IV INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON GEORGE SANTAYANA
George Santayana and Italy
Rome, October 30-31st, 2012
PROGRAM PHOTOS
SANTAYANA’S GRAVE IN ROME and PHOTOS by Richard Rubin
VIDEO: SANTAYANA IN ROME 1944
The conference is part of a broad international framework being the fourth International Congress on the figure of George Santayana, after the previous meetings held in Avila (Spain) in 1992, in Opole (Poland) in 2006 and in Valencia (Spain) in 2009.
George Santayana is widely considered among the greatest American (born in Spain) philosophers of the twentieth century, yet the fame and success that accompanied his work when he was alive, turned inexplicably into oblivion and removal after his death, especially in Italy. His relationship with the Italian cultural tradition, with Latin, Greek and Mediterranean tradition at large has been deep and intense, but what is lacking especially today is an extensive reflection going into the meaning of this relationship. This conference aims to reflect on the work and thought of this singular figure of philosopher, writer, poet and critic, who lived in Italy the last thirty years of his existence and left a significant mark on the culture of his time.
In his large work written in English Santayana reflected on various disciplines, from poetry to religion, from literature to science, art, metaphysics, ethics, politics and so on, touching on issues whose importance for the contemporary philosophical inquiry still remains to be highlighted.
The year 2012 is the sixtieth anniversary of his death in Rome and this event is an important occasion to collect in Rome the best scholars of Santayana all over the world, to think again over the many aspects of his work stimulating the critics to interpret again his thought in the light of contemporary issues.
The working languages will be English, Italian and Spanish.
The Congress is promoted and organized by IRCA at University of Rome Tor Vergata, and has an international scientific board.
Main Speakers
Herman J. Saatkamp, Jr., President Richard Stockton College (USA)
Glenn Tiller, President of Santayana Society (USA)
John Lachs, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, (USA)
David Dilworth, SUNY at Stony Brook, New York (USA)
José Beltrán Llavator, University of Valencia (Spain)
Cayetano Estébanez, University of Valladolid (Spain)
Giuseppe Patella, University of Roma Tor Vergata (Italy)
Krzysztof P. Skowroñski, University of Opole (Poland)
Michael P. Hodges, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, (USA)
Leonarda Vaiana, University of Messina (Italy)
Daniel Pinkas, University of Geneve (Swizerland)
Belén Hernández, University of Murcia (Spain)
Giovanni Dessì, University of Roma Tor Vergata (Italy)
Amparo Zacares, University of Valencia (Spain)
Martin A. Coleman, Indiana University (USA)
Vicente Cervera Salinas, University of Murcia (Spain)
Matthew C. Flamm, Rockford College (USA)
Charles Padrón, Springfield (USA)
Michael Brodrick, Santayana Edition, Indianapolis (USA)
Federico Bellini, Università Cattolica Milano (Italy)
Scientific Direction
Giuseppe Patella
Scientific Board
José Beltrán Llavator, David Dilworth, John Lachs, Herman J. Saatkamp Jr.,
Krzysztof Piotr Skowronski, Glenn Tiller, Amparo Zacares.
Coordination
Federico De Donato
Organization
IRCA – Università di Roma Tor Vergata
Cooperation
Società Geografica Italiana
Casa delle Letterature
Assessorato alle Politiche Culturali e Centro Storico di Roma Capitale
Instituto Cervantes Roma