Persian Letters Conference Poster

 

Conference Program

Jeffrey Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Persian Letters Conference

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89032505417
 
Please note: All times scheduled are designated in Central time. 

Day 1. Friday, Dec. 10th  

Session # 1 3:00 – 4:15 p.m. (UTC-6) (virtual)

Discussion Leader: Constantine Vassiliou, University of Houston

Presenters:

Robert Sparling, University of Ottawa: “Desire, Domination, and the Struggle for Recognition in Montesquieu’s Seraglio”

Rebecca Kingston, University of Toronto: “Faces of Monarchy in West and East and the Limits of Traditional Jurisprudence: Montesquieu in dialogue with Bodin in The Persian Letters.” 

4:15 – 4:45: Intermezzo (informal meet & greet, Bordeaux Wine) 

Session # 2 4:45 – 6:00 p.m. (UTC-6) (in-person)

Discussion Leader: Jeffrey Church, University of Houston

Presenters:

Lee Ward, Baylor University: “The Role of Female Modesty in Montesquieu’s Persian Letters and its Mandevillean Parallels”

Megan Gallagher, University of Alabama: “Rica in Paris: Sociability and Cosmopolitanism in The Persian Letters

7:00 – 9:30: Candente Restaurant (reservation under Jeffrey Church for 15), 4306 Yoakum Blvd, 77006 (20 minute drive from UH campus)

Day 2. Saturday, Dec. 11th

9:30 – 10:00 a.m. – coffee/tea biscuits (Catered by Café Anonymous)

Session # 3 10:00 – 11:15 a.m. (UTC-6)

Discussion Leader: Diana Schaub, Loyola University Maryland

Presenters:

John T. Scott, "What Did Uzbek — and the Reader — Know, And When Did He Know It” 


Stuart D. Warner (Roosevelt University), The Book of Relations: Reflections from Persian Letters

11:15 – 11:30: Intermezzo 

Session #4: 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. (UTC-6)

Discussion Leader: Michael Mosher, University of Tulsa

Presenters:

Constantine Vassiliou (UH)/Emily Nacol (University of Toronto): “The Plague of High Finance in Montesquieu’s Persian Letters"

Ryan Hanley, Boston College: “The Political Economy of the Persian Letters; or, Self-Interest Wrongly Understood, in Three Lessons”

12:45 – 1:30: Lunch (catered by Café Anonymous)

Session #5 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. (UTC-6)

Discussion Leader: Rebecca Kingston, University of Toronto

Presenters:

Andrea Radasanu: “Law of Nations and the Pitfalls of Abstract Ideals” 
             

Michael Mosher: “Persian Letters in Time: Adhesive Past: Bright, Unstable Present: Divergent, Fragile Futures"

2:45 – 3:00: Intermezzo

Session #6: 3:00 – 4:15 p.m. (UTC-6)

Discussion Leader: Stuart D. Warner, Roosevelt University

Presenters:

Vickie Sullivan, Tufts University: “Hiding in Plain Sight: Montesquieu as a Friendly Influence in the Persian Letters"

Peter Lund, University of Houston: “The Unknown Chains of Enlightenment: the Irony of Philosophy or an Ironic Philosopher”


6:30 – 9:30: Brasserie du Parc (reservation for Jeff Church for 15), 1440 Lamar St, 77010 (15 minute drive from UH).