[ecrea] Call for Papers: The Crisis of the Human Sciences

>Gulf University for Science and Technology, 
>Kuwait March 6-8, 2011 Conference: The Crisis of 
>the Human Sciences: False Objectivity and the 
>Decline of Creativity Centralization and 
>over-professionalization can lead to the 
>disappearance of a critical environment capable 
>of linking the disciplines to the â¬Sreal 
>world.⬝ The humanities need to operate in a 
>concrete cultural environment able to influence 
>procedures on a hic et nunc basis and should not 
>entirely depend on normative criteria whose 
>function is often to hide ignorance behind a 
>pretentious veil of value-neutral objectivity. 
>For example, in sociology, the growth of 
>scientism has fragmented ethical categories and 
>distorted discourse between inner and outer 
>selves. Philosophy is suffering from an empty 
>professionalism current in many philosophy 
>departments in industrialized and developing 
>countries where boring, ahistorical, and 
>nonpolitical exercises are justified through 
>appeals to false excellence. In all branches of 
>the humanities absurd evaluation processes 
>foster similar tendencies as they create a 
>sterile atmosphere and prevent 
>interdisciplinarity and creativity. An invidious 
>technicization of theory plays into the hands of 
>technocrats. Due to the centralization of 
>editorial power in the hand of large university 
>presses of Anglophone countries, the content, 
>quality, and range of  modern publishing has 
>become only too predictable. How do people 
>working in the humanities respond to the crisis 
>in their respective disciplines? Papers 
>including either meta-scientific considerations 
>or concrete observations are welcome. Keynote 
>Speakers:   * Lewis Gordon (Temple 
>University)      * Richard Shusterman (Florida 
>Atlantic University)      * Muhsin Jassim 
>al-Musawi (Columbia University)         * 
>Khaldoun al-Naqeeb (Kuwait University) 
>Submissions: Proposal submissions are welcome 
>from scholars working in all fields of the 
>humanities and social sciences as long as the 
>proposals are directly related to the topic. A 
>250 word abstract along with a short 
>biographical note (max. 100 words) should be 
>submitted by using this Conference 
>Website.  Create an author account and paste 
>both abstract and bio-note into the body of the 
>text (do not attach files). For all inquiries 
>contact Ayman Bakr (bakr.a /at/ gust.edu.kw) or 
>Thorsten Botz-Bornstein (Botz.T /at/ gust.edu.kw) 
>Deadline for abstracts: November 30, 2010 Papers 
>should not exceed 3000 words (20 minutes reading 
>time). For more information contact the above 
>persons. Conference fee: Early bird (until 
>December 15) 50 KD [¬130] covering the costs of 
>an  opening reception, a conference dinner, and 
>refreshments. After December 15: 60 KD [¬155]. 
>http://conferences.gust.edu.kw _________________________________
>

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