UH conference drawing
hundreds of philosophers

More than 200 philosophers from 30 countries are gathering at the ninth East-West Philosophers' Conference starting tomorrow at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the East-West Center.

For the next two weeks, some of the world's deepest thinkers will be discussing "Educations and Their Purposes: A Philosophical Dialogue Among Cultures."

UH-Manoa philosophy professor Eliot Deutsch will receive the Board of Regents' highest honor -- the Regents Medal of Distinction -- at tomorrow's opening session.

Deutsch has led the UH-Manoa Philosophy Department since 1997. In awarding him the medal, the regents cited his leading the department "to be the world's center for comparative philosophy," with events like the philosophers conference.

UH-Manoa philosophy professor Roger Ames is the conference director. The event is open to university faculty, students and the public at no cost.

More information on the program and background of the event can be found at www.hawaii.edu/phil/conf. Ames can be reached at 956-7288 or 956-2692.