Studying the transformation of moral values across space and time and their communication and perception by different audiences, analysing the stories and experiences of those exposed to these values, is the aim of the European project VAST: Values Across Space and Time.
This project, of which the School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH) is part, through the Institute for the Study of Literature and Tradition (IELT), is financed by European funds through the European Commission (H2020) and represents a consortium of several countries, including Greece, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus and Slovenia.
The project has 3 million euros and will last 3 years. The project aims, through the analysis and digitalisation of tangible and intangible assets (stories, personal experiences, folk tales, fairy tales, etc.), to study the transformation of moral values in space and time. It also intends to investigate existing collections of intangible assets, from different places and significant moments in European culture/history, to analyse how the meaning of specific values has been expressed through different narratives (Greek tragedies, 17th century natural philosophy texts, folk tales). In this sense, emphasis will be given to values that allow citizens to live in community, such as freedom, democracy, equality, tolerance, dialogue, human dignity and law.
Sara Graça da Silva, researcher from IELT, represents NOVA FCSH in this consortium. Her research has focused on the origin of some traditional tales, as well as on the patterns of morality present in them, using an evolutionary perspective. She has established several collaborations, among them with the Centre for the Co-evolution of Biology and Culture (Durham, UK) and the Centre for the History of Emotions (Max Planck, Berlin).
On December 10th and 11th, the kick off session of this project will take place online. It will be the first virtual meeting between all members of the consortium and will address issues related to scientific excellence, financial and administrative management and communication.
More information to be made available soon.
