Talks
Forthcoming talks
Past talks
Sacrifice in Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit
Where: Clare College, University of Cambridge, Postgraduate Seminar When: 9th May 2009
LikeSolger’s Sacrificial Dialectic. A Comparison with Hegel
Where: Annual Conference of the Australasian Philosophy of Religion Association Dates: 27th September 2008 - 28th September 2008 When: 28th September 2008
Sacrifice, the Challenging ‘Navel of the World’
Where: 17th European Conference on Philosophy of Religion “Sacrifice”, University of Oslo (Norway) Dates: 28th August 2008 - 31st August 2008 When: 31st August 2008
The main aim of the paper is to explore the philosophical reasons why sacrifice remains at the heart of conflicts including theoretical, ethical, political and religious dimensions. To pursue this aim, I take into consideration some thinkers who, by placing the notion of sacrifice at the centre of their thought, linked it to a non-rational dimension. These thinkers include Solger, Hegel, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Bataille and Girard.
Firstly I argue that the non-rational dimension the employment of the notion of sacrifice is connected with can be either over-rational, as it happens in Kierkegaard, or pre-rational, as it happens in Nietzsche. In the first case, the non-rational dimension is presented as transcendence; in the second case, it is presented as life.
Secondly, I argue that the reference to this non-rational dimension, which is implied in the use of the notion of sacrifice, is strictly connected with the problem of justice and with the notion of political responsibility .
Finally, I briefly examine the different strategies adopted by the thinkers mentioned above in dealing with the notion of sacrifice. The first strategy is the “reduction to concept”, that is, the attempt to express the non-rational dimension of sacrifice in rational terms (Solger). The second strategy is the “expulsion of concept”, that is, the attempt to give expression to the non-rational dimension of sacrifice without the recourse to rational instruments (Bataille). The third strategy is that adopted by Hegel, and can be referred to as “the strategy of recognition”. In fact, recognition is sacrifice of the absoluteness of one’s self, and the Aufhebung of sacrifice is its recognition. I conclude that the Hegelian account allows sacrifice to be considered as a regulative notion, which turns out to be very useful for dealing with political, ethical and religious conflicts.
Metaphilosophical Reflection on Theism and Atheism in the Current Debate
Where: Departmental Seminar, University of Essex (UK) When: 24th April 2008
Later published in P. Quadrio, C. Besseling and F. Di Lauro (Eds.), Politics and Religion in the New Century: Philosophical Perspectives' (Sydney: University of Sydney Press, 2008)
Theism and Atheism in the Current Debate
Where: University Of Sydney Religion Department, Symposium 'Modern European Philosophy and the Philosophy of Religion' When: 30th November 2007
The post-Kantian Response to the New Atheist Offensive
Where: Philosophy Seminar, Australian Catholic University (Australia) When: 8th October 2007
Response to Graham Oppy’s 'New Atheism Offensive?'
Where: Philosophy of Religion Research Seminar, University of Sydney (Australia) When: 31st August 2007
Nietzsche and Sacrifice
Where: 16th International Conference of the Friedrich Nietzsche Society of Great Britain and Ireland “Nietzsche, Power and Politics”, University of Leiden (Netherlands) Dates: 23rd March 2007 - 25th March 2007 When: 23rd March 2007
Later published in H. Siemens (Ed.), Nietzsche, Power and Politics (Berlin & New York: Walter de Gruyter), with the title 'The Sacrifice of the Overman as an Expression of the Will to Power. Anti-Political Consequences and Contributions to Democracy'
God, Creation and Sacrifice in Hegel and Solger
Where: Religious Studies Research Seminar When: 10th October 2006
Later published in 'Heythrop Journal' 50 (2/2009) with the title 'Solger’s Notion of Sacrifice as Double Negation'
St. Anselm and René Girard
Where: International Conference “Phenomenological and Theological Readings of the Traditional Proofs for God's Existence”, Mount Allison University (Canada) Dates: 18th August 2006 - 22nd August 2006
Response to Joseph Godfrey’s 'Conceiving Trust'
Where: ACPA Meeting, Notre-Dame University (USA) Dates: 28th October 2005 - 30th October 2005
Marcel and Second-degree Reflection
Where: “Philosophy Research Seminar”, Heythrop College; London (UK) When: 2nd March 2005
Later published in A. Wiercinski (Ed.), Between Description and Interpretation: The Hermeneutic Turn in Phenomenology (Toronto: The Hermeneutic Press, 2005) with the title '‘If there is a plot’. Gabriel Marcel and Second-Degree Reflection'
Girard and Philosophy
Where: International Conference “René Girard: A Celebration”; Heythrop College; London (UK) Dates: 9th October 2004 - 10th October 2004
Later published in 'Colloquy' 9 (2005) with the title 'Mimetic Theory and Hermeneutics'
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