First Announcement

I. Conference description:

The idea: Ontology has successfully developed in many directions during the last deca­des. After many years of being neglected and treated at best as a ancillary field that serves epistemology, ontology is now enjoying a renaissance and new inde­pen­dence. This renaissance has fostered different approaches and directions for its further development. There is, in other words, an urgent need to consider the present situation and to outline the most important stakes of contemporary ontological thinking.

The aim: The aim of the conference is to explore the most important current appro­a­ches in ontology, such as the different versions of process ontology, the possibility for interplay between different ontolo­gical approaches within and outside process philosophies, and the interplay between science and ontology, crucial for the Western ethos.

Topics: The idea and the aim of the conference suggest three main overlapping topics:

1. Ontology after Whitehead (Process ontology).
   
   Whitehead’s metaphysics lies to a great extent at the foundation of contemporary ontological thinking - at least in so far as it is “processual”. Based on that architectonics, contemporary process ontology has been developed by several generations of his students, colleagues and scholars. But how exactly has ontology changed after Whitehead? His ideas have been interpreted in different ways, so much so that we have now at our disposal a manifold of approaches in process ontology itself. Hence it would be advisable to clarify this state of affairs. Finally, it remains essential to outline the most important problems facing process ontology.
2. The Interplay between contemporary ontological approaches.
   (process ontology, analytic metaphysics and phenomenological ontology)
   
   Contemporary ontological thinking offers many different streams of thought. We need to explore how process ontology interacts particularly with analytic metaphysics and with phenomenological ontology. Can we expect that the interplay between these ontological approaches will give rise to new fruitful ideas in ontology and that it will be useful for the further development of each of these approaches? Is it possible to argue that some of these different ontological approaches are more rewarding than the others, or is it the case that each of them has its own value and all of them should be developed in parallel in their mutual interaction? All these questions need to be given systematic answers.
3. The Interplay between science and ontology.
   
   Our contemporary world is characterized by the very rapid development of techno-science. Science has entered, for better and for worse, into every aspect of our lives. Therefore, philosophy, and in particular ontology, have also been influenced by contemporary science, and we need to explore the interaction of science and ontology. On the one hand, different branches of science have influenced ontology to the extent that it has changed its claims, its approaches and even its essence. On the other hand, ontological (and more generally philosophical) ideas have entered into the field of newly developed sciences such as computer science, artificial intelligence, etc. Sciences in such branches look at ontology as a general methodological framework for their own field of work. During the last decades we began to speak of applied ontology, ontology as technology, etc. We need to explore these processes and to outline at least some of the most important questions and problems in this interplay between science and ontology.

Expected results: Our discussions will generate research papers that will be published in a volume of conference proceedings, probably by Ontos Verlag, whith whom there has been preliminary editorial contacts. This volume will:

• improve our understanding of contemporary ontological thinking.
• contribute to better mutual understanding amongst specialists in all different approaches of ontology.
• provide better possibilities for interdisciplinary co-operative work between scientists and ontologists.

II. Organizers:

Bulgarian Ontological Society

Bulgarian Center for Process Studies

Institute for Philosophical Research - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Department of Philosophy of the Philosophical Faculty of SU “St. Kl. Ohridski”

III. Local Organizing committee:

1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vesselin Petrov (Institute for Philosophical Research - BAS) - head
2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aneta Karageorgieva (SU “St. Kl. Ohridski”)
3. Assist. Prof. Dr. Ivan Kolev (SU “St. Kl. Ohridski”)
4. Assist. Prof. Dr. Stefan Dimitrov (IPhR-BAS)
5. Assist. Prof. Dr. Nikolay Turlakov (IPhR-BAS)
6. Assist. Prof. Dr. Marina Bakalova (IPhR-BAS)
7. Tsena Zhelyazkova, PhD student (IPhR-BAS)

IV. Program committee:

1. Prof. Dr. Bruno Leclercq (Belgium)
2. Prof. Dr. Dermot Moran (Ireland)
3. Prof. Dr. Francois Beets (Belgium)
4. Prof. Dr. Johanna Seibt (Denmark)
5. Prof. Dr. Liliana Albertazzi (Italy)
6. Prof. Dr. Michel Weber (Belgium)
7. Prof. Dr. Nenad Miscevic (Slovenia)
8. Prof. Dr. Roberto Poli (Italy)
9. Prof. Dr. William Hamrick (USA)
10. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vesselin Petrov (Bulgaria)

V. Keynote speakers:

1. Prof. Dr. Michel Weber (Belgium) (for topic No 1)
2. Prof. Dr. Johanna Seibt (Denmark) (for topic No 1)
3. Prof. Dr. Dermot Moran (Dublin) (for topic No 2)
4. Prof. Dr. Nenad Miscevic (Slovenia) (for topic No 2)
5. Prof. Dr. Roberto Poli (Italy) (for topic No 3)
6. Prof. Dr. Liliana Albertazzi (Italy) (for topic No 3)

VI. Provisional program:

18 June 2009

Theme: Ontology after Whitehead (process ontology)

8,30 - 9,00

Registration

9,00 - 9,15

Opening of the conference

9,15 - 10,45

Prof. Dr. Johanna Seibt (Denmark)

10,45 - 11,00

Coffee break

11,00 - 12,30

Prof. Dr. Michel Weber (Belgium)

12,30 - 14,00

Break

14,00 - 18,00

presentations of different participants on the first topic; every presentation will last for half an hour (20 min. presentation and 10 min. discussion).

