International Symposium - Divine and Human in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy

Date: 28-30 November 2025│Friday to Sunday
Venue: Conference Room, G/F Theology Building, Divinity School of Chung Chi College, CUHK (map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/M3CB5RWmyL2C8vZC7)

Symposium details: https://www.theology.cuhk.edu.hk/event/divinesymposium2025

The symposium will be conducted in English.
Enquiries: centre-cs@cuhk.edu.hk or 39438155 (Tel/WhatsApp)

Organizer:
Colten Cheuk-Yin YAM (Assistant Professor, Chinese University of Hong Kong; Director, Centre for Christian Studies, CUHK)
Co-organizers:
Tomohiko KONDO (Professor, Keio University, Japan);
Teng HE (Associate Professor, Fudan University)

Keynote Lecture
28 November 2025 (Fri)│1730-1900

Is Human Freedom conditioned by the Mind, the Personality or God?
A Philonic PerspectivePhilosophy
Prof. Maren R. Niehoff
Professor and Max Cooper Chair, Department of Jewish Thought, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Abstract
This lecture explores the philosophical conditions of human freedom, understood as an inner state not necessarily determined by society. Various impediments to human freedom were discussed in antiquity, foremost pleasure and divine providence, both associated with Stoic philosophy. Philo of Alexandria plays a special role in the ancient debates because his treatise Every Good Man is Free is the earliest, fully-preserved treatment of the topic, which resonates with Cicero, Paul the Apostle, Seneca and Epictetus. A factor that has so far been overlooked, but will be highlighted in the lecture, is the human personality as seen by Cynic philosophy. The Cynics developed a notion of personality that moves away from control of pleasure and focuses on individual creativity and resistance to social conventions.
29 November 2025 (Sat)
09:00 – 12:30 Session I: Plato and Platonists
14:30 – 18:00 Session II: Stoicism and the (Early) Church Father

30 November 2025 (Sun)
09:00 – 12:30 Session III: Medieval Philosophy (and Thomas Aquinas)
14:00 – 17:00 Session IV: Mysticism
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本人將出席下列活動 I will attend the following session(s): 28/10 - 17:30 – 19:00 Keynote Lecture 29/10 - 09:00 – 12:30 Session I: Plato and Platonists 29/10 - 14:30 – 18:00 Session II: Stoicism and the (Early) Church Father 30/10 - 09:00 – 12:30 Session III: Medieval Philosophy (and Thomas Aquinas) 30/10 - 14:00 – 17:00 Session IV: Mysticism
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International Symposium - Divine and Human in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy

29 November 2025 (Sat) 09:00 – 12:30 Session I: Plato and Platonists 14:30 – 18:00 Session II: Stoicism and the (Early) Church Father 30 November 2025 (Sun) 09:00 – 12:30 Session III: Medieval Philosophy (and Thomas Aquinas) 14:00 – 17:00 Session IV: Mysticism

個人資料 Personal Information

29 November 2025 (Sat)
09:00 – 12:30 Session I: Plato and Platonists
14:30 – 18:00 Session II: Stoicism and the (Early) Church Father

30 November 2025 (Sun)
09:00 – 12:30 Session III: Medieval Philosophy (and Thomas Aquinas)
14:00 – 17:00 Session IV: Mysticism