Periodic Reporting for period 2 - HHFDWC (The History of Human Freedom and Dignity in Western Civilization)
Período documentado: 2018-01-01 hasta 2021-07-31
The research project is an Initial Training Network (ITN) established by 6 universities and 9 non-academic partner organizations and engaging scholars from various disciplines. The ITN will trace the roots and transformations of the human values of dignity and freedom in theological and philosophical traditions, among other things with the aim of understanding modern debates and conflicts about these values.
The idea of human freedom and dignity is fundamental to the modern concept of human rights and for the welfare state model on which most European countries build their societies. However, the long history and developments of this conception of humans have never undergone a comprehensive large-scale analysis. This is what the ITN aims to do: to investigate the philosophical and theological traditions behind the modern Western conception of humans as free, valuable, and dignified beings, and how these traditions developed chronologically and geographically. The network will focus on the reception and assimilation of the theological ideas expounded by the church father Origen from the 3rd century.
The ITN has 3 scientific objectives. The 1st objective is to clarify the transmission and reception of Origen’s ideas about human freedom and dignity in the Medieval West, focusing on Augustine, John Eriugena, Gregory the Great and Bernhard of Clairvaux. The second objective investigates the early modern and modern periods focusing on the reception of Origen’s ideas in an English, Dutch, Danish and German context. The third objective is to clarify the role that ideas about human freedom and dignity play in contemporary society.
By focusing on the reception of Origen’s theological and philosophical arguments for and ideas about human dignity and freedom in later traditions, the ITN will expound the function of the transcendent and philosophical dimension in relation to human dignity and freedom. Such a project is highly relevant today since the modern Western conception of humans as free, valuable, and dignified beings is among the fundamental pillars of Western democracies and human rights – and these pillars are under pressure, both from political and religious movements and from global crises (like economy and environment) that limit the individual’s autonomy. However, when we have a historically informed and comprehensive understanding of these fundamental values and their origins and development, we can argue more authoritatively for their continued existence and value.
The idea of human freedom and dignity is fundamental to the modern concept of human rights and for the welfare state model on which most European countries build their societies. However, the long history and developments of this conception of humans have never undergone a comprehensive large-scale analysis. This is what the ITN aims to do: to investigate the philosophical and theological traditions behind the modern Western conception of humans as free, valuable, and dignified beings, and how these traditions developed chronologically and geographically. The network will focus on the reception and assimilation of the theological ideas expounded by the church father Origen from the 3rd century.
The ITN has 3 scientific objectives. The 1st objective is to clarify the transmission and reception of Origen’s ideas about human freedom and dignity in the Medieval West, focusing on Augustine, John Eriugena, Gregory the Great and Bernhard of Clairvaux. The second objective investigates the early modern and modern periods focusing on the reception of Origen’s ideas in an English, Dutch, Danish and German context. The third objective is to clarify the role that ideas about human freedom and dignity play in contemporary society.
By focusing on the reception of Origen’s theological and philosophical arguments for and ideas about human dignity and freedom in later traditions, the ITN will expound the function of the transcendent and philosophical dimension in relation to human dignity and freedom. Such a project is highly relevant today since the modern Western conception of humans as free, valuable, and dignified beings is among the fundamental pillars of Western democracies and human rights – and these pillars are under pressure, both from political and religious movements and from global crises (like economy and environment) that limit the individual’s autonomy. However, when we have a historically informed and comprehensive understanding of these fundamental values and their origins and development, we can argue more authoritatively for their continued existence and value.
In the first two years of the project, much work has been done to ensure a steady and successful progress towards achieving our goals. First, we have recruited and trained 14 engaged ESRs to do research and gain a number of scientific and transferable skills, established the ITN boards, scheduled meetings, finalized the course plans, prepared leaflets, established the project communication systems, and ensured the proper implementation of the ITN rules and regulations.
Three ESRs work to illuminate the first period of the reception of Origen. The aim of the 1st subproject is to distill which of Origen’s ideas about human freedom and related issues inspired Augustine. ESR 2 has analyzed the exegetical works by Gregory the Great, while the 3rd ESR focuses on the theological anthropology of Bernard of Clairvaux. The second objective is to study the reception of Origen’s thoughts on human freedom and dignity in the early modern and modern periods. Seven ESRs work on reaching this objective. The 1st subproject (ESR 4) focuses on the philosophical ideas of freedom and dignity developed in the Renaissance and Reformation. ESR 5 studies the reception of Origen among the Cambridge Platonists, focusing on Anne Conway. ESR 6 has conducted research on 17th-century theological and philosophical debates in Dutch Arminianism, in particular Le Clerc. ESR 7 focuses on the debate on human freedom and dignity in the German Radical Pietism. ESR 8 is working on the Origen reception in Danish and German Pietistic Devotional Literature, and ESR 9 explores how G.E. Lessing uses Origen's ideas to form his own religio-philosophic argumentation. ESR 10 has revealed there is strong evidence of links between Schelling and Origen. 4 ESRs work on the third objective - the ideas about human freedom and dignity in contemporary society. The focus of project 11 is to investigate the reception of Origenian ideas in modern Catholic theology with a particular focus on Hans Urs von Balthasar. ESR 12 works on the reception of Origen's ideas in modern Protestantism while project 13 is a sociological-anthropological study of the question of human freedom in a group of Muslims in Aarhus, Denmark. ESR 14 examines to which degree the value of individual dignity plays a role for decision-making authorities in modern organizations.
