From John Finamore, via the ISNS mailing list:

PROMETHEUS TRUST TENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

TO BE HELD ON 10-12 JULY 2015 AT AT

PURLEY CHASE CENTRE, MANCETTER, WARWICKSHIRE, CV9 2RQ, UK

“Immortality”

Reporting Diotima’s teaching in the Symposium, Socrates says that she discoursed upon the philosopher-initiate’s attainment of supreme beauty through embracing that which is true and real, and that she concluded by claiming of him that, “begetting true virtue, and bringing her up till she is grown mature, he would become a favourite of the Gods; and at length would be, if any man ever be, himself one of the immortals.” As so often when Plato writes about the highest goals of human life, here he had left room for succeeding generations of philosophers to consider for themselves whether or not we are immortal, what kind of immortality we may possess in potential, and how that might be actualized.

This conference, coming almost two and a half thousand years after the dialogue with its great claim was written, invites papers from those who have explored others’ thoughtful responses to it, and, above all, their own reflections upon it. We especially value a mix of participants and presenters – academic and non-academic, specialist and non-specialist – and encourage all those who are following the ways of philosophy to contribute.

The keynote speech will be given by Dr Donka D Markuson “Immortality through selfless divine immortal love”

On the Saturday night, our annual Thomas Taylor lecture will be given by Professor John M. Dillon on “Our goal is not to become good men – our goal is to become gods!”

Abstracts should be no more than 300 words and should be with us at the latest by Saturday, 28 March 2015. Acceptance of these will be confirmed as quickly as possible after this date.

Papers should be around 2500-3000 words or 20 minutes’ presentation (we usually allow a further 15-20 minutes for a question and answer session after each presentation).

Bookings should be received by us not later than Friday, 10 April 2015

Further details can be found on our Conference page at

www.prometheustrust.co.uk