Workshop: Comparative Philosophy and Modern Society

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Speaker: Hans-Grieg Moeller from University of Cork

This talk addressed issues of Comparative (and/or Contrastive) Philosophy from various perspectives, beginning with a sketch of the history of Comparative Philosophy, namely the crucial role of Comparative Philosophy in the formation of modern non-Western philosophies. Further, the distinction—and the conflict—between Comparative and Contrastive Philosophy will be discussed. Further, the talk critically assessed the adequacy of both comparative and contrastive philosophy under current conditions of globalization. It was argued that, in our times, philosophical discourse seems neither to function on the basis of universal reason (or other universal patterns) nor of cultural diversity. Instead, speaking in the terms of social theorist Niklas Luhmann, it occurs within the context of multiple systems rationalities in contemporary society.