International Symposium “Theories and Practices of Care”

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

The aim of the conference is to create a forum for discussion 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 contributions of the discussions on care are based on several key concepts that also serve as the main themes of the conference:

• the 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 all 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 caring attitude, both as a practice and as an ethic.
• The importance of a sensitive, non-utilitarian relational sphere built on acts of care and the knowledge of care—often subtle and spontaneous. A sphere in which everyone becomes aware that they need care and must provide care in order to live. These acts and this knowledge are intrinsically linked to a political dimension: the creation of the conditions for “living together.”

This conference aims to further explore 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 with ourselves, with others, with 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 works? How can care help us cultivate what is truly valuable in life and thereby strengthen the meaning that people ascribe to their experience of the world?
• Education: How might an education in care encourage 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 interact with 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 as a PDF
• Website
• Sign up via email

Contacts:

• Angela Biancofiore, Professor, LLACS Team, Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University – Email
• Clément Barniaudy, Associate Professor, LIRDEF Team, University of Montpellier – Email