Concordia and Discordia
The idea of Concordia, of political cohesion in a fractured society, is as old as political thought itself. From the Greek polis through the Christian Middle Ages to the early modern period, thinkers such as Aristotle, Nicholas of Cusa, and Jean Bodin asked how communities can hold together despite competing interests, religious division, and the pursuit of private ambition.
While the contemporary political landscape, shaped by polarization, rising nationalism, and digital echo chambers, lends these questions new urgency, we seek to revive the rich tradition of political thinking on Concordia and Discordia. Our aim is to build a bridge between the recurring questions of the history of ideas and the pressing challenges of the present: how, by whom, and under what conditions can political concord still be conceived today?
Organizers: Prof. Dr. Eva Helene Odzuck; Prof. Dr. Peter Schröder
Location: Haus der Begegnung, Hinter der Grieb 8, 93047 Regensburg
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Dimitri El Murr
Professor of Ancient Philosophy - Ecole Normale Supérieure (Paris, France)
Prof. Dr. Daniel Schwartz
Professor of Jewish History - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Jerusalem, Israel)
Dr. Gabriella Silvestrini
Associate Professor in History of Political Thought - Università del Piemonto Orientale (Vercelli, Italy)
Dr. Andrea Frizzera
Doctor of Philosophy - Instituto Italiano per gli Studi Storico (Naples, Italy)
Prof. Dr. Luca Fezzi, Padua
Professor of Roman History - Università degli Studi do Padova (Padua, Italy)
Prof. Dr. Stefano Saracino
Professor for Early Modern History - University of Graz (Graz, Austria)
Dr. Luna-Fabritius Adriana
Docent in Intellecual History - University of Helsinki (Helsinki, Finland)
Prof. Dr. Alberto Clerici
Professor of History of political thought - Università degli Studi Niccolò Cusano (Rome, Italy)
Dr. Jerónimo Rilla
Postdoctoral researcher - University College London (London, UK)
Prof. Dr. Andrea Branchi
Professor of X - American University of Rome (Rome, Italy)
Dr. Samuel Zeitlin
Lecturer in Modern Intellectual History - University College London (London, UK)
Dr. Luc Foisneau
Director of research - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Paris, France)
Travel Information
Regensburg is situated in the south-eastern part of Germany and easily accessible by train and plane.
With the Albrecht Dürer Airport in Nuremberg and the Franz Josef Strauß Airport in Munich, two of Germany’s biggest airports are only about a one hour-train ride away (the train ride from Frankfurt Airport is a little longer, approx. 3,5 hours in total.).
Regensburg train station is served by both ICE and local trains and located 1km from the conference venue.
Conference Venue
The conference will not take place on the university campus but in a beautiful old building of the 14th century called “Haus der Begegnung” which is closer to the hotels and the restaurants we plan to attend.
The address of the conference venue is: Hinter der Grieb 8, 93047 Regensburg.