1. Overview

The 4th Asia Regional Meeting of the International Plato Society was held in person from September 11–13, 2024, at Nagoya University in Japan. Under the theme of “Plato and Gods,” the conference examined the multifaceted ways in which Plato’s philosophy engages with divinity. Despite being held in person, the conference attracted 73 participants. While designated as a regional event, it became a global gathering with participants from 17 countries and regions, including Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, France, Greece, Switzerland, and Italy. The program featured 40 presentations, including three keynote lectures, reflecting the diversity of scholarly engagement with the theme. This conference also served as Part I of the IPS Mid-Term Meeting for the period 2022–2025.

The conference explored how Plato conceptualizes the divine and the ideal of godlikeness (homoiōsis theō), both as an ethical aspiration and as a broader philosophical principle. Discussions addressed the processes and implications of becoming like a god, focusing on the interplay between moral virtue, intellectual understanding, and philosophical practice. Particular attention was given to how the divine and human realms intersect in Plato’s works, examining the roles of gods, daimons, and other metaphysical entities, as well as the integration of traditional religious ideas into his philosophical system. Sessions also considered the philosophical significance of myth and divine imagery, the relationship between piety and other virtues, and the reception of Platonic ideas about divinity in later philosophical traditions. These discussions highlighted how divine imitation connects to the ethical, metaphysical, and psychological dimensions of Plato’s philosophy, while also revealing its broader influence on ancient and later thought.

Strengthening academic networks across Asia and beyond, the conference further promoted opportunities for future international collaborations. As a continuation of these efforts, preparations are underway to hold an international workshop on ancient philosophy in East Asia in 2025.

2. Program and Sessions

Thematic Sessions

The program featured a range of sessions addressing various aspects of Plato’s thought on divinity and godlikeness. These sessions included:

• Myth and Divinity
• Eros and Immortality
• Divinity in Later Dialogues 1, 2
• Later Reception 1, 2
• Godlikeness
• Socrates and God(s) 1, 2
• The Divine in the Republic

Keynote Sessions

The conference included three keynote lectures delivered by distinguished scholars:

• Noburu Notomi (University of Tokyo): Why Does Plato Consider Philosophy to Be the Mission of God?
• Alex Long (University of St Andrews): Divine Justice and Divine Simplicity
• Shino Kihara (Kokugakuin University): Health and Disease in the Context of Divine Imitation: Plato’s Timaeus and Greek Medicine

PhD Session

Two PhD sessions were organized as part of the program, providing early-career researchers with a platform to present their work to an international audience. A total of six young scholars presented their research. The inclusion of the PhD sessions underscores the conference’s commitment to supporting the next generation of scholars and fostering an inclusive and collaborative academic community.

For the full program, please refer to the conference website: [https://sites.google.com/view/ipsasia2024/%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0/programme].

3. Acknowledgment

The organizing committee, consisting of Hua-kuei Ho (Chinese Culture University, Taiwan), Naoya Iwata (Nagoya University, Japan), Jong Hwan Lee (University of Seoul, South Korea), and Ikko Tanaka (J.F. Oberlin University, Japan), extends its gratitude to all participants and contributors to the success of the 4th Asia Regional Meeting of the International Plato Society.

This conference was financially supported by the Nagoya University Graduate School of Humanities, the Nagoya University International Conference Grant, and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 23K00035.

Ikko Tanaka

Read the full article which is published on International Plato Society (external link)