The 25th World Congress of Philosophy (WCP) was held from August 1 to 8, 2024. The gathering in Rome was attended by more than 5,000 delegates across the globe. It had 89 thematic sessions. The first WCP was held in 1900, and was conducted every four years since then, with an exception during the Second World War. Academics from the Philippines, including faculties from University of the Philippines - Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, the University of San Carlos, UP Manila, the University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University, UP Los Baños, Visayas State University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and Ateneo de Davao University, presented their papers on different topics, including Filipino philosophy, political philosophy, epistemology, feminism, ethics, environmental philosophy, and analytic philosophy. Indeed, the WCP was a big intellectual, social, and cultural exchange that helped philosophy scholars and teachers to expand their knowledge and philosophical methods.
One of the speakers during the 25th WCP was Jeffrey Sachs, the director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. It was exciting since I read his book when I was doing my masters in Sweden. Since I am interested in Artificial Intelligence, the lecture of David Chalmers, an Australian philosopher and AI expert, helped me deepen my thoughts on the subject matter. Sapienza University was a perfect venue. The school is one of the oldest in the world. The institution was founded by decree from Pope Boniface VIII in 1303. It has an enrolment of 122,000 students, making it the biggest university in Europe. Sapienza conducts research in all pure and applied sciences and the humanities. It is considered as one of the top schools in the world in teaching the Classics and Ancient History. The alumni of Sapienza include ten Nobel Laureates, one Pope, Presidents of the European Parliament, Italian Supreme Court justices, and astronauts.
The aim of the WCP is to provide opportunities for philosophers, researchers, and students to meet in an arena governed by dialogue and democratic discussions. It is a venue for researchers to be able to present their ideas to critical minded individuals. The congress was also a venue where academics can visit the historical sites and academic centers in Europe. It is part of the idea of mobility where travel is encouraged. Presenters during the congress have had a unique chance to share their ideas and thoughts to the best philosophers in the world with the eternal city as backdrop. The Roman capital is majestic. It is filled with magic and history. Rome is beautiful and enchanting. Being able to visit it again after several years is surreal. I had the chance to come in 2007 during my masters at Linköping University.
The 25th WCP started with an Opening Program at the Baths of Carracala on August 1, 2024. The WCP offered many topics to choose from. The sessions that I attended were the following: Plenary on the Ethics of Living Beings, Meeting of the Schopenhauer Society, RT on the Philosophy of Technology, Plenary on Artificial Intelligence, Session on the Philosophy of Science, Plenary on the History of Philosophy: East and West meets in the Ancient World, Session on the Ethics and Environmental Sustainability, Plenary on Embodiment, RT on Wittgenstein, Session on Aesthetics and AI, RT on the Philosophies of Southeast Asia. RT on Filipino Philosophy, and Session on Political Philosophy.
Research is the heart and soul of all types of scholarship. Good researchers make good teachers. My presentation during the congress was about cultural mperialism. I presented my paper in the Political Philosophy Section on August 5, 2024, at the Jurisprudence Department Building, of Sapienza University. I discussed the concept of the Bangsamoro problem and the peace building process in Mindanao using the lens of Iris Marion Young. I define cultural imperialism as the imposition of the standards of a dominant group as the societal norm. In her essay, The Five Faces of Oppression, the political thinker Iris Marion Young explains how violence and group marginalization result to the exclusion of people. My research paper investigated how the reality of structural injustice has affected Mindanao in post-colonial Philippine society. Papers delivered during the WCP will be published in the Proceedings of the 25th World Congress of Philosophy under the Philosophy Documentation Center (US).
International events enable academics to engage with other scholars and learn from other cultures. It's through these events that I met people I was able to collaborate with, either in doing research work or inviting them here to come over and deliver a talk, primarily in Social Ethics Society events. I can mention Wataru Kusaka, Darryl Macer, Juichiro Tanabe, Layne Hartsell, John Weckert, Asuna Yoshizawa, and Daniel Mishori. We learn from each other while enjoying the fruits of friendship. In Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand, I was with either Fr. Dexter Veloso, Dr. Rogelio Bayod and Dr. Aldrin Quintero. Each event had a lasting impression as it enabled us to interact with world class scholars.
I joyfully met with and exchanged ideas with other Filipino academics. I had the pleasure to know more and share insights with Dr. Bernard Caslib Jr of UP Manila. Incidentally, I was the lone delegate from a school based in Mindanao. The event in Rome, nevertheless, allowed many Filipino academics like me to connect with each other. While the gaps are apparent when it comes to the various undertakings of the universities in Manila compared to those from other parts of the country, it is worth noting that we can all draw from each other a sense of strength and commonality in terms of our important job as educators.
- Christopher Ryan Maboloc