Periodic Reporting for period 2 - KANTINSA (Kant in South America)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2020-01-01 al 2023-08-31
A consortium of 4 EU Universities and 4 Southern American (SA) academic institutions analyzed critically the development of Kant scholarship in Southern America in the last 15 years, following the booming of Kant studies in that continent and the exponential increase of their quality. Established SA Kant scholars were enrolled in the project. They have significantly enlarged the competence of EU colleagues and, in turn, profit from their feedback. Early-stage researchers from both ends also took part in the exchange. The consortium was built on a web of pre-existing relations of most participants at the personal and institutional levels.
The project was important for society for at least two main reasons:
1) participants have deepened their knowledge of Kant's philosophy through mutual exchange of ideas and experiences. This enhanced our understanding of key issues in epistemology, moral theory, and political theory. Given the complexities of our societies, a better grasp of a great philosopher's take on these issues has a positive impact on societal problems ranging from the place that science and philosophy should have in advanced democracies, the way in which certain moral dilemmas are debated by public opinion, and the assessment of our liberal democratic societies, in terms of achievements and unmet challenges.
2) the creation of a large network of research between the EU and South America directly improved the competitiveness of EU research in our field. Moreover, indirectly, the same network made the first moves towards establishing permanent institutional collaboration that affords opportunities for training and education whose benefits extend well beyond the circle of participants.
The project successfully pursued the following three main objectives:
a) Making the results of Southern American Kantian research better known among the participants of the projects and available to a wider academic public in European institutions.
b) Strengthening the already existent but not fully developed cooperation among Southern American and European Kant scholars, which was limited to personal contacts with rare institutional ties at the time of the project's beginning.
c) Producing new original research (in the forms of publishable papers and monographs), facilitated by secondments and prepared by teams of staff members grouped according to their subarea of specialization within Kant studies (theoretical, moral, and political).
The project was important for society for at least two main reasons:
1) participants have deepened their knowledge of Kant's philosophy through mutual exchange of ideas and experiences. This enhanced our understanding of key issues in epistemology, moral theory, and political theory. Given the complexities of our societies, a better grasp of a great philosopher's take on these issues has a positive impact on societal problems ranging from the place that science and philosophy should have in advanced democracies, the way in which certain moral dilemmas are debated by public opinion, and the assessment of our liberal democratic societies, in terms of achievements and unmet challenges.
2) the creation of a large network of research between the EU and South America directly improved the competitiveness of EU research in our field. Moreover, indirectly, the same network made the first moves towards establishing permanent institutional collaboration that affords opportunities for training and education whose benefits extend well beyond the circle of participants.
The project successfully pursued the following three main objectives:
a) Making the results of Southern American Kantian research better known among the participants of the projects and available to a wider academic public in European institutions.
b) Strengthening the already existent but not fully developed cooperation among Southern American and European Kant scholars, which was limited to personal contacts with rare institutional ties at the time of the project's beginning.
c) Producing new original research (in the forms of publishable papers and monographs), facilitated by secondments and prepared by teams of staff members grouped according to their subarea of specialization within Kant studies (theoretical, moral, and political).
The work carried out has achieved most of the planned objectives of the project, with minor deviations. Most of the secondments planned have been implemented, which led to seminars, talks, workshops, and lectures by seconded researchers. The number of participants in the secondments is 46, with an optimal gender balance of 21 women and 25 men. Significant scientific results have been reached, as witnessed by a large number of publications for a total of 55 products, including 6 books, several book chapters, and 36 peer-reviewed papers. Some of these publications appeared in top international publishers and top journals. These results have been discussed during the project through three international conferences held in Catania, Lisbon, and Ferrara in collaboration with the Multilateral Kant Colloquium. These conferences resulted in a large dissemination and communication event because they gathered hundreds of Kant scholars from all over the world, plus a significant participation of non-academic audience. Finally, the project's activities have been widely disseminated on the institutional websites of SA and EU universities as well as on the project's own website, social media, and local newspapers.
From a strictly scientific point of view, the project advanced the state of the art by reshaping our understanding of the problem of knowledge, as well as some general and specific issues in moral and political theory. For example, a rather unexpected understanding of democracy and redistribution was advanced by some of the project’s main publications. Old and new moral dilemmas such as the trolley problem were reconsidered. The importance of transcendental idealism for the future of epistemology was also carefully scrutinized.
From a more practical perspective, the impact was mainly related to the improvements of the career prospects of participants through the acquisition of new and original scientific knowledge, enabled by the exchange, and more in general through the acquisition of an experience of research abroad. A third of the project participants were young scholars with a limited record of research abroad. Participation in the project represented an excellent opportunity to increase their chances of reaching a permanent academic position. Also, the impact on improving career perspectives for experienced researchers has been significant. They came back to Europe or South America with new findings and ideas that led to a considerable number of scientific outputs, mainly publications. Finally, the project had a significant impact on attracting a large audience interested in Kantian philosophy. More in general, and more obviously, the societal impact can be measured in terms of a massive increase in interaction and durable collaboration between EU and SA institutions. Society can also benefit from the scientific results achieved by the project concerning democracy, science, inequality, human rights, and climate change.
From a more practical perspective, the impact was mainly related to the improvements of the career prospects of participants through the acquisition of new and original scientific knowledge, enabled by the exchange, and more in general through the acquisition of an experience of research abroad. A third of the project participants were young scholars with a limited record of research abroad. Participation in the project represented an excellent opportunity to increase their chances of reaching a permanent academic position. Also, the impact on improving career perspectives for experienced researchers has been significant. They came back to Europe or South America with new findings and ideas that led to a considerable number of scientific outputs, mainly publications. Finally, the project had a significant impact on attracting a large audience interested in Kantian philosophy. More in general, and more obviously, the societal impact can be measured in terms of a massive increase in interaction and durable collaboration between EU and SA institutions. Society can also benefit from the scientific results achieved by the project concerning democracy, science, inequality, human rights, and climate change.