40 dialogue sessions… Philosophy brings together East and West at the conclusion of the Riyadh International Conference
Concluded Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority Fifth edition of Riyadh International Philosophy Conference 2025, which was held over three days in King Fahd National Library Under the slogan “Philosophy between East and West: Concepts, Origins, and Mutual Influences,” in the presence of a wide range of elite thinkers, researchers, and those interested in philosophical affairs from inside and outside the Kingdom, in a knowledge demonstration that embodied the growing philosophical presence in the Saudi cultural scene.
The conference formed a rich intellectual space that discussed issues of contemporary philosophy and its historical roots, as the first day witnessed an intensive presentation. On the nature of philosophizing in the East and the West, and the concepts of existence, imitation, and philosophical distance and their impact on shaping meaning and the development of schools of thought, in addition to reviewing the first roots of philosophizing in ancient civilizations, Greek thought, and Eastern heritage, describing the question of “origin” as an essential key to understanding the formation of philosophical concepts throughout the ages.
In an extension of its intellectual axes, the conference addressed the relationship between philosophy, the absolute, and ethics, the transformations imposed by contemporary thought, and the need to reassemble philosophy within a unified cognitive framework that restores It has the ability to read reality and analyze its complexities.
The sessions also discussed the nature of philosophizing in both its theoretical and practical aspects, and the importance of methodological tools in producing concepts, in addition to the future of teaching philosophy in the Arab world and its pivotal role in developing critical thinking skills.
Eastern and Greek philosophies
As for the second day, it was devoted to the paths of intersection between Eastern and Greek philosophies, and the return of interest in Eastern thought since the 1970s, With a review of the impact of Ibn Sina and the Quranic dialogue as a philosophical model in constructing meaning and the logic of argument. The participants also discussed the theory of communicative action, the concepts of justice and respect in dialogue, and the impact of the Arabic language in shaping the philosophical concept and its ability to comprehend terminology and organize argumentative discourse.
On the closing day, the discussion headed towards philosophical interactions in modern times and the transformations of the contemporary philosophical scene, through sessions that dealt with geophilosophy, building cognitive bridges between cultures, the philosophy of children’s literature, and the future of beauty.
The conference hosted the international thinker Dr. John Armstrong in a session It discussed aesthetic transformations as one of the major drivers of contemporary human thought, in addition to sessions that dealt with intellectual coexistence and the common language between different philosophical schools.
Intellectual Dialogue and Critical Approaches
Over the course of its three days, the conference witnessed a series of philosophical debates in which male and female students of Saudi universities participated, during which they presented remarkable examples of intellectual dialogue and critical approaches.
It concluded with a final competition that culminated in The winning team was honored by the CEO of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority, Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, in a scene that reflects the authority’s support for young energies and their empowerment in the fields of knowledge.
The accompanying program also included a number of workshops that discussed philosophical arguments, modern cognitive challenges, and methods for drawing inspiration from philosophical heritage in building contemporary intellectual visions, which contributed to transferring philosophy from its theoretical framework to the space of practice and application.
Saudi Vision 2030
The fifth edition was distinguished by the participation of more than 60 speakers from philosophers, researchers and thinkers from various countries of the world, in addition to more than 40 specialized dialogue sessions, and the reception of more than 7,000 visitors, in an indicator that reflects the growing interest in philosophy and humanities in the Kingdom.
The conference concluded with wide praise for the scientific content and the depth of the discussions witnessed on its platforms.
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