More than 60 papers

The 7th Razón Abierta Conference, organized by the Razón Abierta Institute at Francisco de Vitoria University, will feature 66 papers accepted following review by the Scientific Committee. The academic conference will be held on June 8, 9, and 10, 2026 on the Francisco de Vitoria University campus in Madrid.

Under the theme “Francisco de Vitoria, a beacon of light in an uncertain world”, the conference is part of the 500th anniversary of Francisco de Vitoria’s appointment to the University of Salamanca and aims to reinterpret his legacy as a framework for the university to reflect on the major challenges of our time.

IMG_8181 From the Classroom to the Crime Scene: Practical Training in Forensic Science to Professional Standards | UFV Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

The 6th Razón Abierta Conference, held in 2025

More than 230 registered attendees from 15 countries

Participants have visited various locations across the campus, including To date, the 7th Razón Abierta Conference has already attracted more than 230 registered attendees from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Spain, the United States, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, New Zealand, Peru, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

This international participation reflects the academic interest in Francisco de Vitoria, as well as the relevance of his thought to addressing issues related to human dignity, international law, peace, justice, higher education, and the mission of the university.

IMG_8219 From the Classroom to the Crime Scene: Practical Training in Forensic Science to Professional Standards | UFV Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

A scene from the last edition of the conference, held in 2025

66 papers accepted to discuss today's major challenges

The 66 accepted papers will address some of the conference’s central themes, including the figure and contributions of Francisco de Vitoria, the School of Salamanca, natural law, human dignity and human rights, international law and peace, civil power and citizenship, the mission of the Catholic university, transhumanism, artificial intelligence, and the challenges facing higher education.

These thematic areas will facilitate a dialogue between the thought of Francisco de Vitoria and issues of particular relevance to contemporary society, from an interdisciplinary perspective that integrates the sciences, philosophy, and theology.

A conference on Francisco de Vitoria, open reason, and the university

The Scientific Committee has evaluated the proposals based on criteria such as their relevance to the conference’s theme and objectives, the academic significance of the topic, and a multidisciplinary approach. The evaluation has placed particular emphasis on the dialogue between science, philosophy, and theology, as well as on the questions inherent to open reason: anthropological, epistemological, ethical, and questions of meaning.

As María Lacalle, Vice Rector for Faculty and Educational Model and Director of the Razón Abierta Institute at UFV, points out, “Francisco de Vitoria is not only the namesake of our university; he is one of the great figures who demonstrates how the university can shedrigour on times of uncertainty throughrigour , openness to dialogue, and a commitment to the dignity of every person.”

Francisco de Vitoria University as a space for open discourse

For his part, Leopoldo Prieto, director of the conference and professor of Modern Philosophy at Francisco de Vitoria University, emphasizes that the goal is for this gathering 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, or the role of the university.”

Through this conference, Francisco de Vitoria University and the Razón Abierta Institute aim to help renew the university’s mission of the shared pursuit of truth and service to the common good. The event will provide an opportunity to reexamine the legacy of Francisco de Vitoria in light of today’s legal, social, cultural, educational, and anthropological challenges.

About the Razón Abierta Institute at Francisco de Vitoria University

The Razón Abierta Institute at Francisco de Vitoria University fosters dialogue between the sciences, philosophy, and theology, promoting interdisciplinary reflection on the great questions of our time in light of Christian humanism and the thought of authors such as Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI and Francisco de Vitoria.