{"id":10578,"date":"2018-02-20T23:30:02","date_gmt":"2018-02-20T23:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/?page_id=10578"},"modified":"2018-05-03T21:20:47","modified_gmt":"2018-05-03T21:20:47","slug":"conrad-2018-congress","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/abstracts\/conrad-2018-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"Conrad (2018 Congress)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michael A. Conrad
\n(Institute of Art History, University of Z\u00fcrich<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cPrudence in Play:
\nAlfonso X\u2019s Libro de acedrex e tablas<\/em> as a Theory of Decision-Making”<\/h2>\n

Abstract of Paper
\nTo be presented at the 53rd International Congress on Medieval Studies
\n(Kalamazoo, 2018)<\/h3>\n

Session on
\n\u201cAlfonso X’s Libro de los juegos<\/em>: Big Results from Small Data\u201d<\/h4>\n

Sponsored by the Research Group on Manuscript Evidence
\n<\/strong>Organized by Linde M. Brocato
\n2018 Congress Program<\/a><\/h4>\n

[Published on 20 February 2018, with an Update on 3 May 2018 listing selected Publications and Presented Papers<\/em>]<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Abstract<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

In its introduction, Alfonso X\u2019s Libro de acedrex dados e tablas<\/em> makes a crucial tripartite division of
\nessential game genres: games of strategy, games of pure chance, and combinations of both.\u00a0 At first
\nglance, they seem to represent ludic archetypes only; yet on a higher, allegoric level, they stand for
\nbasic types of human experience, raising the question as to what power of judgment is suited best for
\ndealing with an uncertain future only known to God.\u00a0 The predominating pragmatic undertone of the
\nwork thus reveals an underlying ethical concern that exceeds the epistemic area of games by far.<\/p>\n

Instead, the proposed paper will discuss how games here serve as models of decision-making.\u00a0 In this
\nregard, prudence (cordura<\/em>), the power of judgement identified with the third game genre, takes a key
\nposition, as in the book it is described as a faculty capable of intermediating the two extremes of
\nrational control and passive reaction to uncontrollable events.<\/p>\n

Prudence was a quality and form of knowledge that fascinated Alfonso, who notoriously liked to
\nfashion himself a sage king.\u00a0 He considered it a tool for estimating how to deal with the contingencies
\nof life.\u00a0 This is not only to be seen in his life-long obsession with astrology, but also in the Siete Partidas<\/em>,
\nwhere prudence is defined as the faculty to \u201csee the things as they are or can be,\u201d1<\/strong><\/sup><\/span> which intimately
\nlinks it to essential properties of contingency.\u00a0 As recent research has shown, Alfonso\u2019s understanding
\nof prudence was strongly influenced by Aristotelian and Stoic concepts,2<\/strong><\/sup><\/span> for whose transmission
\nespecially Mendicants, above all Juan Gil de Zamora, were responsible.3<\/strong><\/sup><\/span>\u00a0 The proposed ethical reading
\nof the Libro<\/em>, which will also allow for a glimpse into contemporary modes of risk perception, would
\ntherefore be incomplete without taking into account some of Juan Gil\u2019s writings.<\/p>\n

Footnotes<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

1<\/strong><\/sup><\/span> Partida<\/em> II, t. V, l. 8: \u201cCordura es la primera de las quatro virtudes que diximos en la tercera ley ante desta que
\nha el Rey mucho menester para bivir en este mundo bien derechamente. Ca esta faze ver las cosas e judgar las
\nciertamente segund son e pueden ser, e obrar en ellas como deve e non rebatosamente\u201d.<\/p>\n

2<\/strong><\/sup><\/span> The most recent relevant work is:\u00a0 M\u00e9lanie Jecker: \u201cLa notion de prudence dans la pens\u00e9e castillane m\u00e9di\u00e9vale
\net moderne (1252-1598): du roi Sage au roi Prudent?\u201d, Diss., Paris, 2016. In addition, see J. Ferreiro Alemparte:
\n\u201cRecepci\u00f3n de las Eticas y de la Pol\u00edtica de Arist\u00f3teles en las Siete Partidas del Rey Sabio\u201d, Glossae, revista de<\/em>
\nhistoria del derecho europeo <\/em>1 (1988), pp. 97\u2013133.<\/p>\n

3<\/strong><\/sup><\/span> Especially important is De praeconiis Hispaniae<\/em> (1272\u20131282). Regarding the history \u2014 of course, much longer \u2014 of
\nthe reception of Aristotle\u2019s Ethics<\/em> on the Iberian Peninsula see P. Moln\u00e1r: \u201cUne \u00e9tape n\u00e9glig\u00e9e de la r\u00e9ception
\nd’Aristote en Occident: Averro\u00e8s, le Liber Nicomachie<\/em> et la science politique\u201d, in Bazzana, Andr\u00e9; B\u00e9riou, Nicole;
\nGuichard, Pierre (eds.): Averro\u00e8s et l’averro\u00b7isme: (XIIe \u2013 XVe si\u00e8cle). Un itin\u00e9raire historique du Haut Atlas \u00e0 Paris<\/em>
\net \u00e0 Padoue<\/em>. Lyon, 2005, pp. 265\u2013273.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Dr. Conrad’s Publications (Selected)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPapierlose Notizen: Zum Gebrauch von Handyfotografie als Mnemotechnik des Alltags\u00bb, in Henning Lobin, Regine Leitenstern, Katrin Lehnen, Jana Klawitter (eds.), Lesen, Schreiben, Erz\u00e4hlen. Kommunikative Erz\u00e4hltechniken im digitalen Zeitalter<\/em>, Frankfurt a. M.\/New York, 2013, pp. 83\u2013106.<\/p>\n

