prof. Richard C. Taylor

Philosophy Department

Marquette University

P.O. Box 1881

Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881

email: Richard.Taylor@Marquette.edu

Special Pre-Conference Event:

February 27, 3:30-6:30 pm, "Averroes: a Roundtable Discussion" with B. Carlos Bazán (Ottawa), Therese-Anne Druart (The Catholic University of America), Deborah Black (University of Toronto), David Twetten (Marquette University), Richard Taylor (Marquette University) and other guests. Sponsored by the 'Aquinas and the Arabs' Project at Marquette University. Location: Raynor Library, Seminar Room 301 (3rd floor).