The conference Attention in Medieval and Postmedieval Scholasticism, will take place on September 18–19, 2025, at the Faculty of Theology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. Over two days, leading scholars will present the latest research on the notion of attention in medieval and postmedieval scholastic thought, exploring philosophical, epistemological, spiritual, and moral dimensions. The program features keynote lectures, panel discussions, and opportunities for personal engagement. We look forward to your participation in this inspiring academic event, supported by the Czech Science Foundation.

For registration for in-person or online participation, send an email to the address: keatlj00@tf.jcu.cz

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Programme

September 18, Thursday 9.45

Conference Opening

Adam Mackerle (Vice-Dean of Faculty of Theology, USB), Daniel Heider (Head of Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, USB) Moderator: Daniel Heider

• 10.00–11.00 Keynote Address: What is Wrong with Distraction? (Sebastian Watzl, University of Oslo)
• 11.00-11.30 Coffee Break

Medieval Philosophy

• 11.30–12.30 Tuned to Disruption: John Pecham’s Metaphysics and Epistemology of Perceptual Attentiveness (Elena Băltuță, Tel-Hai College, Israel)
• 12.30–14:30 Lunch
• Moderator: Martin Borovjak – 14.30–15.30 Keynote Address: Even Angels Must Pay Attention: Some Elements of Medieval Angelological Debate on a Spiritual Attitude (Tiziana Suarez-Nani, University of Fribourg, Switzerland)
• 15.30–16.00 Coffee Break
• Moderator: Irena Attlová – 16.00–17.00 Primum Cognitum and Cognitive Attention. William Farinier on the Primacy of the Concept of Being (Giacomo Fornasieri, The Catholic University of America)
• 17.00–18.00 Simplifying or Complicating the Picture? Two Diverse Jesuit Sources: Durand and Nifo (Anna Tropia, Charles University, Prague)
• 19.00 Dinner

September 19, Friday

Post-Medieval Scholasticism

• Moderator: Emanuele Lacca 10.00–11.00 Voluntary and Involuntary Attention in Angels: Gabriel Vásquez and Francisco Suárez (Daniel Heider, USB)
• 11.00–11.30 Coffee Break
• 11.30–12.30 Attentio as an Epistemic Virtue: Origins and Developments of a Suarezian Concept (Giulio Conidi, University of Salento, University of Cologne)
• 12.30–14.00 Lunch
• Moderator: Joshua Keatley 14.00–15.00 Rapture, Ecstasis and Flight of the Spirit: Baroque Carmelites on Radical Redirecting of Attention (Kateřina Kutarňová, Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague)
• 15.00–16.00 Attention and Contemplative Spirituality. The ‘Loving Attention’ According to St. John of the Cross (David Peroutka, Charles University, Prague)
• 16.00–16.30 Coffee Break
• Moderator: Pavol Mišejka 16.30–17.30 Benign and Blameworthy Negligence in Late Scholastic Moral Psychology (Joshua T. Keatley, USB)
• 17.30–18.30 The Role of Attention in Second Scholastic Theories of the Beatific Vision (Patrícia Calvário, UCLouvain)
• 18.30 Conference Closure