Accademia Vivarium Novum: A bridge between cultures and knowledge
On November 8-10, 2024, the prestigious Villa Falconieri in Frascati hosted the inauguration of the 2024/2025 academic year of the Accademia Vivarium novum, an event that brought together distinguished scholars from around the world to explore the theme of the unity of human knowledge.
The event, divided into three intense days of study and discussion, opened with a conference dedicated to the Galilean revolution at the INFN National Laboratories in Frascati, and then continued with two days dedicated respectively to the themes “Commune artium vinculum: the unity of human knowledge” and “Doctorum officium et humanitatis praesidium: responsibility of science and defense of humanity”.
A dialogue between cultures
Among the most significant moments of the event, the speech of the Director of the Cultural Institute of Iran in Rome offered an enlightening perspective on the role of wisdom in the Iranian and Islamic tradition. In his speech, he emphasized how wisdom represents “the lost treasure of the believer” and how philosophical thought is intrinsically linked to the search for truth and the understanding of being.
“Intercultural philosophy,” the Director emphasized, “is the prerequisite for authentic knowledge in our chaotic world. The fundamental questions of humanity throughout history have been common and aligned, so why not benefit from different answers to the same question?”
A rich and varied programme
The event was attended by numerous international scholars, including:
Miguel Angel Granada (University of Barcelona) on mathematical humanism
Natacha Fabbri (University of Siena) on musical models in the world systems debate
Luciano Boi (École des hautes études en sciences sociales, Paris) on the role of symmetries in nature
Tommaso Greco (University of Pisa) on the responsibility of science
Of particular importance were the testimonies from around the world, which included contributions from Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Malawi, India, China, Iran, the USA and Mexico, demonstrating the Academy's genuinely international vocation.
Cultural moments
The days were enriched by high-level musical moments, including the concert of the Ensemble “Giardino di delizie” with music dedicated to Maria Clementina Sobieska and the final concert of the Superne rote symphony orchestra with music by Mozart and Holst.
New initiatives
During the event, several new initiatives of the Academy were presented, including:
The International School of Advanced Humanistic Studies
The Zètesis project for research in the humanities
The Tusculan Colloquia
The annual seminars “Humanism and Renaissance”
The inauguration of the academic year confirmed the role of the Vivarium Novum Academy as a bridge between different cultures and traditions, promoting a constructive dialogue between East and West and between the different disciplines of human knowledge.
