Korea’s Prime Minister, Han Seung-soo of Korea, opened the 22nd World Congress of Philosophy in Korea on Tuesday. Over 2, 000 delegates from 102 countries are expected to attend the 8-day long conference, which is held every five years.

Although the Congress was first held in Paris in 1900, this is the first time it has been hosted in Asia.

The theme of the Congress if Rethinking Philosophy Today, and it would seem to need rethinking if such global gatherings are going to result in genuine exchange. The diverse approaches on display at the conference range from Jainism, Buddhism and Confucianism, through to Hegelian dialectics, hermeneutics and Anglo-American analytic philosophy. Although all are welcome into the philosophy family for the congress, it is not clear to what extent the delegates actually study the same subject at all.

Nevertheless, the opening speeches were something of a call to arms, with philosophy frequently being invoked as a necessary aid to solving world problems. Peter Kemp, President of FISP (The International Federation of Philosophical Societies) said that â€œwe need philosophy, we need the power of the word. This need is the deepest drive we have.â€ Of philosophers, he said they â€œmay warn humanity against hidden destructive forces or carelessness that might be disastrous.â€

I’m here in Seoul, exhibiting and reporting for tpm. I’ve posted two blogs about the Congress at the Guardian’s Comment is Free, here and here. More should follow, and I’m also hoping to post some things more directly here, but it’s busy, tiring, and hot!

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