Global Philosophy Group Talk (Anke Graneß, Vienna)

The  Global Philosophy Research Interest Group is delighted to welcome Anke Graneß as a guest speaker. Dr. Graneß has a FWF-funded Elise-Richter position at the Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna (Austria) and is currently working on her habilitation treatise (postdoctoral qualification) on the History of Philosophy in Africa South of the Sahara. Her research interests include intercultural philosophy, philosophy in Africa, the history of philosophy, Arabic and Islamic philosophy, feminist theory, gender studies, ethics, global justice, political philosophy.

Join the event at:

https://utoronto.zoom.us/j/82574337301

Talk Title

Histories of Philosophy in a Global Perspective

Talk Abstract

The humanities are undergoing fundamental change with respect to the horizons of globalization. While it is increasingly self-evident for historians to approach history within the framework of global entanglements, a global approach to the history of philosophy, as well as contemporary philosophy, have evolved only in a rudimentary fashion so far.

Reinhart Koselleck has shown that a new “historical future” (Koselleck) is always accompanied by a new interpretation of the past. For a global future of philosophy, it is therefore necessary to re-conceptualize a historiography of philosophy in a global perspective, in which the Eurocentric constrictions of the history of philosophy are overcome. These constrictions evolved mainly in the 18th and 19th century in Europe and have largely shaped the image of philosophy also in the 20th century and to the present, not only in Europe but worldwide.

Today, we face the challenge to include philosophical traditions and their representatives from all over the world, and at the same time to develop new methods, classification criteria, and periodizations. In cooperation with international experts, it is our aim to re-evaluate and redefine the framework and scope of philosophical historiography in an open-ended reflection process. The lecture introduces some research areas and first results of our investigations, especially using the example of the results of our literature research on traditions of historiography of philosophy in different, also non-European, languages.

About the Global Philosophy Group

The Global Philosophy Research Interest Group explores the benefits of drawing on diverse traditions of thought in approaching philosophical questions. These include novel insights into familiar problems, new questions and research directions, and fresh methodologies. We work to deprovincialize and decolonize all aspects of philosophy in the academy. The group currently has strengths in Sanskrit philosophy, and Chinese philosophy, Indian philosophy in English, and classical Islamic philosophy.