Workshop: Global Approaches to Enlightenment Studies

Workshop: Global Approaches to Enlightenment Studies

Organizer
Lichtenberg-Kolleg - The Göttingen Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities & Social Sciences
Venue
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Lichtenberg-Kolleg, Geismar Landstr. 11, 37083 Göttingen
Location
Göttingen
Country
Germany
From - Until
02.12.2013 - 03.12.2013
Deadline
24.11.2013
By
Dominik Hünniger

The Lichtenberg- Kolleg is the Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Göttingen. It was founded by the University to strengthen the potentials of the humanities and social sciences, to promote thematic fields and, together with internationally renowned scholars, expand and develop research foci.

The Lichtenberg-Kolleg’s research profile is built on a set of main themes, or “umbrellas”. Currently, three research foci that represent strong interests of the Göttingen faculties are taken up by the Kolleg. First, the interdisciplinary study of the Göttingen and European Enlightenment(s) within its wider Atlantic and Global Contexts will become a flagship of the Kolleg, named after one of the key figures of the Enlightenment, Lichtenberg. Göttingen is not only associated with the Enlightenment's German manifestations, but also with the Enlightenment of other European and Atlantic regions and countries. The second research umbrella named Bridges refers to its telos, namely to build bridges between the natural and human sciences. Göttingen University with its great strengths in the natural sciences and its rich traditions in the humanities and social sciences seems like an apt place for the reflection and reconstruction of the dialogue between natural and human sciences. Thirdly, Religion and Modernity will remain a strong research focus of the Kolleg. The study of religion is rich and widespread amongst the Göttingen research campus. Given that empirical research is a distinct strength in this area, the Kolleg will seek to complement current research efforts and focus on conceptual and normative issues.

Ever since the founding of the University of Goettingen in the first half of the 18th century, scholars of the University of Goettingen have indulged in the international components of Enlightenment scholarship—they corresponded, bought books, wrote reviews, built up networks, brokered, travelled and collected objects—all at European, indeed at global levels.

The workshop will enhance current discussions at the University of Goettingen about how to study the global dimensions of the Göttingen Enlightenment. It seems vital to engage much more closely with new global approaches to Enlightenment scholarship, not just in history, but also in literature, art history, the history of the book, anthropology, cultural studies and political theory.

Participation is only possible after registration. If you are interested in particpating please send an e-Mail to lichtenbergkolleg@zvw.uni-goettingen.de by 24th November 2013.

Programm

Monday, 2 December

09:30 – 09:45 Registration

09:45 – 10:00 Welcome greetings of the Lichtenberg-Kolleg

10:00 – 11:00 JONATHAN SCOTT (UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND):
History's Spatial Turn

11:00 – 11:30 break

11:30 – 12:30 IVAN GASKELL (BARD GRADUATE CENTER, NEW YORK):
The Life of Things

12:30 – 14:00 lunch

14:00 – 15:00 MICHAEL HARBSMEIER (ROSKILDE UNIVERSITET):
Visiting Europe from elsewhere. Towards a global history of
enlightening travels

15:00 – 16:00 VANESSA SMITH (UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY):
Enlightened Intimacies: Friendship, Exchange and the
Cook Voyages

16:00 – 16:30 break

16:30 – 17:30 RYAN TUCKER JONES (IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY):
Where the Enlightenment First Met the Pacific: Russians,
Germans, and the World

Tuesday, 3 December

10:00 – 11:00 THOMAS AHNERT (UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH):
William Robertson’s Global History

11:00 – 11:30 break

11:30 – 12:30 SANKAR MUTHU (UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO):
Productive Resistance in Kant’s Political Thought:
Domination, Counter-Domination, and Global Unsocial Sociability

12:30 – 14:00 lunch

14:00 – 15:00 IWAN-MICHELANGELO D’APRILE (UNIVERSITÄT POTSDAM):
Global Encounters and Enlightenment Naturalisms

15:00 – 16:00 BILL BELL (UNIVERSITY OF CARDIFF):
Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Colonial History and
Postcolonial Theory

Contact (announcement)

Dominik Hünniger

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Lichtenberg-Kolleg, Geismar Landstr. 11, 37083 Göttingen

dominik.huenniger@zvw.uni-goettingen.de

http://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/471055.html