Call for papers

In his Glossae super Boethium (CCCM 158, ed. Nauta, 1999, p. 202, 90-93), William of Conches states: “... de eadem re secundum diversas considerationes diversae inveniuntur expositiones. Sed non est curandum de diversitate expositionum, immo gaudendum, sed de contrarietate si in expositionibus esset ...”

What is the nature of the diversity of reading medieval sources? How do theological, philosophical, literary, historical or musical sources relate to the text? How do Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Arabic or vernacular texts allow researchers to decipher the meaning of the “textual source” for the medieval man of letters? Why does the same text inspire different readings? Why do medieval texts rely so heavily on sources, and why is this habit at the root of an entire tradition of interpretation? This is an interdisciplinary problem and it can be identified in all fields of medieval studies. It therefore challenges every specialist in the texts he studies, whether from the Early Middle Ages, or from the end of this period which covered an entire millennium.

The goal of this FIDEM meeting is to provide an analysis of the varieties of interpretation, and of its importance for the intellectual life of the Middle Ages.

The Centre for Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (http://hiphi.ubbcluj.ro/fam) was established in 2004, in order to study, edit, and translate into Romanian the major texts of ancient and medieval philosophy. The most representative results of its activity are the 27 bilingual editions of the “Biblioteca Medievală” series, the publication of the journal “Chora, revue des études anciennes et médiévales” (in collaboration with the Centre “Léon Robin”, Univ. Paris IV–Sorbonne), several national and international research grants, and a series of weekly conferences on medieval philosophy.

Details of participation

Scholars wishing to give a paper (20-minutes long) can submit an abstract to the following address: fidem2015@gmail.com or online: http://hiphi.ubbcluj.ro/fidem2015/registration. Abstract submission ends on 31 May 2015.

A joint committee from FIDEM and the organizer will select the accepted papers. The participation fee is 25 €. The payment will be open after the announcement of the final list of participants.

A selection of papers will be published in the FIDEM series ‘Textes et Études du Moyen Age’, distributed by Brepols.

FIDEM scholarships are available for researchers (max. 25 years old). Applications must be sent to the Conference Secretariat before 31 May 2015. They will include: a full curriculum vitae, a letter of motivation, and a letter of recommendation from a University professor.

Further information concerning the conference will be made available on the page of the Centre for Ancient and Medieval Philosophy:
http://hiphi.ubbcluj.ro/fidem2015