Humanism Emerges at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
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In an international effort to bring together ‘humanism’ advocates from all
over the world, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina hosted a two-day international
symposium on ‘Pathways of Thought: Emerging Humanisms’.
In collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), the conference hosted notable philosophers, lecturers and
UN personnel from Brazil, France, Algeria, Mexico, the UK and Egypt.
Dr. Yehia Halim, Director of Academic & Cultural Affairs in the Bibliotheca
Alexandrina, presided over the first session. He gave a brief history of the
philosophical notion of building the Library, ancient and modern. Next, Dr.
Eduardo Portello (Brazil), Coordinator of the Pathways of Thought Committee and
former Minister of Education in Brazil, talked about the role of UNESCO in
exchanging the control of the western culture for inter-cultural dialogue. Dr.
Portello also declared the publishing of the first Arabic issue of
‘Diogenes’ in Cairo, a humanist periodical published under the auspices of
the International Council for Philosophy & Humanistic Studies with the
support of UNESCO.
Jerôme Bindé, Director of the Division of Foresight, Philosophy and Human
Sciences at UNESCO, presented humanism in light of several philosophical
concepts. Bindé addressed the concept of adapting the present instruments of
human rights to focus on the protection of women and children against the rapid
changes of modernity. He noted that the prospects of genetic engineering that
makes it possible “for one man to create another” is a challenge for the
basic tenets of humanism.
Prof.
Jack Goody, honorary professor at St. John’s College, Cambridge, talked about
humanism in light of ‘Democracy, Values and Modes of Representation’. He
pointed out that although western societies claim to apply principles of
democracy within their boundaries as much as with other countries, they fail to
do so in practice. He used examples from contemporary political events between
the West and Middle East.
Edward Al- Kharrat, Egyptian writer and novelist, discussed ‘Reflections on
Cultural Authenticity, National Identity and Emerging Humanisms’. Al-Kharrat
stressed the importance of diversity within harmonic inter-cultural exchange. more