East meets West in UST’s international philosophy conference

Cover of Souvenir Program by Robbie Villegas

MANILA, Philippines—The University of Santo Tomas is bridging the wisdom between East and West through what is probably the biggest gathering of philosophy scholars in Asia in the international conference “Thomism and Asian Cultures: Celebrating 400 Years of Dialogue Across Civilizations,” which runs May 23-26.

The international conference is being held as part of the quadricentennial celebration of UST as Asia’s oldest university.

In attendance will be the officers and members of leading international philosophical societies: Académie du Midi, Asian Association of Christian Philosophers, Conférence Mondiale des Institutions Universitaires Catholiques de Philosophie (Comiucap) and World Union of Catholic Philosophical Societies.

Theology is 'guardian' of thought: UST co-hosts World Congress in Philosophy

MANY a time has there been a debate on the relation of philosophy and theology, but only now has the concept “guardian of philosophy” arose, as one of the world’s best-known living French thinkers proposed it in the third World Congress on Philosophy held last Sept. 11 to 13.

“We can discuss if philosophy has ever played the role of a servant of theology, but it does not seem absurd to suggest that theology plays the role of the ‘guardian’ of philosophy in order that philosophy may remain at the peak of its destiny (which is toward truth),” Jean-Luc Marion, one of the leading Catholic thinkers of the modern times, said as he closed in his inaugural lecture, “On the Foundation of the Distinction Between Theology and Philosophy,” for the Conférence Mondiale des Institutions Universitaires Catholiques de Philosophie (COMIUCAP) at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Thomas Aquinas thrives in UST

UST patron St. Thomas Aquinas plays the major role in the University’s aim to be the Center of Contextualized Theology in Asia.

According to Joel Sagut, assistant to the director of the John Paul II (JPII) Center for Ecclesiastical Sciences, Aquinas is an authority in religious studies even in “local theology,” which deals with how God is seen in Filipino culture.