19 June 2009

Theme: The Interplay between contemporary ontological approaches

9,00 - 10,30

Prof. Dr. Dermot Moran (Ireland)

10,30 - 11,00

Coffee break

11,00 - 12,30

Prof. Dr. Nenad Miscevic (Slovenia)

12,30 - 14,00

Break

14,00 - 18,00

presentations of different participants on the second topic; every presentation will be half an hour (20 min. presentation and 10 min. discussion).

20 June 2009

Theme: The Interplay between science and ontology

9,00 - 10,30

Prof. Dr. Roberto Poli (Italy)

10,30 - 11,00

Coffee break

11,00 - 12,30

Prof. Dr. Liliana Albertazzi (Italy)

12,30 - 14,00

Break

14,00 - 18,00

presentations of different participants on the third topic; every presentation will be half an hour (20 min. presentation and 10 min. discussion).

VII. Conference abstracts and papers:

Submission of abstracts: no more than 500 words

Deadline for submission of abstracts: 1 March 2009

Notification of acceptance: 1 April 2009

Submission of papers: up to 3000 words

Publication: A collection of papers will be published in an authoritative international publishing house after the end of the conference.

VIII. Registration and accommodation:

Registration fee: The conference fee will be 200 Euro per person, before the 1^st June 2009 and 240 Euro, if payment is made later. The conference fee includes accommodation in 3-star hotel (three nights with breakfast) and a cocktail on 18^th June 2009.

The fee should be payed in “Unicredit Bulbank”, Sofia, Bulgaria;

IBAN: BG 78UNCR96603119902717

BIC: UNCRBGSF

Institute for Philosophical Research

Patriarh Evtimi blvd., 6

Sofia 1000, Bulgaria

Accomodation and hotel: hotel “Slavjanska Beseda” in the centrum of the town and hotel “Ganesha” in 15 min. by bus from the University of Sofia. (More information of the hotels can be seen in the Internet)

IX. General Information:

Place: Sofia University, central building, Hall 1

Date: 18 - 20 June 2008

Working language: English

Contact persons (phone, e-mails):

Tsena Zhelyazkova, PhD student (IPhR-BAS)

GSM: (+359) 878228760

Web-site: http://sic-ontology-2009.blogspot.com/

e-mail: sico2009@gmail.com

zhelyazkova@gmail.com

Second announcement: in March 2009

X. Useful information:

Sofia: Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria with a population of about 2 million people. The city is very old; its origin is about 2000 years ago. There are many museums and historical buildings to visit. Very close and easily reached is the mountain of Vitosha (in 1 hour with the transport from the centrum of the city). There is a lift to the top of the mountain, from where there is a beautiful view of the whole city, as well as to the mountain of Rila. Easily reached is also the mountain of Rila (about 140 km from Sofia), on which is located the greatest and one of the oldest monasteries in Bulgaria - Rila monastery. On the other hand, the second town in Bulgaria - Plovdiv - is in 120 km from Sofia; it has an interesting old part with a big amphitheatre from the ancient Greek time in very good condition. All these and many other facts make Sofia a very interesting place to visit. Cultural events will be organized during the conference.

Letter of invitation: An official letter of invitation will be sent upon request to the contact person.

Visa: Bulgaria is a member of the European Union; so, the visa rules for the EU are also valid for Bulgaria.

Climate: June is the beginning of the summer in Bulgaria. Usually we enjoy a temperature around 25-30⁰ C.

Bank information: Bulgarian money are called ‘lev’. Bulgaria has a currency board which means that lev is fixed to the Euro: 1 Euro is equal to 1,95 leva.

Transport: Sofia University is in the centrum of the city of Sofia. It is in 5 min. walk from the hotel “Slavjanska beseda”. From the Airport of Sofia to the centrum you can take the Bus No 284 or a taxi. The organizers will provide maps and all necessary assistance with that regard also.

XI. Sponsors:

Bulgarian National Fund scientific investigations at the Ministry of education and science

Philosophical foundation “Minerva”

Bulgarian ontological society

Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”

Center for Philosophical Practice “Chromatiques whitheadiennes”, Brussels

XII. FAQ:

The information page on our website about the conference is still under construction. It will feature a “Frequently asked questions” section.