International Symposium

Cres (Croatia), 24-27 September 2025

Ivan Illich's critical thinking played an instrumental role in the development of contemporary critical thinking in a broad spectrum of social phenomena. His intellectual radicality is still very much present in enquiries dedicated to his ideas, as well as to the many topics he addressed. The lines of connection between Illich and the French post-structuralists and the inspiration he gave to thinkers such as Giorgio Agamben and Slavoj Žižek are being documented, whereas his ideas surface in an amazing variety of studies. His legacy, however, has been much less in favor in the region from which he originated. Compared to France, Germany or the English-speaking world, Illich is still relatively unknown between the Danube and the Adriatic. The scope of the planned conferences in Budapest and Split, and of the publications is therefore to help stimulate new regional research on him and the cases he raised, as well as enhance further discussions, translations and publications.

One the elements deserving further enquiry is Illich's conviction that Christianity is hardly possible without true socio-critical reflection and a resulting action, to which it should be added that critical thinking today can hardly be imagined without a deeper look at Christianity. The methodological principle that Illich formulated as "the worst is the corruption of the best", i.e. the critical examination of the institution of Christianity, i.e. the Church, can provide a key to understand the functioning of other social institutions, the school system, health care, technical sciences, and even legal and governmental institutions in the midst of the crises and innovations of the digital age. Regardless of this priority, we welcome speakers with a free choice of topics, that would show how Illich can appear, a century after his birth, as an inspiration. In order to place Illich's thinking within the critical philosophy of his time, a section should serve as a laboratory for formal renewal of critical thinking. In addition to Ivan Illich's manifesto-like texts, Hans Blumenberg's suggestion of "thoughtfulness", which goes hand in hand with his preference for small forms, could be considered in retrospect. Such small literary forms include, for example, the anecdote, which is for instance favored by Slavoj Žižek.

Professor Daniel Bric (Paris, Sorbonne)

Professor Eva Kocziszky (Budapest, SZFE)

Please contact Kocziszky.eva [at] iif.hu (Prof. Kocziszky), if you are interested in participating the symposium.