SpaceTime

The SLSAeu Conference 2019 is centered on SpaceTime, a theme open to various multidisciplinary approaches from scientific, literary and artistic perspectives. The notions of space and time separately or as unique entity govern our lives throughout the history of the Universe. We thought that SpaceTime would be a suitable theme for the SLSAeu conference in Greece, the place where not only theoretical and philosophical studies on space time have appeared since the antiquity but also reliable instruments for their measurements. Since 1908 the relativistic concept of spacetime sets a new theoretical framework drawing new boundaries that are at odds with previous epistemic and semiotic differentiations. It proposes the conceptual reorganisation of space and  time as they fuse together to a four dimensional spacetime continuum. Temporality and spatiality are also key concepts for narrativity, but what do we know about the cultural

imaginations of spatiotemporality? What are the intrinsic cognitive, epistemic, cultural semiotic, pragmatic or narratological implications of re-thinking space as interwoven with time? What about the implications of central concepts of proper time, individual worldlines or the relativity of simultaneity for the narrative organisation of temporality? What about the organisation of narrative spacetime configurations, when spacetime ceases to be a stage for actors on it, but behaves itself like an actor, i.e. in general relativity theory? Furthermore we hope that space, time and spacetime will be examined in this conference also from views other than those prevailing in the western  civilization.

The SLSAeu 2019 Conference will be followed by a workshop on history of science, philosophy and literature with the theme “Travels and Travelers” which will  take place at Hermoupolis, Syros Island, 1-3 July 2019.

Streams

This conference invites participants to approach the notions of space, time and spacetime from a variety of perspectives, including but not limited to specific disciplines/fields or genres: history of Science and scientific instruments, literature, art(s), philosophy, anthropology, biology, physics, cosmology, sociology, science fiction, posthumanism etc. Selected abstracts will then be grouped into paper sessions, panels and roundtables on specific thematic streams.

Formats of presentations

Individual paper presentations (20-minute papers). Panels (120 minutes, including a moderator and participants from at least two different countries and/or disciplines). Interdisciplinary roundtables spanning science/technology, humanities or social sciences, and the arts. (60-90 minutes).

Confirmed plenary speakers

Prof. Dr. Klaus Mecke, Friendrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nuremberg

The main venue of the Conference will be the building of the National Hellenic Research Foundation, Vassileos Kosntantinou 48, 116 35 Athens, close to the centre of Athens (one metro station or 10-15 minutes walking distance from Syntagma square). Additionally the nearby historical building of the Marasleion Academy for Teachers, now belonging to the Department of Primary Education of the University of Athens may be used for parallel sessions and/or events.