The 2006 edition of Modena's philosophy festival looks at the impact science and the modern world is having on the eternal debate about the nature of humanity.
"A philosophical revolution is taking place around the increasingly fragile border between the human and the animal, and around the new, problematic frontier between the natural and the artificial," said organizers.
"We share 99% of our genetic make-up with monkeys and so we ask ourselves if our humanity is based on the remaining 1%.
"We attribute emotions to our pets, but mad cow disease and bird flu and the risk of cross-species contamination disturb us.
"The sixth edition of the philosophy festival, devoted to the subject of humanity, will deal with these issues". The event, which attracted over 100,000 visitors last year, takes place in this northern city and in the nearby towns of Carpi and Sassuolo September 15-17. Among the great minds who will speak at the festival is Bulgarian philosopher Tzvetan Todorov.
Todorov will give a lecture on 'Humanism - from yesterday to tomorrow', starting his reflections from the Shoah.
America's Marshall Sahlins, one of the world's top anthropologists, will give a presentation entitled the 'Foreign King'. This is about the implications of his research into the elementary forms of political life of tribal communities in the Pacific islands.
French Marxist political philosopher Etienne Balibar will talk about the "current uses" of racism, while top Italian thinkers Emanuele Severino, Salvatore Natoli and Remo Bodei explore various aspects of the human condition. The festival is not just about lectures and debates though.
There will also be concerts, exhibitions, book markets, film screenings, games for children, literary readings and gastronomic events.
One of the highlights is a show devoted to the models of Carlo Rambaldi, the Italian special-effects expert who created E.T. and Alien for the Hollywood movies. A selection of works by Yayoi Kusama, considered by many to be Japan's greatest living artist, will be on display, as well as installations created from recycled rubbish by London's Mutoid Waste Company.
Workshops at Modena's Palazzo dei Musei, meanwhile, will enable children to learn about the legendary travels of Ulysses and about the lost island of Atlantis.
Modena's philosophy festival has been a big hit with the public since the debut edition in 2000.
In previous years, the festival has looked at the subjects of love, beauty and life, happiness, the senses and the world.
"Once again this year the philosophy festival will show that it is an event that can attract top minds to the city and provide a great opportunity to visit its squares and places of artistic interest," said Modena Culture Councillor Mario Lugli.