\u201cEntscheidungsspuren: Ludische Interaktion als Quelle interrelationaler Ungewissheit im Spielebuch Alfons\u2019 X. (1283)\u201d, in Friedemann Kreuder and Stefanie Husel (eds.), Spiele spielen. Praktiken, Metaphern, Modelle<\/em>, Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink, 2018, pp. 311-320 (in print).<\/p>\n

\u201cGegner Zeit: Das Zeiterleben im Spiel im Spielebuch Alfons\u2019 X.\u201d for the Swiss Society for the Research of Symbols (in preparation).
\n\u201cIst das Spiel schuld? Vor\u00fcberlegungen zur Verantwortung ludischen Handelns im Mittelalter\u201d for the proceedings of the workshop \u201cHistories III: Dimensionen der Moral im Spiel\u201d, University of Rostock 2016 (in preparation).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Playing Eye: The epistemological function of game miniatures in the late 13th century\u201d for the series \u201cLudic Cultures, 1100-1700\u201d, edited by Bret Rothstein, Alessandro Arcangeli and Christina Normore (in preparation).<\/p>\n

Papers Presented (Selection)<\/span><\/p>\n

5\/9\/2014: \u201cWer ist der wahre Spielverderber? Das Buch der Spiele Alfons\u2018 X. im Kontext kirchlicher Spielverbote\u201d, Conference \u201cSpielverderber der Geistesgeschichte\u201d (Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich).<\/p>\n

8\/24\/2015: \u201cIn den Fallstricken des Spielteufels. Zu einer mittelalterlichen Figuration ludischer Diabolisierung\u201d, IFK Academy \u201cDie Regeln des Spiels\u201d, Maria Taferl, Austria, session chairs: Prof. Dr. Thomas Macho (HU Berlin), Prof. Mathias Fuchs (Leuphana University L\u00fcneburg, Gamification Lab) and Prof. Ernst Strouhal (University for Applied Arts, Vienna).<\/p>\n

11\/19\/2015: \u201cDer K\u00f6nig und der Teufel: Zur Ambivalenz spielbezogener Kontingenz im Werk Alfons’ X. von Kastilien und Le\u00f3n\u201d, University of Fribourg\/Freiburg (Switzerland), Prof. Dr. Hans Joachim Schmidt and Dr. Ulrich Sch\u00e4dler.<\/p>\n

5\/15\/2016: \u201cWho\u2019s afraid of the gambling devil? Ludic dangers between rationalization and demonization\u201d, 51st International Congress on Medieval Studies, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, chair: Dr. Vanina Kopp, German Historic Institute Paris.<\/p>\n

7\/13\/2016: \u201cA jump into the open:\u00a0 John Peter Olivi\u2019s theory of free will and risk\u201d, Conference \u201cRisking the Future. Vunerability, Resistance, Hope\u201d, St John\u2019s College, Durham University (UK), Matariki Risk Humanities Network.<\/p>\n

8\/25\/2016: \u201cA Matter of Surprise: Toying as material-discursive art of the possible\u201c, Joint European Philosophy Conference of the Society for European Philosophy and the Forum for European Philosophy, Regent\u2019s University London.<\/p>\n

4\/6\/2017: \u201cDas spielende Auge. \u00dcber visuelle Strategien im Spielebuch Alfons\u2019 X.”, Podiumsdiskussion\u201d, Jitter\u2019s Wunderblock No. 26 (public talk), Instituto Cervantes Berlin.<\/p>\n

5\/13\/2017: \u201cThe Playing Eye: Game Miniatures as Mimetic Instructions\u201d, 52nd International Congress on Medieval Studies, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo (Michigan)<\/p>\n

5\/19\/2017: \u201cMechanisms of Trust. Board games as agents of social reliability in the Middle Ages\u201d, Board Games Studies Colloquium XX: Models, Metaphors, Meanings, University of Copenhagen.<\/p>\n

7\/20\/2017: \u201cZufall aus Papier: Zum Kartenspiel als materielle Praxis im Sp\u00e4tmittelalter\u201d, Conference \u201cSpiele in der Vormoderne\u201d, Humboldt University Berlin.<\/p>\n

11\/3\/2017, \u201cHearing coexistence: On the spatiality of sound and acoustic desires in objective encounters\u201c, Performance Lecture, Sounding Out the Space: An International Conference on the Spatiality of Sound, Dublin School of Creative Arts, Dublin Institute of Technology.<\/p>\n

5\/11\/2018: \u201cPrudence in Play: Alfonso X\u2019s Libro de acedrex e tablas<\/em> as a Theory of Decision-Making,\u201c 53rd International Congress on Medieval Studies, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA (sponsor: Research Group on Manuscript Evidence; organizer:\u00a0 Linde M. Brocato).\u00a0 Abstract above.<\/span><\/p>\n

7\/3\/2018, \u201cPlaying Memory: Thomas Murner\u2019s Didactical Games as Material-Discursive Practices,\u201d 25th International Medieval Congress, Leeds.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Michael A. Conrad (Institute of Art History, University of Z\u00fcrich) \u201cPrudence in Play: Alfonso X\u2019s Libro de acedrex e tablas as a Theory of Decision-Making” Abstract of Paper To be presented at the 53rd International Congress on Medieval Studies (Kalamazoo, 2018) Session on \u201cAlfonso X’s Libro de los juegos: Big Results from Small Data\u201d Sponsored […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":1023,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10578"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10578"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10996,"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10578\/revisions\/10996"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}