Abstract

This volume of Teoria publishes the first results of a research which has been carried out both by professors of Northwestern University and by professors of Pisa University within an agreement between the two universities. It consists of an interdisciplinary project which has involved, on the one hand, the Department of Classics and the Department of Philosophy of Northwestern University and, on the other hand, the Dipartimento di Scienze Storiche del Mondo Antico and the Dipartimento di Filosofia of Pisa University. A meaningful outcome of this collaboration has been the Conference on “Democracies, Belonging and Values. Ancient and Modern”, which took place on the 27th and 28th November, 2006 in the “Aula Magna Storica”, Palazzo della Sapienza and in the hall “Titta Ruffo” at “Verdi” Theatre. The revised texts of this conference are here published in a bilingual edition. The belonging and the values within a democratic society are determining factors both in the American cultural and philosophical debate and in the European one. In order to achieve an effective investigation of the topic we have chosen an historical approach. Therefore, specific articles which deal with the issue of “belonging” and its problems in some historical periods – the Greek and the Roman one – and during the Middle Age can be found in this volume. Afterwards, two contributions discuss about the role of values, such as hope and love within the Modern Age. For reasons beyond the authors’ control, it has not been possible to include in this number of Teoria the texts which were read at the conference by Giovanni Salmeri and Cristina D’Ancona; two colleagues who have had and will continue to have an important role in our research. A special thanks goes to the Rector of Pisa University, Prof. Pasquali and to the Pro- Rector of International Affairs, Prof. Giaccherini for the supportive help to this project. Another special thanks goes to Prof. Linzer, Dean of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University. The scientific and profitable value of this collaboration within the development of a shared educational perspective will be represented in this volume