
FUCE Summer School on
European Humanism in the Making
4-8 July 2022
FUCE
European Federation of Catholic Universities
UCSIA organizes the international Summer School on ‘European Humanism in the Making’ for the European Federation of Catholic Universities.
The programme consists of the following five modules, structured in two parts:
PART I – Historical and Cultural Roots: Implications for Europe Today
- Contribution of History to European Consciousness
- Literature, the Arts, Translation and European Identity
- The Tradition of the European Enlightenment and the Islamic Heritage
PART II – Social and Political Construction: Implications for the Future of Europe
- European Social Humanism
- Governance, Democracy and Civic Engagement
Public events
MYEurope
FUCE Summer School student panel
7 July 2022
A Propos Medea. From Global Europe to Post-Europe and Back
FUCE Summer School talk
4 July 2022
MYEurope
FUCE Summer School Webinar
8 July 2021
Waning Europeanness
FUCE Summer School Webinar
5 July 2021
Courses
Courses IV and V are inseparable from one another in their focus on the social and political dimensions of Europe, inviting a constructive reflection about the European model we want to build. It helps students to acquire a “mentality of social responsibility” within European humanism, a new kind of citizenship that can help to overcome these challenges and contribute in an active way to an advanced European humanism, becoming active agents of change.
Course I – Contribution of History to European Consciousness
The course outline starts from historical roots, over the development of European consciousness during four periods and ten symbolical events and the articulation between peace and European consciousness, to the role of institution building for European integration. It culminates in the question of how a European identity may be institutionally translated in favour of peace and shared values for a politically concerted project.
The core programme encompasses two contributions by Odile Wattel of the Catholic Institute of Paris and Sarah Durelle-Marc, Catholic University of Lille. In addition guest professor José Miguel Sardica of the Catholic University of Portugal will deliver a public lecture on Europe and totalitarianism.
Course II – Literature, the Arts, Translation and European Identity
This course starts from reading texts from national heritages through a European lens with an eye for the narrative construction of reality and identity and imagined communities. Europe is approached as an imagined construction through narration on which identity is built. It is also about the interpretation of a project of cooperation in dialogue, within a broader context beyond Europe and its critique from an outside perspective. It is about the historical experience of difference and competing narratives negotiated through mutual recognition. As such, comparison and critique, negotiation of difference and neighbourhood are essential features of European literature. Translation is key for listening to voices from elsewhere.
The core programme encompasses two contributions by Fernando Ariza Gonzalez of the University of San Pablo, Madrid and Peter Hanenberg of the Catholic University of Portugal. Peter Hanenberg will also animate the public session MyEurope, inviting some of the participants for a panel discussion on how they perceive Europe.
Course III – Religion and Science and the Challenges of Humanism in Europe
Europe has an ambivalent bond with science and this is part of its culture. The debate has evolved from pro- versus anti-science stances with science being defended as a source of shared truth against traditional forms of knowledge and science as an answer to new challenges against science as a new form of enslavement to the contemporary debate on science changing the nature of man (from what we can do to what we can become) and technology escaping man’s control. This has led to a distrust in science as a source for policy-making and the demand to democratize science.
The core programme encompasses contributions by Ali Mostfa of the Catholic University of Lyon and Paolo Monti of the University of the Sacred Heart in Rome.
Course IV – European Social Humanism
European values are being continually constituted within a particular socio-political context. What values and ideals inform the social structures of European society? What is the place of Catholic Social Teaching in European Social Humanism? This will be applied to cases on migration and cultural diversity. A return to similar cases in history will help us to understand the challenges and might offer possible solutions. We are living in in a time of social breakdown as described by Hobbes in ‘Of the Natural Condition of Mankind’ (1651) and are faced with the challenge to build a new social order. Do we need a new social contract?
The core programme encompasses contributions by Michael Shortall of Maynooth College in Dublin and Wim Weymans, Chair of European Values, Catholic University of Louvain.
Course V – Governance, Democracy and Civic Engagement: Beyond Differences
The course familiarizes students with current issues related to democratic participation and offers formation in civic engagement. A first part is devoted to the topic of democracy and civil society. There was a surge in civil society organisations after WWII, growing exponentially after 1989, but today the sector seems to be under threat. What does this imply for civic participation? Can we speak of a global civil society? Are the so-called ’European’ roots able to provide a particular answer or will they merge with other values for new cosmopolitan societies?
The second part focuses on citizenship and leadership. What citizenship and what organization culture (what kind of science) are needed to tackle emerging issues and take into account the voice of the marginalized?
It provides a pedagogical approach and tools for reflection on European social responsibility through self-learning and evaluation. The last part of the module links the values learnt in former courses to practical applications in the field of solidarity and social citizenship.
The core programme consists of contributions by Monica Dias of the of the Catholic University of Portugal, Leszek Gesiak of the Jesuit University Ignatianum of Krakow and Patricia Santos Rodriguez of the University CEU San Pablo Madrid.
Student Testimonials
Organisers
UCSIA vzw
University Centre Saint-Ignatius Antwerp
FUCE
European Federation of Catholic Universities
Contact
Barbara Segaert, Scientific Coordinator, UCSIA
T | +32 (0) 3 265 49 60