Days of Frane Petrić
In the early 1990s Europe was in shift, new states were being formed, and Croatia was consumed by war. Despite such circumstances, the Croatian Philosophical Society organized a symposium “The Modern Philosophical Movements in Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina” which took place in 1992 Cres, the birthplace of Frane Petrić, a renowned Renaissance philosopher. The symposium was the beginning of what would soon become the most significant philosophical and interdisciplinary convention in Croatia, one of the most significant academic conferences in this part of Europe, gathering scientists from all over the world to discuss the current issues of human kind, as well as to research the works of Frane Petrić and other substantial Croatian thinkers.
So far, these conferences have been attended by over 2,000 scientists from 40 countries. About a hundred scientists held over 300 lectures directly related to Frane Petrić, a fact of great importance for the local community. On several occasions the Dani Frane Petrića included science incubators, with the goal of introducing highschool students to the basic elements of scientific research, methodologies, and the principles of scientific integrity.
The international academic and cultural symposium Dani Frane Petrića represents a unique event consisting of three segments: an international symposium about Frane Petrić, an international symposium about a chosen interdisciplinary topic of the gathering, and a cultural-artistic program.
The topic of the second international symposium is always focused on a current issue dealt with through an interdisciplinary approach. For instance, previous topics included “The Philosophy of Nature”, “Ecology”, “The Challenges of Bioethics”, “Philosophy and Technology”, “Democracy and Ethics”, “Philosophy, Science, Religion”, “Humankind and Culture”, “Philosophy and Globalization”, “Philosophy and the Media”, and “The Question of Identity”. Lectures are held in Croatian, English, and German.
Dani Frane Petrića also includes popular public lectures for general audience, promotions of recent philosophical works, and other events.
FRANE PETRIĆ (Cres, 25 April 1529 - Rome, 6 February 1597), Croatian philosopher and polymath, proficient in Latin and Greek. He was a Europe-wide known scholar and one of the most original and liberal thinkers of his time. An opposer of Aristotelianism and an advocate for a special kind of Platonism, he taught philosophy at the universities at Ferrara and Rome. His works were written in Latin and Italian and published under a Latinized version of his name, Franciscus Patricius. Petrić was also interested in astronomy, meteorology, archaeology, and politics. He travelled all over Europe and gained great fame with his works.
His numerous works demonstrate the range of his fields of interest, ranging from trade, medicine, philosophy, to publishing. His first published work was “La città felice” (Eng. The Happy City), a treatise on what makes a perfect community. His capital work, the “Nova de universis philosophia”, introduces a comprehensive system of philosophy. The work was condemned by the Church and its publication was forbidden due to the introduction of concepts contrary to the teachings of the Church and of elements of non-Christian religions. The famous Giordano Bruno is believed to have been influenced by Frane Petrić’s teachings.