On, Thursday, Nov. 13, Dr. Maria João Neves, a researcher at the University Nova de Lisboa in Portugal, visited UWM to give a lecture on Maria Zambrano, a Spanish Philosopher and Essayist.
Neves has a Ph. D in contemporary philosophy and did her dissertation on Maria Zambrano.
Neves is spending the month of November in the United States doing speaking events and research. When Sandra Sousa, a Portuguese visiting assistant professor here at UWM, heard of her, she decided to jump at the opportunity to welcome a fellow Portuguese to our University and hold an event in celebration of the Year of Humanities here at UWM. She organized the event with the help of her colleague, assistant professor in Spanish, Katy Vater.
“Since I am Portuguese, I decided to welcome a fellow countrymen,” said Sousa, adding that “I also believe she is talking about something that is important and interesting.”
The lecture began with a speech delivered by Sousa, followed by a short speech from Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Humanities Dave Clark.
Clark spoke briefly about the Year of Humanities and the events being held. He also spoke of a massive banner soon to be adorning Curtin hall advertising the year of humanities.
“There’s no working toilets in Curtin right now, but we’ll have a fantastic banner!” joked Clark.
Neves delivered an interactive lecture to about 30 students and faculty who attended the event. She often would ask someone from the crowd to read a passage or offer personal interpretation and ideas.
Brandon Berthiaume, a UWM student and Spanish-philosophy double major, said that the event was something that peaked his interest being that Maria Zambrano was a Spanish philosopher.
Berthiame expressed further curiosity in the subject matter saying, “[with] Philosophy in the U.S you don’t get a lot of Iberian and French philosophy.”
Neves expressed a concern about Humanities and their role in contemporary society, saying, “It’s not given enough priority in government programs.”
She furthered this idea during the lecture while speaking about Maria Zambrano’s work and its results.
“No one cares about philosophers,” she said, “but they use them.”
Sousa, organizer of the event, echoed similar concerns.
“There isn’t enough emphasis on the humanities,” said Sousa. “Since the time of the ancient Greeks the humanities were something that was central to the knowledge and well-being of citizens.”