Category: Upcoming Events

You are cordially invited to join a globe-spanning conversation on Humanisms & Renaissances across world history sponsored by the MIT Comparative Global Humanities Initiative (GHI) and Ancient and Medieval Studies (AMS).

• TIME: March 21 2025 @ 4.00 – 5.30 pm US Eastern Standard Time
• LOCATION: MIT Hayden Library, Nexus Space 145-130 and hybrid
• (Optional) REGISTER FOR ZOOM: https://mit.zoom.us/meeting/register/oiIbIifwQ2it3CI3OFOYYw

CONVERSATION TOPIC:

Humanism is a belief system or attitude that appreciates the agency of human beings in this world. Proponents of humanism believe that humans have the capacity to reach their full potential through a process of self-examination and self-awareness, without the intervention of gods or other powers. They believe in the dignity of humans and in the value of their accomplishments. Forms of humanism thus typically emerged in historical moments when people looked back to a history of collective cultural achievement in order to seek political and moral guidance and cope with the challenges of an ever more complex present.

Although the Latin-derived word humanism is typically associated with Renaissance Europe, intellectual movements that believe in the creative power and inherent ability of humans for self-realization have existed in various cultures and periods across world history. Our panel expands the inquiry strategically far beyond Europe, including “humanisms” in Byzantium, East-Central Europe, the Arabic world, and East Asia, asking:

1. What distinctive forms have humanisms and renaissances assumed across time and space—and how and why?
2. How were humanisms and renaissances variously shaped by domestic and cross-cultural developments?
3. How did socio-technological developments, such as the invention of printing, changes in religious institutions, or colonial governance, shape humanisms and renaissances?
4. How can we collectively develop new research and pedagogical programs based on a deeper understanding of the diverse manifestations of humanisms around the world?
5. What are lessons from world history’s various humanisms and renaissances for our historical moment?

LIGHT SNACKS AND DRINKS WILL BE PROVIDED

For inquiries and questions please reach out to Johann Noh at noh1214@mit.edu.

On February 21, 2025, MIT’s Global Humanities initiative (GHI) hosts its inaugural GHI Forum Series from the Cognition, Learning & Human Flourishing pillar.

The speakers Jonas Mago (McGill University), Justus Wachs (McGill University) introducs the Cognition, Learning, and Human Flourishing pillar and the Living in Complexity project, inviting participants to explore how contemplative practices foster resilience, cognitive flexibility, and meaning-making in an uncertain world.

Throughout the event, participants will engage in meditation, somatic movement, and reflective writing—experiences that illuminated how contemplative practices can foster resilience, cognitive flexibility, and meaningful engagement in uncertain times. Attendees will also explore the interconnections between their own work and the forum’s themes, sparking inspiring discussions that united the mind, heart, spirit, and body.

1. GHI Forum Series

Join our online 2025 GHI Forum Series to hear about GHI’s research and action plan for each pillar from our pillar coordinators, explore common passions and interests, and discuss how you can join our efforts and particular projects.

We convene each month on a mid-month Thursday or Friday from 10 am to 11:30 AM EST.

1st GHI Forum

• Title: Cognition, Learning & Human Flourishing
• Date: February 21, 8:00–9:30 AM EST
• Speakers: Jonas Mago, Justus Wachs

• Title: The Good Life: Religions, Philosophies & Sciences
• Date: April 11, 10:00–11:30 AM EST
• Speakers: Rafal K. Stepien, Simran Jeet Singh, Andreas Ohlemacher, Wiebke Denecke

• Title: Good Governance in Bad Times
• Date: June 6, 10:00–11:30 AM EST
• Speakers: Wiebke Denecke, Johannes Makar, Michael Puett

• Title: Public Literacies: Civic Systems, Media & Emotional Intelligence
• Date: On September (TBD), 10:00–11:30 AM EST
• Speakers: Richard Eberhardt, Gabor Hollbeck, Mikael Jakobsson

2. Roundtable

Humanisms & Renaissances across World History–a Timely & Casual Conversation

• Time: March 21, 4:00-5:30 pm
• Location: MIT Hayden Library, Nexus Space 14S-130

A Roundtable with

Laura Ashe (English Literature, Oxford University)
Jason Chen (MIT’25, Mechanical Engineering & Literature)
Wiebke Denecke (East Asian Literatures and Thought, MIT)
Johannes Makar (Arabic Thought, Harvard University)
Ugo Mondini (Byzantine and Greek Studies, Oxford University)
Václav Zheng (History of East-Central Europe, Johns Hopkins University)

3. GHI Comparative Global Dialogues

Join GHI members of our Area Expert hub, as they join GHI project leaders in comparatively exploring a particular research topic across millennia of human experience on our planet. Our Dialogues series will be kicked off in October.

4. Launch events

• Celebrate Global Humanities @ MIT for a Better World
  • With Mike Block, Grammy-Award Winning Cellist of the Silkroad Ensemble
  • Kim Jae-Hui, the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Boston
  • Chung Byungmo, Director of the School of Minhwa (Korean Folk Painting)
  • Kwak Yunmi, Minhwa Artist
    • Time: May 14 2025, 5:00-7:00 PM
    • Location: Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building @ MIT
    • Organizer: MIT Global Humanities Initiative (GHI)

• Launch of the Asian Hub of MIT’s Global Humanities Initiative at Korea University: Catalyzing Human Flourishing in Uncertain Times
  • Location: Korea University, Seoul
  • Date: April 24-25, 2025

5. Annual Conferences

• 4^th Annual Conference of the MIT Global Humanities Initiative.
  • Title: Tools for Human Flourishing: Integrating Self-enhancement, Neuroscience, and Technology
  • Location: Korea University, Seoul
  • Date: November 20-21, 2025

• 5^th Annual Conference of the MIT Global Humanities Initiative
  • Title: Philology 2.0 for Human Flourishing
  • Location: MIT
  • Date: November, 2026
  • Co-sponsor: GHI, LMU München

6. GHI @ Annual Summit of GESDA 

• GHI presents its vision for Humanities & Social Sciences 2.0 at the 2025 Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipation Summit
  • Date: 15–17 October
  • Location: CERN, Geneva, Switzerland