Charles Darwin and Evolution

The International Interdisciplinary Seminars

Cultural attitudes and people’s general way of life are increasingly affected by the ever progressing level of scientific achievement. The increasing use of computers, lasers, magnetic resonance equipment, genetics, superconducting materials etc., shows our continuous learning more about how the world works. These technological advances confirm the validity of the scientific theories they are based on, and their value to society. In recent years the pace of change has been heightened as industry, medicine and financial services have developed closer links with the world of scientific research.
Nevertheless, the task of relating recent results in sciences to basic issues of human existence has yet to be tackled. Many universities today promote two important attitudes: interest in observation and logical rigour in argumentation. However, these approaches are often not used when basic questions have to be analysed. At the present time, scientific work and professional activities progress largely independently from questions as God’s existence, the spirituality of the human soul, the eternal destiny of man, the beginning of death of the human person, the right to existence of the future generations, the meaning of happiness, the concepts of wealth and prosperity, the right to development, the concept of freedom and free will in a deterministic world, and so on.

This problem has not gone unnoticed. A body of professors, researchers and students is now growing and promoting philosophical reflection on the recent advances in science. They have constituted the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, carrying out a programme of research and teaching in co-operation with local foundations and institutions in different European countries.

As part of this programme, the International Interdisciplinary Seminars have taken place in Ponte di Legno (Italy) each other year in the days around New Year; the Seminars were then hosted in London (2007, 2008) and Madrid (2009). Previous seminars have been attended by more than 500 professors, researchers, and students from most of European countries.

Some quotes and useful documents.

Theory of evolution

DISF - Interdisciplinary dictionary

Quantum Philosophy

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