International experts analyze excellence and virtue from the Middle Ages to liberalism

The 'International Congress 'Virtuti Fortuna Comes. Theories about excellence between the Middle Ages and liberalism', which begins this Thursday at the Madrid Campus, proposes new approaches incorporating the gender perspective, among other approaches.

Raul Garcia Hemonnet

The conference will examine the evolution of the concept of excellence and virtue over time and from various points of view. As explained by the professor of Modern History, José Antonio Guillén Berrendero, director of the symposium, together with the professor in the same area, Gijs Versteegen, "the Congress deals with a broad chronology, therefore, the concept that we handled was somewhat different from the Lower Middle Ages until the appearance of liberalism. In general and in summary, we can say that the concept of excellence was related to a form of behavior typical of a preeminent social group (the nobility) and that it conveyed people towards honor. The XNUMXth century, for its part, adds “it is usually a period of prevalence of an idea of excellence based on and protected by concepts such as purity of blood and privilege. The arrival of new conceptions of legal and social honor opened the concept to a space in which the objectification of merits made the term excellence less abstract in content.

Specialists in various fields of History

Experts in cultural history, gender history, court studies and, especially, the history of European nobility will speak on these concepts and their evolution, from a polyhedral perspective. The speakers come from the URJC and other Spanish universities. Experts from the Italian Universitá degli Studi di Catania, Universitá degli Studi di Genova and the French Université de Nantes will also take part.

The day is intended for doctors, and professors of Philosophy, Literature, History and History of Art and students of related degrees. The objective of approaching the subject of excellence and virtue from such varied points of view and perspectives is to carry out "a congress open to debate and present new lines of work that offer novel lines of research and the opportunity, always useful in the university, to listen to other voices”, says Jose Antonio Guillén.

study the nobility

The International Congress is part of the VI Conference on the Concept of Nobility. These conferences began to take place in Pastrana (Guadalajara), in 2013 to discuss the concept of nobility. In them, Jose Antonio Guillén points out, “we have been able to discuss the idea of nobility, noble spaces, honor and we continue with it with the aim of delving into this aspect. These conferences and the Congress are held in collaboration with the Universitá degli Studi di Catania, the Simancas Institute of History and the URJC through the CINTER high-performance group and the De Nobilitate Network with the University of Murcia.

Students who attend all sessions and submit a summary of what was discussed in the conference will receive 0 ECTS credits.