A University of Winnipeg instructor has returned reinvigorated from a massive international academic conference in one of the world’s most historic cities.
Dr. Karen Zoppa, a UWinnipeg instructor in Religion and Culture and Philosophy, and a Collegiate instructor in English, represented UWinnipeg at the 25th World Congress of Philosophy in Rome, Italy August 1-8.
To feel that welcomed by an entire city for an event like this is very exciting.
Dr. Karen Zoppa
The Congress, which convenes every five years, is presented by the International Federation of Philosophical Societies, which invites affiliated academic groups from around the world.
“Over 4,000 philosophers attended, and over 60 philosophical societies had sessions or roundtables,” Dr. Zoppa said. “It blew my mind.”
She received an invitation as a member of the steering committee of the International Simone de Beauvoir Society, which is devoted to studying the thought and writings of its namesake polymath (1908-1986), who was best known for authoring The Second Sex, a foundational text of contemporary feminism.
In keeping with the conference theme of “philosophy across boundaries,” Dr. Zoppa delivered a paper examining contemporary decolonization discourse through the lens of Beauvoir’s philosophy. She is submitting the paper for publication in the Society’s journal, Simone de Beauvoir Studies.
Dr. Zoppa said attending such a large conference “breaks down barriers” for scholars.
“You sometimes feel like you live in a kind of silo in any academic discipline—particularly in philosophy—but what I discovered there were wonderful tangents between us,” she said. “All over the world, we’re all concerned with the same political things, the same environmental things.”
Other highlights included a nighttime philosophy walk at the Colosseum and a memorable opening ceremony—attended by 2,000 people, including the Mayor of Rome—at the Baths of Caracalla historic site, complete with an opera performance.
Dr. Zoppa and her Society colleagues, who hailed from Finland, Ireland, and the United States, felt embraced by their host city.
“There’s just this welcome attitude towards intellectual endeavor,” she explained. “Romans still believe in philosophy. Public intellectuals are still somebody there. You can even talk to cab drivers about philosophy. To feel that welcomed by an entire city for an event like this is very exciting.”
About Dr. Karen Zoppa
Dr. Karen Zoppa teaches literature, history, and English at UWinnipeg Collegiate, as well as courses in UWinnipeg’s Department of Philosophy and Department of Religion and Culture.
She is a graduate of UWinnipeg and the University of Manitoba. Her research focuses on critical theory of religion, mysticism, and the religious discourses of Simone de Beauvoir, Michel de Certeau, and Jacques Derrida. She is the author of, Playing the Scene of Religion: Beauvoir and Faith.
Dr. Zoppa has also served in governance roles with the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association and the UWinnipeg Trusteed Pension Plan Board.
The World Congress of Philosophy logo is projected on the Baths of Caracalla historic site during the opening ceremonies.
