International Symposium on “Theories and Practices of Care”

Saint Charles Campus – Conference Room 1, Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 University – 3400 Rue du Professeur Henri Serre, 34090 Montpellier.

The goal of the conference is to create a space for discussion centered on the concept of care. The ethics and philosophies of care that have emerged over the past three decades appear, in fact, to be relevant to many professional fields (including education, social work, and urban planning, among others).

The contribution of reflections on care is based on a few key concepts that also serve as the main themes of the conference:

• Recognition of the interdependent relationships that connect human beings to one another, as well as to other species and the environment. This interdependence stands in contrast to the widespread notion in our society of a fixed and separate identity. Understanding the interdependent relationships in which each of us is involved is fundamental to fostering cooperation among different sentient beings.
• The inherent vulnerability of life manifests itself in various forms and at different stages of existence (childhood, old age, illness, crises, etc.). Recognizing this vulnerability is the very foundation of a care-oriented attitude, both as a practice and as an ethic.
• The importance of a sensitive, non-utilitarian relational sphere built on gestures and knowledge of care—often subtle and spontaneous. A sphere where everyone becomes aware that they need care and must provide care in order to live. These gestures and forms of knowledge are intrinsically linked to a political dimension—to the creation of the conditions for “living together.”

This symposium thus aims to explore in greater depth the avenues opened up by the multidisciplinary studies that have highlighted these principles. The goal is to help shed light on the value—and indeed the necessity—of care in the ways we inhabit the world (our relationship to ourselves, to others, to the environment, and so on).

Four areas of study are being considered:

• Ecology of the Mind: What role can care play in an ecology of the mind grounded in an understanding of how consciousness functions? How can care help us cultivate what is valuable in life and thereby strengthen the meaning that people ascribe to their experience of the world?
• Education: How might an education focused on care lead students to take care of themselves and others? How does the concept of care challenge teaching practices and individual and collective learning processes?
• The Environment: How can the core concepts of care (interdependence, vulnerability) transform the way we perceive natural environments and act within them? What benefits might arise from integrating care theories into planning practices?
• Artistic practices (literature, art, film): How does artistic creation contribute to the emergence of an ethics of care?

More info:

• Download the program in PDF format
• Website
• Register by email

Contacts:

• Angela Biancofiore, Professor, LLACS Team, Paul-Valéry University of Montpellier – Email
• Clément Barniaudy, Associate Professor, LIRDEF Research Group, University of Montpellier – Email