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Contemporary Humanism

International PhD Program & Research Network

  • ABOUT
    • Who we are
    • The Agreement
    • Management Committee & Academic Board
    • Current Students
    • PhD Alumni
    • How to apply
    • Intranet
    • Contact us
  • EVENTS AND AGENDA
    • Annual seminars
    • Research Initiatives
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • BLOG
  • English
    • Italian
    • French
  • ABOUT
    • Who we are
    • The Agreement
    • Management Committee & Academic Board
    • Current Students
    • PhD Alumni
    • How to apply
    • Intranet
    • Contact us
  • EVENTS AND AGENDA
    • Annual seminars
    • Research Initiatives
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • BLOG
  • English
    • Italian
    • French

Who we are

We are a research network and an international and interdisciplinary double-badged PhD program, sponsored by six universities around the world under the umbrella title “Contemporary Humanism”. 

 

The program, which is accredited by the Italian Minister of University and Research as Innovative, is articulated in four curricula: 1) Philosophy and Religion, 2) Education, 3) Literature and Cultural Studies, 4) Social and Political Studies.

 

Why the category of Humanism?

 

Humanism is a polysemic category, being at once historical, cultural and axiological. Historical, in that it indicates a precise period of intellectual history: that of Italian Humanism and its immediate heirs. Cultural, in that it is valid as a generative category of an entire civilization, hence from its ethnic origin – which took place within the geographical borders of Europe – but with universal claims, as the various universal declarations of human rights have effectively testified for some centuries now. Finally, axiological, inasmuch as it indicates a horizon of meaning and a constellation of values whose foundation rests on a conception of humanity as a task – and not as a simple fact – and in a recognition of this humanity as an essential and constituent trait of every human being, quite apart from the age and civilization that produced humanism. 

 

So is the category of humanism still pertinent in the cultural sense, as a synthetic and generative category of a particular civilization, and in an axiological sense, as an ideal regulator and a valorial frame of reference? Is there anything that can be called a contemporary humanism? What are their historical forms and their variations? Are they merely intellectual forms, or rather practices and institutions that bear a humanistic matrix in their DNA, and which, precisely for this reason, foster and condition our ability to understand what humanism is? Can we do without this category? 

 

Many challenges await us. Among them all, naturally, the one arising from the power that humanity wields today: the power to transform the world and humanity itself. This power, cognitive, technical and practical, does not contain within itself instruments and criteria to regulate it. Rather it is seen as an end in itself and used for its own sake. With respect to this power, so axiologically indifferent, we need a horizon of meaning and value. Can the category of humanism still offer a direction and a guide, as happened – many decades ago now – after the catastrophe of global warfare?

The Agreement

The program is based on an agreement signed in 2017 by the Rectors of four universities: Australian Catholic University, Institut Catholique de Paris, Università LUMSA, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.  Later two more institutions joined the program – Universidade Católica Portuguesa (2020) and Université Catholique de Lyon (2022).

 

Management Committee and Academic Board

The program is led by a Management Committee (vice-Rectors and Deans of Doctoral Schools level) and an Academic Board.

The former acts as a Board of Advisors, the latter is coordinated by LUMSA University.

 

 

Management Committee

Diego Cosmelli, PUC

Peter Hanenberg, UCP

Vincent Holzer, ICP

Gennaro Iasevoli, LUMSA

Abid Khan / Philip Parker / Michelle Lopez, ACU

François Lestang, UCLy

 
Academic Board

Agrusti Gabriella, LUMSA

Bernasconi Andrés, PUC

Biancu Stefano, LUMSA (Coordinator of the Academic Board)
Bonini Francesco, LUMSA
Bourdin Bernard, ICP

Bourgatte Michael, ICP
Carneiro Sarissa, PUC

Cassidy-Welch Megan, ACU

Champion Michael, ACU

Chiuminatto Pablo, PUC

Chou Mark, ACU

Corradi Consuelo, LUMSA

Damiani Valeria, LUMSA

Duque João, UCP

Falque Emmanuel, ICP

Lestang François, UCLy

Lopes Alexandra, UCP

Marion Jean-Luc, Académie Française

Meneses Alejandra, PUC

Mills Kathy, ACU

Palazzani Laura, LUMSA

Papasogli Benedetta, LUMSA

Pesaresi Chiara, UCLy

Squarzina Anna Isabella, LUMSA
Tognon Giuseppe, LUMSA

Treviño Villarreal Ernesto, PUC

 

