The 3rd Annual Conference of the
Gabriel Marcel Institute of Philosophy,
Sydney, Australia
25th October, 2025
THE UNCONSCIOUS CIVILISATION
CALL FOR PAPERS
The unconscious civilisation is the title of John Ralston Saul’s best-selling book from 1995. This conference is not about the book but about the subject of civilisation and its discontents. The notion of the unconscious civilisation presupposes much, but if Jacques Lacan is right in saying that there is no meta-language, then we can only approach the matter from within, from within the human sciences, from within religious discourses, from within the novel and poetry, music, from within the dialogue, between any of these, aiming for some revelation that will help foster a sea change in culture and the better world we all hope and work for. This conference calls for insightful papers, from any discipline, that if selected will be published in the next edition of The Marcellian (the journal of the Institute).
Here is a link to reviews of John Ralston Saul’s book, from which, perhaps, to take leads for a possible paper.
Perhaps the Confucian concept of li (礼) - of an empirical regulatory sensibility at every level from the personal to the political - is something that it could be said the West lacks, while the West already holds to the Confucian concept of ren (仁) within Christian and humanist traditions.
Who can make a proposal? Seasoned academics or graduate students or freelance intellectuals, those in religious orders, etc. We are looking for new angles and critically interesting work. Proposals or queries should be sent to: mdelnevo.marcelinstitute@outlook.com.
Deadline for proposals: Saturday 23rd August 2025. It is best to email Matthew Del Nevo to lodge a proposal and get a go-ahead. This is to ensure we have a miscellany of offerings and to keep a count of possible participants, in case we have too many. So try to get a proposal or paragraph of intent in as soon as possible.
Venue: The Gabriel Marcel Institute of Philosophy Sydney (or on Zoom), 9 Florence Street Strathfield, Sydney NSW 2135 Australia.
Date of Conference: Saturday 25th October 2025
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm AEST
Cost: A$25 for those attending in person. Free for members of the Gabriel Marcel Society (USA) and to those giving papers.
RSVP: More information: email, Nathan Tartak at ntartak.marcelinstitute@outlook.com.