To Whom It May Concern

I am writing to you to draw your attention to a new international symposium we are currently planning as part of the 21st Century Center of Excellence Programat Kyoto University.

Under the motto 'Towards a Center of Excellence for the Study of the Humanities in the Age of Globalization', the main objective of our program is to pursue the fundamental question: what role can and should the humanities play in the modern-day world at the dawn of the 21st century, as globalization continues to accelerate.

This program, which was initiated in 2002, has now entered the fourth year of research activities, carried out by more than ten research groups. Exploring the frontlines of contemporary research, we have attempted to expand the scope of the humanities to the utmost. In addition, cooperation with leading scientific centers around the world has been a crucial element of our research style, reflecting our intention to pursue any scientific activity in its international context.

These research endeavors have given rise to numerous symposia and conferences, the results of which are contained in a multitude of publications. Now, looking at our results to date and the work that remains to be undertaken,we feel an acute need for all-embracing research activities. This is to say, concurrently with looking at the globalization driven by technology and capital, one should rethink the unification of cultures from the viewpoint of human sciences. There are two factors motivating this approach to the research problem. First, in order to cope with the one-dimensional, technology-driven world, we cannot confine our research to merely emphasizing the diversity of viewpoints occurring in the humanities. Our research to date has made us strongly aware that it is essential to create a new canon of essential human qualities. Another objective of vital importance to our work is to strengthen the international component of our research style and to ensure continued international cooperation after the end of the project. Such are the concerns and problems the awareness of which has motivated us to organize this symposium.

The title of the symposium is to be 'Integrating the Humanities: the Roles of Classics and Philosophy'. The reasons for bringing together philosophy and classical studies in order to attempt an integration of the humanities are as follows: the classical studies pursued in the West since their revival during the Renaissance, centered on the Greek and Roman cultures, have always cut across literature, philosophy, and history. The study of Western classics in Japan since the Meiji Period has not been different in this respect. Furthermore, this cross-disciplinary approach is a characteristic trait of the classical studies conducted at Kyoto University. At the same time, the holistic nature of philosophy leads it to enter the most varied spheres of human mental activity, such as science, religion, and the arts, and seeks the capabilities of human spirit. In other words, classical studies and philosophy, availing themselves of different methods, go across a multitude of fields, offering a perspective that enables their comprehensive understanding.

All that said, the theme of the proposed symposium, attempting to place the focus on classics and philosophy as the integrative foundation of the humanities, does not aim at creating an integrated pyramidal structuring of the human sciences. Resting on such a twofold foundation, it tries to oversee a gradual extension of various types of mental activity, ultimately providing a panoramic view of the contemporary humanities. It is our firm belief that such a comprehensive vision, independent from the technology-driven globalization, constitutes a style of thought that is needed by today's humanity.

The venue we would like to propose for this international symposium is the University of Cambridge because of its very long tradition of research in the chief areas of the humanities, such as classics and philosophy. The University of Cambridge is also famous for promoting active exchange with other fields outside the humanities, such as social and natural sciences, a trait that also characterizes the research activities conducted at Kyoto University. These similarities have already resulted in various forms of scientific cooperation between the two universities. In particular, researchers from the University of Cambridge have made great contributions to our COE program. While the University of Cambridge seems to be the most natural choice, attempting to organize a symposium at a foreign research institution is by no means a standard practice in Japan; it rather belongs to the sphere of adventurous experiments we are eager to undertake.

Please find enclosed our proposal for a one-day symposium, with parallel sessions for presentations in the fields of classics and philosophy. We realize that scientific exchange carried out within such time constraints is inevitably limited, therefore we would like to ask in advance for your understanding. At the same time, we believe that the wide scope of the proposed themes and diversity of researchers taking part in the symposium will be factors that will draw wide attention.

We greatly appreciate your interest in our proposed symposium and hope you share our enthusiasm for the project. It is our sincere hope that, as the first step in a long-term scientific cooperation, this symposium will give rise to numerous joint research initiatives in the future.

Yours faithfully,

Eisaku Kihira