HSE Explores Possible Worlds
On October 29th and 30th an international conference on ‘Ontology of Possible Worlds’ took place at the HSE. It was organized by the HSE Faculty of Philosophy together with the University de Caen (Normandy, France).
The collaboration of the two universities started with a visit to France by Alexei Rutkevich, Dean of the HSE Faculty of Philosophy. In April 2009 Vincent Carraud, professor of the University de Caen Faculty of Philosophy made a visit to the HSE and gave HSE students a number of lectures on the problems of subjectivity.
- We have found out that one area of mutual interest with our French colleagues leads us a very long way - beyond the actual world to possible worlds, according to Elena Dragalina-Chernaya, Deputy Head of the Department of Ontology, Logic and Theory of Knowledge, Faculty of Philosophy.- Luckily, our mutual interest in virtual traveling has found support from the HSE Centre for Fundamental Research. A laboratory was created there, led by me, and its task was to implement the ‘Ontology of Possible Worlds'project. The conference held on October 29th and 30th at the HSE, was part of this project.
For two days the participants and guests of the conference discussed 13 lectures and reports delivered by leading philosophy teachers and researchers from both universities. They had plenty of topics to discuss:today the concept of a ‘possible world'is active in many different spheres - from traditional philosophical discourse on the real and the potential to media culture and even detective fiction.
The discussions that have been held will be reflected in a paper which will be prepared on the results of the conference. But strengthening the ties between the HSE and the University de Caen is an equally important outcome of the conference.
- We have already made some specific plans as a result of the negotiation, according to Prof. Carraud;In September 2010 a group of HSE students will go to Caen. And in turn, a doctoral candidate from Caen will come to Moscow for a year-long research project. We shall also develop further relations in terms of research and teaching activities. We are now planning new conferences and colloquiums which will take place at the University de Caen and the University Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV).
Oleg Seregin, HSE News Service
Photos by Ivan Moryakov