Conference Highlights

So as far as the actual conference itself, my presentation went extremely well, and I received some interesting comments and questions. Amongst them a rather typical question of how it is possible I can use Derrida juxtaposed against Gadamer. Bob had said that despite his disagreement with me, he nevertheless enjoyed my presentation, said that it made him rethink his own positions, and for him it was a great performance. I'm not sure how to take on the performance part of the comment, but I suppose that it was meant as a compliment.

I met great people, and bonded with a few. A good number of them are philosophers, some were from history, a few from management and education research. There were only two Americans, and the rest were Europeans, mostly from the U.K. I think my favourite people are probably Bob, Paul, Abby, Carool, and Rachel. Bob is your very typical English gentleman, with a keen appetite for good, meaty European foods and good wine and Czech beer. A very brilliant man in the philosophy program at University of Brighton. His newest book is called Torture and the Ticking Bomb, which I really want to read. Paul teaches at Edge Hill University, an is a very interesting figure; he loves to poke fun at me, and likes to emphasise the fact that I am an ignorant American--jokingly, and in good humour, of course. 

I think I like international conferences more than American ones. At least in the one I attended, there was actual time to bond with others. It was a three day conference, each day lasting from 9:30 to 16:00, with lunch and two coffee breaks (by the way, Hungarian espresso is absolutely fantastic, and their little sweet and savoury pastries are equally yummy; I am particularly fond of the cheese crepes, and the shortbread cookies with jam in the centre), so we actually have time to chit-chat a bit and really get to know the other delegates, and come to a better understanding of their perspectives and what kind of work they are doing and interested in. We even get into groups for dinner, and then off to the bars to relax. After a few rounds of beers, these high-end scholars begin exchanging dirty jokes. I loved it. In instances and opportunities like these, they cease to be simply names on the front of books, and suddenly become more human, more intimate. 

On Thursday, Paul took a few of us (Caroline, Yuliya, Carool, Alyce, and I) out for a walk on the other side of Pest. We first went through the "international district" filled with expensive souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes that normal Hungarians would not go because they would not be able to afford to do so, and into the sightseeing side of the river with a nice view of the parliament. 

(To see the full album, please go here.)

It was a wonderful experience, and Paul (the project leader) has already invited me to go back for a second conference next year, probably held in the same place. This time, he wants me to talk about the possibility for a common ground for agreement, and the implications of such a ground (I am thinking of practical and ethical aspects). Instead of 20 minutes, it might possibly be a presentation of 45 minutes with 20 minutes of questions and discussion. That should be fun, and if it works out, I would sure be delighted to be a part of it! It's conferences like these, actually participating and generating discussion, that really reaffirm my interest and desire to continue to pursue academia in philosophy. I love what I'm doing, and if I get to travel, meet and be in the good company of other scholars who equally enjoy their work as much as I do, that is indeed the good life that I truly would not mind being a part of.