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UNESCO Chair in Philosophy "Philosophy in the Dialogue of Cultures"
The first in the Russian Federation UNESCO Chair in Philosophy "Philosophy in the Dialogue of Cultures" was established in June 2008 at the Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS Institute of Philosophy) on the basis of the Department of Eastern Philosophies (DEPH). The UNESCO Chair working group includes DEPH staff members.
RAS Institute of Philosophy has been the central and most important Russian research center in all areas of philosophical knowledge since its foundation in 1929. DEPH has been functioning there for more than a quarter of the century. Its task is to translate into Russian and to make commentaries of the most important texts from ancient Chinese, Sanskrit, Arabic, Farsi, Japanese, Hindi, Vietnamese languages. DEPH publishes academic Series in the fundamental studies on Eastern philosophical and religious traditions, dictionaries and encyclopedias.
The UNESCO Chair also held the first Russian-Japanese symposium on "Buddhist Philosophy in Multicultural Context" (September 11–12, 2008). More that 40 scholars participated in the work of the symposium. 11 Russian and 5 Japanese philosophers, including the Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy (Tokyo), presented their papers which were published in a special issue of the Japanese "The Journal of Oriental Studies" (№ 2, 2008). The English issue of the same journal with the proceedings of the symposium was published.
Since 2023, the Annual International Conference "Asian Philosophies: History, Methodology, Intercultural Approach" is being held by DEPH. The Conference pursues two main goals: first, to uncover some basic patterns (either methodological, historical or praxiological) of Asian philosophies, religions and cultures by singling out their differences from the Western ones; second, to enhance interest of contemporary scholars of Asian studies all over the world in perennial philosophical problems.
DEPH staff teach at the Philosophy and Political Science faculties of the State Academic University of Humanities (SAUH). A course (90 hours) “Introduction to Oriental Philosophy” is taught to all 2nd year philosophy students. In specialized groups Chinese, Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit languages are studied, special courses on philosophy, religion and culture of the corresponding civilizations are read, term papers and diploma works are defended. Lectures on Eastern philosophies are regularly given at the postgraduate school of the RAS Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences and specialists are trained who successfully defend their PHD theses on the history of philosophy and political doctrines of Asian countries. Textbooks and manuals on Eastern philosophical and religious traditions are published.
The main task of the UNESCO Chair in Philosophy "Philosophy in the Dialogue of Cultures" is to carry on the research studies and the training in the field of comparative philosophy. It is imperative for an effective dialogue of cultures and civilizations, which is among the priorities of UNESCO, to define universal values and cultural essentials. The comparative studies in philosophy as well as the teaching the students in the spirit of the respect to the culture of the Other based on knowledge and understanding will promote lessening of confrontation and will be helpful in bringing mutual understanding between the peoples of different cultures in the age of globalization. |
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