Higher Institute of Life Philosophies
Public Authorities and Society
(HILOS)
 
Convictional and interdisciplinary
institute of research, formation, consultancy and mediation
with regard to convictionnel diversity

The Higher Institute of Life Philosophies, Public Authorities and Society (HILOS) is a centre of knowledge with regard to the interaction between life philosophies, public authorities and society and wants to establish a platform for juridical expertise on the level of this interaction between religions/philosophies of life, public authorities and society in the European context. At the same time, HILOS wants to be a meeting place for the various religions and philosophies of life in which they can exchange ideas, in an open and creative way, on their relation to the (federal, regional, local) public authorities, in view of optimizing this relation.
 
For the further development of the institute, HILOS preconceives four aims which are formulated as means of action:
 
- Doing and promoting study and research on the relations and the interaction between religions/philosophies of life, public authorities and society in Belgium in a European context. With this in mind, HILOS wants to facilitate interuniversity and interdisciplinary contacts and meetings between academics and experts (1)
In this matter, a major incentive was given by the European congress that took place from March 9 to 12, 2010, with support from the Flemish government and in collaboration with the “Chaire de droit des Religions” of the Catholic University of Louvain-Neuve. This congress dealt with the theme “Dialogue and concertation between philosophies of life/religions and public authorities in Europe. Challenges and limits of new forms of governance” (further info: Passed activities)
 
- Supporting, developing and organizing formations (training, study-days, seminars of experts …) concerning these relations. A few years ago, a specific formation was developed entitled ‘Philosophy of life, Public authorities and Society’. This formation is now being organised in collaboration with the “Centrum voor Migratie en Interculturele Studies (CeMIS) of the University of Antwerp). Since the academic year 2009-2010, this course has been turned into an intensive training of one week (further info: Formation)
 
- Giving competent aid to the development of these relations with the public authorities through consultancy. This consultancy aims to facilitate the contact with the various religions/philosophies of life and is given to the representatives of the religions/philosophies of life, to the (federal, regional, local) public authorities and administrations but also to actors in the midfield.
 
- Developing the interphilosophical mediation and the alternative conciliation of differences. Based on the possibilities offered by the intercultural mediation, HILOS wants to develop modalities for the mediation of conflicts between religions and philosophies of life
 
(1) See the co-operation with European Studies on Religion and State Interaction (EURESIS) (http://www.euresisnet.eu/) and the International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ICLARS) (http://www.iclars.org/)