INTERNATIONAL
SUMMER SCHOOL 2023
Spiritual, social, and narrative capitals: going beyond capitalism
LA VERNA – FRANCISCAN SANCTUARY – June 18 – 23
The EoF Scientific Committee is hosting the second EoF International Summer School, which offers research and dialogue-oriented lectures from leading experts in economic fields.
Why this Summer School
[…] We are all seekers of meaning. That is why the first capital of any society is spiritual capital, for this is what gives us a reason to get up every morning and go to work and engenders the joy of living that is also necessary for the economy. Our world is quickly consuming this essential kind of capital, accumulated over centuries by religions, wise traditions, and popular piety. […] We urgently need to rebuild this essential spiritual patrimony. Technology can do much: it teaches us the “what” and the “how,” but it does not tell us the “why,” and so our actions become sterile and do not bring fulfillment to life, not even economic life”.
Pope Francis, Assisi, Sep 24, 2022.
Narrative capital and spiritual capital are two ancient types of capital that are becoming increasingly important for our time’s well-being, while the modern approach to social capital serves as the connective tissue that binds them in our daily encounters. Narrative capital comprises stories, tales, legends, origin myths, and traditions passed down over time and discussed across generations. Similarly, spiritual capital includes symbolic, moral, and spiritual dimensions inherited from previous generations. Narrative and spiritual capital contribute to building a vision of the world – the weltanschauung – that uniquely identifies a person, an organization, a community, or even a country. This social fabric has a significant impact on who we engage with and how we collaborate. It is this everyday tapestry of connectedness and implicit collaboration that this concept of social capital seeks to capture. When these capitals are available, people are better equipped to deal with life’s adversities, are more resilient, and can flourish because they can tackle those adversities by relying on the experience of past generations, taking inspiration from their reactions, and ultimately feeling in good company. These capitals, which social scientists have seldomly paid attention to, are depleting fast due to the increased individualism and secularism that our societies face, with adverse consequences regarding the sustainability of our socio-economic systems. This summer school will discuss these different capitals and their role in our communities
To whom it is addressed and what it offers
The EoF International Summer School targets Master’s and Ph.D. students, postdocs, and junior researchers in the field of Economics and related Social Sciences. The number of participants is limited to around 40 in order to ensure an ideal ratio between students and lecturers. Students attending the Summer School intensify their knowledge in their fields of study and research and will have the opportunity to get to know peer-leading researchers in an interdisciplinary, co-generative environment. Although the Summer School intends to bring together science academics from different countries, it also encourages the participation of practitioners in the field. This enables mutual enrichment and dialogue between theory and praxis.
The choice of venue, La Verna, located in the Tuscan Apennines, was purposely selected for the peculiar experience it offers to the attendees through discovering the spiritual abundance in the life of St. Francis and the unique landscape and natural beauty. The Summer School is a one-week program, onsite. The program comprises a full-time mix of lectures and workshops taught by EoF professors and other invited leading scholars. The program also includes a number of relevant field trips and cultural events.
Lecturers
Luigino Bruni
Economist and historian of economic thought, with growing interests in ethics, biblical studies, and literature.
Aneeqa Malik
Integral Research Associate, an ‘innerpreneur’ and community stewardess.
Pierluigi Sacco
Professor of Economic Policy at University of Chieti-Pescara, Senior Advisor to the OECD, Paris, Research Affiliate at metaLAB (at) Harvard and ISPC-CNR Naples
A complete list of Professors will soon be communicated
Coordinators
Valentina Rotondi, Lecturer and Researcher SUPSI and Nuffield College
Matteo Rizzolli, Associate Professor of Economic Policy at LUMSA University
To apply:
- Click the link above to fill up the form
- The deadline for application was March 17, 2023
- Each application will be examined and accepted by EoF Summer School Scientific Board, coordinated by Valentina Rotondi and Matteo Rizzoli
- Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application via email by March 31, 2023
- Deadline for Tuition Payment: April 21, 2023
- Participation is guaranteed upon receipt of the full payment
- In the application form, there is a limited number of requests for Subsidy (or Grant)
- The EoF Summer School will be conducted in English
- The program will not be available online.
Logistic notes:
Registration Fee: €300
La Verna will be the venue for both accommodation and sessions.
The fee covers accommodation and food for 6 days (from the dinner on Sunday, June 18th, to the lunch on Friday, June 23rd). The EoF Organizing Committee covers organizational costs, excursions, and transfers to and from Arezzo/La Verna based on June 18 arrival and June 23 departure. Any transfer exceptions will have to be assessed individually, and expenses will be shouldered by the participant.
How to pay the tuition fees?
If you have been selected to attend the EoF Summer School 2023 and would like to complete your registration by paying the tuition fees, we will send you instructions for online payment and and guidelines for eventual cancellation.
For further details please contact us via [email protected]