Former Members

Ávila Natalia, PUC

Alvarado José Tomás, PUC

Gaune Rafael,  PUC

Hillel Margot, ACU

Jorge Ana, UCP
Lasida Elena, ICP

Moog François, ICP

Ossandón Widow María Magdalena, PUC

Page Olof, PCU

Polanco Rodrigo, PUC

Rolle Claudio, PUC

Roose Joshua, ACU

Turner Bryan, ACU

Vaz Carvalho Jorge, UCP

Verdugo Fernando, PUC

Widow Lira Felipe, PUC

Current Students

 

2018-2021

Connelly William – Philosophy and Religion (ICP/ACU)

 

2020-2023

López Gonzalez Dany – Education (PUC/ACU)

 

2021-2024

Bianco Pierangelo – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/UCP)

Fioretti Francesca – Education (LUMSA/UCP)

Tassella Marco – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/UCLy)

 

2022-2025

Bauer Victoria – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/UCLy)
Benassi Cecilia  – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA)
Rudari Federico – Literature and Culture Studies (UCP/LUMSA)
Steinmann Jan Juhani – Philosophy and Religion (ICP/LUMSA)
Supiot Jérémie – Philosophy and Religion (UCLy/LUMSA)
Trottmann-Calame Gael – Philosophy and Religion (ICP/LUMSA)
Vizzani Costanza – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/PUC)
 
 
2023-2026
Giammarco Basile – Social and Political Studies (LUMSA/PUC)
Alessia Cadelo – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/UCP)
Flavia Chieffi – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/UCLy)
François Deshors – Philosophy and Religion (UCLy/LUMSA)
Enrico Di Meo – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/ICP)
Orlando Garcia – Philosophy and Religion (ICP/LUMSA)
Sarah Horton – Philosophy and Religion (ICP/ACU)
Francesco Marcelli – Social and Political Studies (LUMSA)
Matteo Mostarda – Social and Political Studies (LUMSA)
Tomaso Pignocchi – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/ICP)
Marco Valerio – Education (LUMSA/UCP)
 
2024-2027

Gianluca Michelli – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA)

Riccardo Maria Sciarra – Social and Political Studies (LUMSA)

Carlo Maria Simone – Literature and Culture Studies (UCP/LUMSA)

Giuseppe Vena – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA)

Lorenza Zucchi – Philosophy and Religion (UCLy/LUMSA)

 

PhD Alumni

 

 

Acharya Rajat  – Philosophy and Religion (ACU/ICP) +info

Anelli Alberto – Education (LUMSA/ICP) +info

Benedetti Milincovich Filippo – Literature and Social Sciences (LUMSA/ACU) +info

Boscolo Alessandra – Education (LUMSA/ACU) +info

Caccioppola Federica – Education (LUMSA/ACU) +info

Cambria Domenico – Philosophy and Religion (ICP/LUMSA)

Chironi Giacomo – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA) +info

Conti Silvia – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/ICP) +info

Culcasi Irene – Education (PUC/LUMSA) +info

Deketekaere Nikolaas  – Philosophy and Religion (ICP/ACU)

Drapało Kamila – Philosophy and Religion (ACU/LUMSA) +info

Fioretti Francesca – Education (LUMSA/UCP)

Herzog Christophe  – Literature and Social Sciences (LUMSA/UCP) +info

Rodríguez Baños Jeyver – Philosophy and Religion (PUC/ACU) +info

Schwibach Sebastian – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/UCP) +info

Simeoni Francesca – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/ICP) +info

Tassella Marco – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/UCLy)

Torchiaro Aldo – Literature and Social Sciences (LUMSA/PUC) +info

Vetuli Alessandro – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/ICP) +info

Zani Gian Vito – Philosophy and Religion (LUMSA/ICP) +info

 

How to apply

 

PhD students are selected by one of the partner universities (supporting university) according to its own regulations, and then accepted by a second university within the network (host university), where they are expected to spend at least one academic year. If successful, students get two PhD degrees, one from the supporting university, another one from the host university.

 

Links to apply 
  • Australian Catholic University 
  • Institut Catholique de Paris 
  • LUMSA – Applications are open until 8 August 2024 (4 positions available)
  • Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
  • Université Catholique de Lyon
  • Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Menu
  • ABOUT
    • Who we are
    • The Agreement
    • PhD Alumni
    • Management Committee & Academic Board
    • How to apply
    • Current Students
    • Contact us
  • EVENTS AND AGENDA
    • Annual seminars
      • 2020 Annual Seminar
      • 2019 Paris annual Seminar
      • 2018 Rome annual Seminar
    • Research Initiatives
  • PUBLICATIONS
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