Renmin University of China

03/31/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/31/2023 07:06

Preview丨The First Session of 2023 Lecture Series on Ancient Greek Philosophy

Title: Hephaestus, Craftsmanship, and the Teleological Universe-The Theological Dimension of Plato's Timaeus

Abstract:

Firstly, this lecture will explore the differences between the early Greek non-teleological cosmology and Plato's teleological cosmology, as well as the embryonic form of the latter in pre-Socratic philosophy. Secondly, it will analyze necessity of teleology for Plato's philosophy and origin of teleology in Plato's philosophy. Thirdly, the lecture will probe into the differences between Plato's Hephaestus and the early Greek gods, Aristotle's Immovable Movers and the Christian God. Plato's Hephaestus creates "order" and the Christian God inspires "freedom" by his creation out of nothing. On this basis, modern philosophy devotes itself to how human beings generate "order based on freedom".

Speaker:

Song Jijie, Ph. D., Professor of Philosophy, Tsinghua University. His research interests lie in ancient Greek philosophy. Prof. Song serves as executive member of the Chinese Society for the History of Foreign Philosophy, and executive member of the Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy Committee. He is also Director of the Department of Philosophy of Tsinghua University (2018-2020) Head of foreign philosophy disciplines. His Monographs include The Technology of Logos: A Linguistic and Philosophical Perspective of Ancient Greek Thought and Heidegger and the Deconstruction of Ontological History. His translated works include Pursuit of Virtue and The Translation and Annotation of Timaeus.

Special guest：

Liu Weimo, Associate Editor in Institute of Philosophy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Associate Professor of University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Her main research fields are ancient Greek natural philosophy, ancient history of science (astronomy, medicine, music), and comparative study of ancient Greece and China.

Time:

18: 00-20: 00 Saturday, April 1

Moderator:

Nie Minli (School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China)

Speaker:

Song Jijie (Department of Philosophy, Tsinghua University)

Interviewer:

Liu Weimo (Institute of Philosophy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

Organizer:

School of philosophy, Renmin University of China

Co-organizer:

CASS website

Tencent Meeting ID:

798 606 217

Backup Tencent Meeting ID:

116 701 456