Reflections on the 2003 Congress
It was a rather big IVR congress: ca. 550 participants from all continents, 23 plenary lectures, ca. 75 special workshop sessions, more than 60 working group sessions, more than 10.000 cups of coffee. The weather was good, the atmosphere friendly. Everyone appeared to be pleased.
What did the congress give us as researchers? It is a complex question but I would like to emphasize the following. Very different people could communicate with each other. For example, proponents of minimalist description of particular legal problems could talk with people who alluded to “coherent theory of everything”. Analytical philosophers could talk with post-modern thinkers. Lawyers could talk with philosophers. Liberals could talk with communitarians. Not the least, researchers from very different countries could talk with each other. Particularly interesting is the extensive participation of East-Asian scholars in the congress. Communication was real, not only drinking coffee together but also attempting to understand each other.
The success of special workshops must also be mentioned. For example, workshops on artificial intelligence in the law, cognitive science, law-and-economics and criminal responsibility were very successful, though they are not usual at IVR congresses.
We are happy to state that the “Young researcher grant” was a success. Almost 70 young people participated in the congress because of the grant. They will take care of the future of legal philosophy.
On the negative side, one must note the small number of scholars from Islamic world, despite an excellent plenary lecture on Islamic law. Participants from African countries and Indian sub-continent were also few. The IVR must do something about it in future.
With all respect for internet, e-mail and virtual reality in general, let me conclude that human beings also need face-to-face communication. Let us see each other again in Granada 2005.
Aleksander Peczenik