Seoul National University

Dinner Remarks
President Jang-Moo Lee
XXII World Congress of Philosophy
Seoul National University
July 30, 2008

Dear President Peter Kemp of the FISP, Chairman Myung-Hyun Lee of the Korean Organizing Committee, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen, Good evening.

It is a great pleasure and honor for me to welcome everyone tonight here on our campus. I am indeed very happy and excited to join you on this lovely summer day. The 22nd World Congress of Philosophy has brought us together from all parts of the world. It is an invaluable chance for philosophers to start conversations between the Eastern and the Western perspectives and to rethink philosophy in an integrated global context. Indeed, it may very well be a stepping-stone toward a global philosophical community. The Congress also sets the scene for everyone to gain insight for resolving complicated problems in his or her own field. I would like to remind you that we in other disciplines look to philosophy as a precious source of indispensable wisdom. On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students at my university, I pledge to provide full support to make the Congress a success.

Tonight is a rare opportunity for philosophers from diverse cultural backgrounds to meet with one another face to face and to hold discussions, philosophical and otherwise. I believe that a dialogue has many layers. On the one hand, a dialogue without intellectual reflection can deteriorate into conspiracy. On the other hand, a dialogue without personal understanding can end up as an empty cross talk. A dialogue with mutual understanding accompanied by intellectual respects is what we should aim at. I strongly hope that today?s reception will serve as an occasion for further developing intellectual relationships into friendships. I hope, too, that it will be full of meaningful communication accompanied by joy, laughter, and festivity. I am eager to see that philosophers here tonight are not just good at philosophy but also good at understanding one another on diverse levels. Again, I would like to express my warmest gratitude to our distinguished guests and all of you who have gathered here from around the world.

Please enjoy the dinner! Thank you.