CFP — Buddhism and Social Justice, Leiden University, April 23-25, 2014
*A Conference on Buddhism and Social Justice *
23-25 April 2014, Leiden University
* *
Moving away from a common perception of Buddhism as intrinsically a tradition of peace and justice, our project—based at Leiden University—seeks to explore the various ways in which historically Buddhist societies have shaped, transmitted, and adapted Buddhist ideas and ideals about equality, fairness, and freedom. We are further interested in how (if at all) such societies have instantiated these ideas and ideals.
The intent of the conference “Buddhism and Social Justice” is to gather scholars to discuss Classical and modern Buddhist notions of justice and their real world reflexes. We will be most centrally concerned with Buddhist visions—implicit or explicit—of ideal (just) societies and the role of human action, as these appear, for instance, in the realms of freedom and its constraints, social hierarchy and mobility, economic opportunity, and power and self-determination.
The full text of the initial proposal upon which our project was based, and other information about our research team, and the conference itself, can be consulted on the project’s website: www.buddhismandsocialjustice.com
This Call for Papers invites scholars interested in these issues from a descriptive, rather than prescriptive, point of view to come together and share their expertise, findings and questions. Papers dealing with any region within Asia and any time period are welcome.
Applicants are requested to forward to
conference@buddhismandsocialjustice.com the following information BEFORE 15 August 2013:
· A title and abstract of approximately 300 words, describing the
scope of your contribution and its sources.
· A short CV
Applications will be reviewed by 1 October 2013 and successful applicants notified immediately thereafter.
While lodging and food will be provided, we regret that we are in principle unable to offer travel funding for participants. In exceptional cases however we may be able to arrange some assistance in travel costs.
J. Silk
Instituut Kern / Universiteit Leiden
Leiden University Institute for Area Studies, LIAS Johan Huizinga Building, Room 1.37 Doelensteeg 16
2311 VL Leiden
The Netherlands
copies of my publications may be found at http://www.buddhismandsocialjustice.com/silk_publications.html
