Seminars & Conferences

A two day national seminar on FUTURE GENERATION: RESPONSES AND RESPONSIBILITIES was held on 14 and 15 December, 2018 at Satya Nilayam Institute Of Philosophy And Culture, convened by the Director Dr Robin S. Seelan SJ. Research Scholars Antony Das Stalin, Yesu Anthony and Anthony Joseph were in the organizing team. About 40 scholars from various institutions from different parts of India participated in this seminar.

This seminar is one of a series of planned conferences by the institute. The main objective of the seminar was to initiate serious discussions on the responsibilities of the present generations towards the future generations. Because Future generations will bear the brunt or impact of current generations. Ethical sensitivity towards others, especially to the future generations and shouldering the responsibility towards future generations was the main motive behind this seminar.

The seminar began with a beautiful prayer song and followed by the lighting of the lamp. The gathering was welcomed by the Inaugural address was by Rev. Dr. George Pattery, S.J. He focused on ‘Our response to the future lies in our engagement with the present because the future- unfinished universe- is in the present. Unfinished universe – becoming universe- throws light into the present’.

The keynote address was given by Dr. S. Venkataraman. He focused on the Present picture for the future generations… The pathetic life situations of migrants in Syria and the Refugee centers in Lebanon, Dadaab, Tuvalu, etc. There is a continuous movement to this group of people. Is there hope for these people?

We had an important event of signing the MOU by Dr. Robin Seelan, S.J, the Director of SNRI in the presence of Dr Albert Muthumalai, SJ, Rector of Satya Nilayam and Dr Raj Irudaya, SJ, South Asian Assistancy Delegate for Formation. On behalf of the institute, he signed an MoU with Hong Kong University on Academic Cooperation.

The first session was on ‘The Mother Nature and the Future Generations Breath within us’
by Dr Kishore Elphinston. His views on ecology and the responsibility of individual towards ecology were relevant for the topic. Are we responsible for the future generations? Only those who have consciousness can have respect toward nature. His presentation continued on the views on Human responsibility- self- Responsibility- our perception, Inter-connectedness, interdependence, etc.

The second session was on ‘Life style choices and sustainable Futures: Need for an Ethically Engaged Environment Education’ by Dr Lazar Sawrimuthu SJ. He shared on Emission of Co2, Solutions or Illusions-Progress in Science and Technology will solve all the problem- free market – public awareness will lead for behavioural change. Climate change… Sustainable development, Human evolution, Integral ecology, Individual change- Ethical consciousness were key point of his presentation.

The third session was on ‘Marginalised Manual Scavengers: Realities and Required Resopnses’ by Dr Hilaria Soundari. She gave factual details about manual Scavenging- caste based occupation. Their Unpleasant Realities, Health issues, Fatal end and deaths, Future safety measures and Budget allocation were main points of discussion.
The fourth session was on ‘Rethinking Religious Dictates and Social Norms- is there a Need?’ by Dr Radha Raghunathan. She heaved out three important current issues of Women entering temples or sanctum sanctorum of temples, LGBTQ+ choice to sexual partnerships, Adultery no more a crime. There was analytical study on the issues on the basis of Scriptures & Advaita Vedantic Views, and also Arvind Sharma’s Views.

The fifth session was ‘Revisiting Virtue Ethics’ by Dr Kabita Das. She explained the views of Merchantville’s response on Ethics. She also dealt on various other aspects of virtue ethics Generations bound by chain of practice, learning to live in peace in future, past, present and future- are the members of the moral community, focus on teleos and eudemonia, Utilitarianism and Kantianism, actuality to potentiality.

The first day seminar was ended with delicious seminar dinner.

We had another 5 papers on the second day, and it began with a recap by Sch. Richard Pinto SJ, one of the five student representatives from the Dept of Philosophy, Loyola College. In all, nine papers on various themes were presented and each paper was responded critically. In all the nine sessions, quality time was allotted for discussions and clarifications. All the topics presented in the seminar were enlightening and threw lights on our responsibilities towards the future generations. The two-day seminar came to an end with evaluation and vote of thanks delivered by Dr.Robin S.Seelan SJ. And the seminar came to an end with the singing of the National Anthem.