Sacrifice and the Body beyond Metaphysics

This workshop will examine the concept of sacrifice and its relationship to the body from the perspectives of philosophy, theology and film. Historically, sacrifice has been discussed primarily as a metaphysical concept within the realm of ethics. However, feminist scholars in philosophy and theology have increasingly focused on the embodied nature of sacrifice and its concrete impact on the (mainly female) body. The workshop will explore the approaches to sacrifice and the body, highlighting ways in which they differ and overlap. We will seek a nuanced understanding of sacrifice, one that acknowledges the ways in which the body is implicated in sacrificial acting and the differential impact of sacrifice on different bodies. In the broader sense, the workshop will aim for an embodied approach to sacrifice which can offer new insights into the nature of sacrifice itself, as well as its social and cultural significance.

contact: Katerina Koci: koci[at]iwm.at