Individuals interested in the works of Alasdair MacIntyre, a famous sociologist and moral and political philosopher, will be gathering at Grand Valley State University’s Eberhard Center for the seventh annual meeting of the International Society of MacIntyrean Enquiry.

The event’s theme is “Crafts, Traditions, and Ideologies: Relations Between Theory and Practice in the Thought of Alasdair MacIntyre.” The conference will bring scholars and speakers from across the globe to present on various topics.

“The society advertised the conference on listservs and we accepted any submitted paper abstracts that were well thought out,” said Mark Moes, professor of philosophy at GVSU and one of the coordinators for the event.

The speakers chose their topics focusing on their knowledge areas and interests, and based them on MacIntyre’s writings.

“Alasdair MacIntyre published 30 books and more than 300 articles in journals,” Moes said. “Publications that cover an extremely wide range of topics from the nature of language, the nature of rationality, psychology, sociology, politics, ethics, the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of religion (and) education.”

Keynote speakers include Kenneth Sayre and David Solomon from the University of Notre Dame, and Ruth Groff from Saint Louis University.

“(The speakers) are especially accomplished at explaining and/or applying the insights of Alasdair MacIntyre,” Moes said.

Of the 56 additional speakers, 12 will be traveling from outside the country to attend the conference coming from places including Italy, the Philippines and China.

As well as give their presentations, many speakers are attending to meet other individuals interested in MacInyre’s work and look for opportunities to start collaborations in their research.

The conference will be held July 25 through July 27. Keynote speakers will present at 7 p.m. each day of the event. The three-day conference will also include refreshments, lunches and a nice dinner.

Anyone interested is invited to attend. Individuals interested in hearing a particular presenter or keynote speaker need only be present at that particular time. However, individuals interested in attending the entire conference, or an entire day of the conference, should register at the registration desk and pay the appropriate fee.

For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/philosophy.