Call for Papers
LUTHERANISM & THE CLASSICS V: Arguing with the Philosophers
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana
September 27-28, 2018
WHAT: The Wittenberg Reformation held the classical languages in high esteem and fostered the study of ancient Greek and Latin literature, including philosophy. While Martin Luther distrusted meretricious reason if it supplanted faith, nonetheless he and other reformers regarded Plato and Aristotle highly. Luther himself was a gifted logician and loved disputation. Dialectic was an important component of the traditional Trivium and Melanchthon wrote influential textbooks on the subject. The conference organizers seek individual papers (or panels with at least three participants) on such topics as follow:
- Reformation-era Perspectives on Ancient Latin/Greek Philosophers
- Early Christian Philosophers (Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen, etc.)
- Cicero: Stoicism, Epicureanism, the Middle Way
- 500th anniversary of Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation
- Luther’s Supposed Hatred of Philosophy: Real or Imagined?
- The Relationship between Rhetoric and Dialectic
- The Logic of the Liturgy
- Does Philosophy Contribute to Lutheran Hymnody?
- How Might Christian Children Learn Logic?
Our subject is broadly conceived and considerable latitude will be given to cogent abstracts. Proposals should exemplify philological excellence, contribute to the conference theme however broadly and avoid overspecialization. Individual presenters should plan for their papers to be 18 minutes in length. Selected papers from this conference may be published.
WHO: Keynote addresses by Dr. Roland Ziegler, Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne; Dr. Angus Menuge, Concordia University Wisconsin; Dr. Sarah Byers, Boston College; and E. Christian Kopff, University of Colorado.
WHEN: Abstracts of no more than 250 words should be submitted by electronic attachment to Carl P.E. Springer, professor, SunTrust Chair of Excellence in the Humanities, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, at springercarl@ymail.com by November 1, 2017.