We are pleased to invite proposals for an interdisciplinary workshop on Ancient and Medieval interpretations of Aristotle's Categories hosted by the Franciscan University of Steubenville, to be held April 12-14, 2012. The keynote speaker will be Lloyd Gerson (University of Toronto).
The purpose of this workshop is bring together scholars interested in sharing their work on the ancient and medieval traditions of ontological interpretations of Aristotle's Categories. Possible classical and medieval figure may include: Plotinus, Porphyry, Iamblichus, Dexippus, Simplicius, Olympiodorus, Syrianus, Proclus, Boethius, Avicenna & Al-Farabi, Albertus Magnus, William of Ockham, John Duns Scotus, Henry of Ghent, John Buridan, Francisco Suarez, Radulphus Brito, Thomas of Erfurt, Martin of Dacia, Simon of Faversham & Peter of Auverne, Thomas a Vio, etc.
Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
How categories or other topics in the Categories are to be understood in relation to other metaphysical notions such as being, form, universals, etc., and other ontological topics;
Ways in which philosophers sought to reconcile Aristotle both with himself (viz., his other works) and with a Platonic philosophy;
Techniques or arguments for establishing the list of Aristotle's Categories;
The nature of particular categories such as quantity, quality, relation, etc;
How categories relate to the disciplines of logic, grammar and metaphysics.
Papers can pertain explicitly to commentaries on the Categories or to the use of, and reference to, the ten categories in other works. Please submit an abstract of approximately 500 words electronically by September 1st, 2011 to Paul Symington (psymington@franciscan.edu) or Sarah Klitenic Wear (swear@franciscan.edu).