*Motivation and Causality*
*Keynote & Master: Prof. John Ma (Columbia University)*
We cordially invite scholars to submit a proposal for the seventh CRASIS
Annual Meeting (postdoctoral researchers and senior scholars) and PhD/ReMa
Master Class (research master students and PhD’s), to be held on *22-23
February 2018*, at the University of Groningen.
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Discourses of motivation and causality are so basic to the study of the
ancient world (Graeco-Roman, Mediterranean, Near Eastern) that they are
hardly (if ever) addressed explicitly. Yet if we start thinking about
motivation and causality in relation to the ancient world and attempt to
determine what the meaning and impact of these concepts are it is difficult
to formulate a clear answer. Therefore, the seventh CRASIS Annual
Meeting/Master Class aims to explore these fundamental concepts both within
the ancient world itself as well as in contemporary approaches to the
ancient world.
The study of motivation and causality in the ancient world is pursued in
many forms, from the study of individuals and their motivations to
large-scale social, economic, political, and institutional processes. Why
did ancient individuals and groups of people do what they did? How did they
motivate important decisions, and how did they explain the causality behind
such decisions? What were the driving forces (e.g. military, economic,
religious, philosophical) that led to the making of certain decisions both
in relation to groups and individuals, and how do we isolate and study
these forces? Was agency located at the individual or at the communal and
institutional level? Where and when can we find important shifts in how
ancient people approached decision-making in terms of expediency, egoism,
practicality, profit, tradition, culture, or honor?
A fundamental question is how scholarly models of explanation relate to the
explanatory models that were used in antiquity. Which shifts can we detect
in the study of the ancient worlds in the past few decades? How can we
explain these shifts, and how does this influence our research results?
What role, if any, should categories and discourses as found in ancient
literary, epigraphic, and material sources play in our analysis, over
against our own questions, categories, and models? Should scholars studying
the ancient world worry about anachronism?
We welcome papers exploring ‘motivation and causality’ from literary,
historical, philosophical, art-historical, and archaeological
perspectives. Possible
topics include, but are not limited to:
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Forces of motivation and causality. The role of religious and cultural
values in governing behavior in Graeco-Roman, Mediterranean and Near
Eastern societies as opposed to factors of expediency, egoism, practicality
and profit.
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Questions about individuality and the location of agency. Individual vs.
corporate decision-making. To what extent could people think of themselves
as individuals or groups? How and why did individuals or groups assert
themselves in public discourse?
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Explanation and justification of events *ex post facto*, e.g. through
military, political or economic factors, divine providence, or fortune and
fate.
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Bodies of evidence (literary, epigraphic, archaeological).
Methodological problems vis-à-vis the handling of bodies of evidence in
relation to studying questions of motivation and causality.
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Modern vs. ancient. Factors causing scholars to ask questions about
antiquity. The rationale behind meta-trends in contemporary scholarship.
The question of anachronism and contemporary models of explanation for
studying antiquity.
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CRASIS is the interdisciplinary research institute for the study of
culture, religion and society in the ancient world at the University of
Groningen. This year’s event is already its seventh Master Class and Annual
Meeting. CRASIS is set up as a meeting place for students at PhD or
Research Master level, post-docs, and established scholars to promote
discussion and exchange of ideas beyond disciplinary boundaries.
*Keynote Speaker and Master*
This year’s Master and Keynote Speaker is John Ma, Professor of Classics at
Columbia University. His expertise spans a broad range of topics relating
to the handling of epigraphic and archaeological evidence, and the study of
the legal, social and economic history of the ancient Greek world including
the Near East. One of his most influential publications is his
monograph *Statues
and Cities: Honorific Portraits and Civic Identity in the Hellenistic
World* (2013;
rev. ed. 2015).
*Submission of abstracts*
-
PhD and Research Master Students are invited to submit a title and
abstract (500 words) for the Master Class (February 22nd 2018), which
explains how their own research relates to the theme.
-
We invite post-docs and established scholars to submit a title and short
abstract (250 words) for a lecture of 35 minutes on the conference day
(February 23rd 2018).
-
Please accompany your application for either part of the event with a
brief (~75 words) academic background and deliver both parts in a single
Word document to facilitate processing.
-
Proposals should be submitted *no later than 15 November 2017 *to Eelco
Glas, via crasis.aws@xxxxxx.
Please note that at this point, CRASIS unfortunately is unable to offer
compensation for travel and accommodation costs of the presenters.
*Further information for PhD/ReMa students*
Research Master Students are expected to submit a paper of 3000-4000 words
and PhD students a paper of 5000-6000 words. These papers will circulate
among the participants of the Master Class and are to be submitted before 1
February 2018. During the Master Class participants will briefly present
their paper, followed by a response and discussion under the expert
guidance of Professor John Ma. Student participation will be graded, and is
eligible for the award of 2 ECTS from your institution or research school.
For more information, send an email to crasis.aws@xxxxxx or visit
www.rug.nl/crasis.
On behalf of CRASIS,
Lidewijde de Jong
Onno van Nijf
Steve Mason
Bettina Reitz-Joosse
Eelco Glas
--
Eelco Glas
PhD candidate in Theology and Religious Studies
on behalf of the CRASIS team
University of Groningen
CRASIS is the Groningen institute for Interdisciplinary Studies in Culture,
Religion and Society of the Ancient World. Follow CRASIS on Facebook
<https://www.facebook.com/rug.crasis> or find out more about us on
www.rug.nl/crasis.
