5th Regional Symposium of Humanities and Social Sciences

Scientific Challenges: Normativity and Relativity

Call for Papers
The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split, Croatian Philosophical Society,
Split University Library, Youth Club Split, Student organization iTHEom and Imagination –
Association for Sociologists in Split invite you to take part in the 5th Regional Symposium of
Humanities and Social Sciences: Scientific Challenges: Normativity and Relativity which will
take place in Split from 11th October to 13th October 2018.

The Symposium has been organized annually since 2014, when, thanks to the initiative of
a few students and the support of the Faculty and the Croatian Philosophical Society, the first
edition took place with the topic Critical Thinking. Renowned keynote speakers and many
visiting students contributed to the initial success of the Symposium which was followed by
three more editions:

2nd Symposium: Humanism at the Age of Neoliberal Capitalism (2015)

3rd Symposium: Freedom of Identity, Identity of Freedom (2016)

4th Symposium: Ideas as Social Revolution (2017).

 This project was not meant only as a platform for students of humanities and social
sciences, but for students of other scientific disciplines, be it at undergraduate, graduate or post-
graduate levels, as well. It was conceived as an opportunity for interdisciplinary research in the
field of philosophy, sociology, psychology, pedagogy, history, natural sciences, art criticism,
religious studies, literature and many others. Our goal was to encourage interdisciplinary
collaboration between students in the region and to stress the relevance of humanities and social
sciences in today's world.

Aware of the state and position of humanities, social and natural sciences, this year we
decided on the topic Scientific Challenges: Normativity and Relativity. The postmodern
understanding of the world resulted in a plurality of opinions which is also reflected in scientific
theory and practice. Prompted by extremes such as dogmatic normativity and constant
relativism, as well as the confusion one experiences faced with a variety of opposing and/or
similar theories, our goal was to motivate students to contemplate, discuss and critically analyze
science. We categorically refuse to promote irrational tendencies to deny science and strive to
promote student’s re-evaluation of science in order to reach a more reliable and truthful
foundation that would fit the needs of modern-day society.

To better achieve this, we recommend the following themes for your presentations:

 the question of normativity in science

 the relationship between humanities and social sciences and natural sciences
 hermeneutical understanding of science
 criticism and its borders
 dichotomy of theory and practice
 scientific pluralism
 deconstruction of the foundations of science
 the relationship between ethics and science
 subjective vs. objective knowledge
 verificationism
 normative theories of education
 science and education
 the position of science within human knowledge
 the history of scientific methodology.
 All the mentioned themes are only rough guidelines and do not encompass all the
topics relevant to the symposium.

To conclude, our main goal is to advance international cooperation by bringing

together students from universities from Croatia, the region and even further away, who
will offer a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to this theme.
 Application:

Students interested in taking part in the Symposium need to fill out the following
form. The summary should be no longer than 900 characters (with spaces). The
official languages of the symposium are Croatian and English.

Send the filled form to: ffst.symposium@gmail.com

The deadline for application is 1st August 2018.

Applicants will be informed of acceptance by 10th September 2018.

Free accommodation and meals will be provided for presenters who do not live in
Split and the wider metropolitan area.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at ffst.symposium@gmail.com

Kind regards!
 Application Form:

*The deadline for application is 1st August 2018.

Name and surname

Phone number

Address

E-mail

City, Department name, Faculty

name, University name, Faculty Address

Level of study (undergraduate,

graduate, post-graduate)

Do you need accommodation? (Put

the answer in BOLD) Yes No
Language (Put the answer in BOLD) Croatian English

Presentation topic:

Summary:
(cca. 900 characters with spaces)
 The deadline for application is 1st August 2018. We kindly ask you to send all the
requested information to our e-mail: ffst.symposium@gmail.com

This project was financed by the University of Split.

Sponsored by Tourist Board of Split and City of Split