The Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV) has opened the 7th Open Reason Congress, which is being held from June 8 to 10 on its Madrid campus under the theme “Francisco de Vitoria, a light for an uncertain world.” The conference aims to reexamine the legacy of the Dominican master in order to address, from an open and interdisciplinary perspective, some of the great legal, social, cultural, and educational challenges of the present.
The official opening of this first day was led by Daniel Sada, president of Francisco de Vitoria University, and Leopoldo Prieto, conference director and professor of Modern Philosophy at UFV. Following the welcome remarks, the opening lecture was delivered by Marie Monnet, rector of Domuni Universitas, with the presentation “Francisco de Vitoria, a Light for an Uncertain World.”
Daniel Sada emphasized: “The university is called upon never to give up the search for truth. Open-mindedness is not merely an academic concept, but a way of life: that of someone who asks questions, listens, and allows themselves to be transformed by reality.”
For his part, Leopoldo Prieto explained the underlying purpose of the gathering in these words: “We want this conference to be a true forum for open discourse, where jurists, philosophers, theologians, economists, and experts from various disciplines can engage in dialogue based on Vitoria’s insights on topics such as just war, human rights, the economy, and the role of the university.” He added that “updating the legacy of the School of Salamanca is a necessary contribution to thinking deeply about the legal, social, and cultural challenges of our time.”
This same point has also been emphasized by María Lacalle, director of the Instituto Razón Abierta and vice-rector for Faculty and Educational Model at UFV, who noted that “Francisco de Vitoria not only lends his name to our university; he is one of the great figures who demonstrates how the university can illuminate times of uncertainty throughrigour , openness to dialogue, and a commitment to the dignity of every person.”
