THOMISM AND ASIAN CULTURES:

CELEBRATING 400 YEARS OF DIALOGUE ACROSS CIVILIZATIONS

23-26 May 2011 University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila, Philippines

In 7 June 1494, the Treaty of Tordesillas divided the world for exploration and
Christianization between two maritime powers – Spain and Portugal, and
resolved the issues caused by Pope Alexander VI’s Papal Bull Inter caetera. The
lands to the west of the new demarcation fell under Spain, while those to the
east would be under Portugal. But history destined that the two countries be
represented in a historical voyage. A Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan
sailed under the Spanish flag, and accidentally discovered the scattered islands
in the South China Sea ruled by local chieftains in 16 March 1521. Armed with
cross and sword, Spain established dominion over these islands, and named the
new colony Filipinas after King Felipe II of Spain. It was later to be called the
Philippines during the American period.

Some eighty years into the colonization, a Spanish Dominican and sinologist, Fr.
Miguel de Benavides, established the Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santíssimo
Rosario on 28 April 1611 in Manila. It was later to be renamed the University of
Santo Tomas.

Two programs were offered in its year of foundation, Theology and Philosophy,
patterned after the European system of tertiary education, and aimed at
fulfilling the Church’s mission of evangelization. Over time the University earned
for itself the prestigious titles and came to be called - A La Real y Pontificia
Universidad de Santo Tomás de Aquino, Universidad Católica de Filipinas. The
title Royal was given by King Carlos III of Spain on 1785; Pontifical by Pope Leo
XIII on 1902 in his constitution, Quae Mari Sinico, and The Catholic University of
the Philippines by Pope Pius XII on 1947. Through the centuries after its founding,
the university has established itself as a beacon of Catholic faith and vanguard
of Aristotelian-Thomistic Philosophy in the country.

Thomism in the university has kept up with the times, which is the reason for its
enduring presence. No philosophy of the West, either continental or analytic,
and no philosophy of the East, from the ancients to the postmoderns, have not
been heard within the university portals in its dialogical effort across civilizations.
Fresh ideas are welcome in this Pontifical University, even as we continue to
contemplate on the Catholic tradition. In effect, there is no exclusion in the
philosophy of Thomism as practiced in the University of Santo Tomas, and in this
way the university has become truly Catholic and global.

The Dominican Fathers brought with them and introduced in the islands the
Catholic faith under the philosophical lens of Thomism. Somewhere along this
religious and intellectual transmission, they encountered a rich array of Asian
cultures that gave rise to a whole gamut of attitudes and feelings, ranging from
fear and hatred to toleration and acceptance, and even respect and
admiration, thereby setting the stage for the epoch-defining dialogue between
civilizations.

In 2011, the University will be celebrating its quadricentennial. Philosophy, which

is one of the first two programs in its year of inception, takes pride in co-
celebrating its 400 years with the University.

To commemorate this historical milestone, the University of Santo Tomas

Department of Philosophy will convene an international philosophy conference
with the broad theme THOMISM AND ASIAN CULTURES: CELEBRATING 400 YEARS
OF DIALOGUE ACROSS CIVILIZATIONS. Delegates from international and local
philosophical societies are joining the congress that will feature a total of 12
plenary speakers, multiple parallel sessions, and a roundtable on Philosophy and
Filipino Culture.

The international conference is being organized by the University of Santo Tomas

Department of Philosophy and is being supported by the Office of the Rector,
the Office of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, The Graduate School, and
the Faculty of Arts and Letters.

The following philosophical organizations have been invited to the international

conference; Conférence Mondiale des Institutions Universitaires Catholiques de
Philosophie; Academie du Midi; World Union of Catholic Philosophical Societies;
Philippine Academy of Philosophical Research; Philosophical Association of the
Philippines; Philosophical Association of the Visayas and Mindanao;
Philosophical Association of North Luzon.
 CALL FOR PAPERS

This Call for Papers is an invitation for scholars to contribute to three sub-themes
Thomism, Asian Cultures, and Dialogue related to the broad theme Thomism
and Asian Cultures: Celebrating 400 Years of Dialogue Across Civilizations.
Papers may be selected from the following sub-themes.

Sub-theme 1: Thomism - The place of Thomism in Asian intellectual history- The

spirituality of St. Thomas Aquinas- Aeterni Patris and the revival of Thomism: Neo-
Thomism and its adherents- Thomism in the context of the Filipino mind-
Thomistic Theology- Fides et Ratio: Thomism in the 21st century- Thomism and the
Catholic mission in Asia- Thomism, Modernity, Postmodernity

Sub-theme 2: Asian Cultures - Indian philosophy and culture - Chinese

philosophy and culture- Japanese philosophy and culture - Islamic philosophy
and culture - In search of Filipino consciousness - Post-colonial influences in Asia
- Post-colonial hegemony - Asian aesthetics and its global reception -
Orientalism

Sub-theme 3: Dialogue - East -West Dialogue -The reception of Western thoughts

in the Philippines - Influences of the East: Philosophy, Literature, and History - Art
as Expression of the Beautiful: Speculating the Ideal in the East and the West -
West and Indian dialogue - West and Chinese dialogue - West and Japanese
dialogue - West and Islamic dialogue - Inter-faith dialogue - The postmodern
encounter with Eastern thoughts - Fides et Ratio: Thomism in the 21st century

Paper may be understood from a philosophical vantage point, but also, inter
alia, from the viewpoint of history, theology, anthropology, literature, sociology,
and political science.

Venue: University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines

Date: 23 – 26 May 2011
Language: Paper may be written in English, French, Spanish, German, or
Chinese
Paper 1 page in DOC or RTF Format containing; NAME, PROPOSED TITLE,
Proposal: and a 300 Word Abstract on or before 30 November 2010
Accepted Must be submitted on or before 14 February 2011
Paper: • Paper must not exceed 3,000 word inclusive of footnotes and
bibliography
• Use 12 – point font size in double-space format and must be
delivered in 20 minutes
• Paper in other languages other than English must be
accompanied by an
 • Abstract or Translation in English, whichever is convenient for
the participant.
• Paper presenters will receive Certificate of Participation and
possible inclusion in the ACTA to be published by the University
of Santo Tomas
Registration • On Site Registration US $ 150.00 for international participants
Fee: PhP 4,500.00 for local participants
• Pre-registration for local participants by 30 January 2011 will be
PhP 4,000.00
• Registration fee comes inclusive of attendance to all lectures,
Conference kit, Conference papers of plenary speakers, CD
file of parallel papers, meals and Coffee, Certificate of
Attendance.

SECRETARIAT: All papers and other queries should be submitted to the

Secretariat Email: ust400philosophy@gmail.com

University of Santo Tomas

Quadricentennial International Philosophy Conference
Department of Philosophy
Room 105, Main Building
Manila, Philippines
Tel no: (63-2) 406-1611 loc 8415
Fax no: (63-2) 731-3038