At the end of the project period all objectives of the project have been reached. Most importantly 8 out of 14 doctoral students have submitted and positively defended their doctoral dissertations. Additionally 4 doctoral students are about to submit. These dissertations represent the most important outcome of the project: For the individual doctoral student the submission of the dissertation is a major career step which opens the way for her or him into academia or into non-academic organizations employing highly qualified academics. For the scientific community and for the general public these dissertations contribute enormously to our knowledge in the field of the historical development of the ideas about human freedom and dignity which is fundamental to the existence of our societies. In addition to the doctoral dissertations and the general academic training the action has also contributed with many other publications, seminars and public outreach. Much of this is documented at the projects web-site: https://itn-humanfreedom.eu/.
Three ESRs work to illuminate the first period of the reception of Origen. The aim of the 1st subproject is to distill which of Origen’s ideas about human freedom and related issues inspired Augustine. ESR 2 has analyzed the exegetical works by Gregory the Great, while the 3rd ESR focuses on the theological anthropology of Bernard of Clairvaux. The second objective is to study the reception of Origen’s thoughts on human freedom and dignity in the early modern and modern periods. Seven ESRs work on reaching this objective. The 1st subproject (ESR 4) focuses on the philosophical ideas of freedom and dignity developed in the Renaissance and Reformation. ESR 5 studies the reception of Origen among the Cambridge Platonists, focusing on Anne Conway. ESR 6 has conducted research on 17th-century theological and philosophical debates in Dutch Arminianism, in particular Le Clerc. ESR 7 focuses on the debate on human freedom and dignity in the German Radical Pietism. ESR 8 is working on the Origen reception in Danish and German Pietistic Devotional Literature, and ESR 9 explores how G.E. Lessing uses Origen's ideas to form his own religio-philosophic argumentation. ESR 10 has revealed there is strong evidence of links between Schelling and Origen. 4 ESRs work on the third objective - the ideas about human freedom and dignity in contemporary society. The focus of project 11 is to investigate the reception of Origenian ideas in modern Catholic theology with a particular focus on Hans Urs von Balthasar. ESR 12 works on the reception of Origen's ideas in modern Protestantism while project 13 is a sociological-anthropological study of the question of human freedom in a group of Muslims in Aarhus, Denmark. ESR 14 examines to which degree the value of individual dignity plays a role for decision-making authorities in modern organizations.
At the end of the project period all objectives of the project have been reached. Most importantly 8 out of 14 doctoral students have submitted and positively defended their doctoral dissertations. Additionally 4 doctoral students are about to submit. These dissertations represent the most important outcome of the project: For the individual doctoral student the submission of the dissertation is a major career step which opens the way for her or him into academia or into non-academic organizations employing highly qualified academics. For the scientific community and for the general public these dissertations contribute enormously to our knowledge in the field of the historical development of the ideas about human freedom and dignity which is fundamental to the existence of our societies. In addition to the doctoral dissertations and the general academic training the action has also contributed with many other publications, seminars and public outreach. Much of this is documented at the projects web-site: https://itn-humanfreedom.eu/.
The ESRs have already come a long way in highlighting the percussions and discussions of Origen's ideas in all the centuries up to today. By focusing on the reception of Origen’s theological and philosophical arguments for and ideas about human dignity and freedom in later traditions, the ITN raises awareness of how ancient tenets still shape political, moral, and anthropological categories and modes of thinking as well as principles of human conduct. Thus, the work in the ITN has already contributed to a more nuanced understanding of various notions and concepts of human freedom and their consequences in different philosophical, legal, and ethical concepts and spheres.
The action has contributed with deep knowledge about how the ideas of human freedom and dignity has developed in a long historical perspective. By tracing the history of human freedom and dignity back to the theologian and philosopher Origen of Alexandria (185-254) the project has made it clear that understanding humans as free and dignified beings is not a new phenomenon established by enlightenment philosophers. Using reception history and theory the action has identified a number of focal points in the history of human freedom and dignity where it is clear that there is a reception (positive or negative) of ideas going back to Origen of Alexandria. One of the main finding in this long tradition is that freedom is not mainly considered as voluntaristic but as the freedom of humans to realize their potential as humans.
The action has contributed with deep knowledge about how the ideas of human freedom and dignity has developed in a long historical perspective. By tracing the history of human freedom and dignity back to the theologian and philosopher Origen of Alexandria (185-254) the project has made it clear that understanding humans as free and dignified beings is not a new phenomenon established by enlightenment philosophers. Using reception history and theory the action has identified a number of focal points in the history of human freedom and dignity where it is clear that there is a reception (positive or negative) of ideas going back to Origen of Alexandria. One of the main finding in this long tradition is that freedom is not mainly considered as voluntaristic but as the freedom of humans to realize their potential as humans.