Skip to main content

Filipino scholars discuss the Future of Philosophy in the Philippines

Filipino scholars and academics who took part in the recent 25th World Congress of Philosophy at Sapienza University in Rome discussed the ways of moving forward in terms of engaging with the community of Philosophy scholars across the globe. In a shared message to the group, Dr. Jeremiah Joaquin of De La Salle University, who served as president of the Philosophical Association of the Philippines, mentioned the need to be ready for such a task. Dr. Jove Jim Aguas of the University of Santo Tomas, who was PAP President from 2001-2008, drew from the original intent and spirit of the founding of the PAP. The present PAP President, Dr. Ruby Suazo, discussed the By-Laws of the PAP and agreed to the idea of a Code of Conduct for Professionals teaching Philosophy in the country.

Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc expressed the primary purpose of the establishment of the SES which is to give teachers from Mindanao the venue to present their papers. In the same vein, Dr. Suazo likewise shared his own thoughts on the role of Phavisminda and other associations. Participants emphasized the importance of sharing a common ground, especially in making philosophy relevant beyond the academe. The Union of Societies and Associations for Philosophy in the Philippines is the umbrella organization for the various groups in the country. Philippine universities and schools that are represented in the Congress include the University of San Carlos, the University of the Philippines in Diliman, De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, UP Manila, Benguet State University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Visayas State University, UP Los Banos, the University of Santo Tomas, and Ateneo de Davao University.

Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Paul Elicor also shared his efforts to help Filipino scholars get the exposure in Europe through their books and other publications. He updated the group about his initiative on the Philosophy for Children. Dr. Suazo suggested that the question regarding Filipino philosophy is not just a matter of identity but one that is grounded in what philosophy teachers and researchers in the Philippines are doing. The Philippines, in fact, has many philosophy scholars who are published in top journals here and abroad. While echoing the value of the identity of each, Dr. Maboloc meanwhile mentioned the importance of leadership to attain the goals of each organization. The next World Congress of Philosophy will be held in Tokyo, Japan in 2028.





Popular posts from this blog

Christopher Ryan Maboloc: An Intellectual Biography

By Menelito Mansueto (MSU-IIT)  Christopher Ryan Maboloc is a Davao-based Filipino scholar known for his work in Social and Political Philosophy, Bioethics, Philippine Democracy, and the Philosophy of Technology. He is an Associate Professor at Ateneo de Davao University and a Visiting Professor at Silliman University. His body of work often engages with topics of social justice, structural inequality, and political ethics, particularly in the context of the Philippines. An Erasmus Mundus scholar, the author was trained in political party building and democratic governance at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Bonn and Berlin, Germany.  Dr. Maboloc is the author of two books, Radical Democracy in the Time of Duterte and The Question of Justice in Contemporary Liberal Theory. He is the editor of the two-volume Ethics in Contemporary Philippine Society, a collection of essays by Filipino scholars and academics, notably from Mindanao. He also authored several textbooks, including Et...

Statement of the SES expressing its opposition to the proposal to remove Ethics in the GE Curriculum

  We, members of the Board of Directors of the Social Ethics Society, express our strong opposition to the proposal to remove ethics in college. Such move is bereft of merit and is ignorant as to the value and purpose of the teaching of the course, which is thoroughly rooted in the integral and critical function of higher education. The proposal to transfer it to Senior High School deprives college students of the teaching of ethics as a professional course, which is crucial in their civic engagements and the pursuit of a democratic society that can only be grounded in responsible citizenship and critical thinking.  The direction of Edcom and its advisers from the technical panels of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) reduces our whole education system into a mode of creating docile workers who will constitute the labor force that will serve the whims and interests of a capital intensive and consumer driven globalized neoliberal economic order. It only breeds our subser...

Program, Philosophy of Science Webinar (Theory, Science and Religion)

The Theology Department of Ateneo de Davao University invites you to this Philosophy of Science Webinar navigating the intersections between theory, science, and religion this coming November 16, 2024 from 8am to 11am via Zoom.  PROGRAM 8:00 Opening Remarks - Dr. Roawie Quimba, Chair Theology Department, Ateneo de Davao University 8:10 - Introduction of Speakers  8:15 First Lecture - Dr. Juichiro Tanabe (Waseda University, Japan) - The Role of Science in Peace and Conflict Studies 8:45 Second Lecture - Dr. Rogelio Bayod (North Valley College) - Ethics of Technology: Contributions from Indigenous Wisdom 9:15 Third Lecture - Dr. Layne Hartsell (Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok) - Sandra Mitchell's Integrative Pluralism 9:45 Fourth Lecture - Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc (Ateneo de Davao University) - Cloning the First Human: The Strange Case of Dr. Hwang 10:15 Open Forum 11:00 End of Program Host - Prof. Menelito Mansueto, MSU-IIT This online event is sponsored by the Theology D...