Co-Chairs Foreward
The year is coming to an end. It has been a controversial and deeply painful time for all. Human qualities like trust, dialogue, respect and solidarity, in the context of transgressed boundaries and leaking containers are not easily shielded from the destructive angry attacks that are unleashed in states of worldwide emergency.
In our increasingly technological age, we have lost many of the metaphysical certainties that once anchored us, becoming witnesses, or bystanders, or victims of atrocities. The capacity for evil, no longer constrained or relegated to some mythological figures, appears more readily identifiable in each of us, or projected into a fellow companion.
The story of Prometheus serves as a powerful reminder of the delicate balance between hubris (ὕβρις) and progress (pró-manthein). Defying the gods brought Prometheus eternal suffering—his immortal liver devoured daily by eagles. This myth illustrates how overconfidence, a key component of hubris, obstructs reconciliation and fosters enduring pain.
Hippocrates’ humoral theory further connects the liver and its yellow bile to anger and fury, emphasizing how imbalance among the body’s principal organs—brain, liver, heart, and spleen—can lead to psychosomatic illness and decline.
The same principle applies to the current tensions within GASi, where the attempt to promote inclusion and diversity while accommodating opposing extremes has proven unsustainable. These tensions have led to division, fragmentation, and, at worst, withdrawal into self-centred isolation. This retreat into resentment (μνησικακία) creates a destructive cycle, eroding connections and stifling progress. The only path to resolving this conflict is through dialogue—if we can summon the courage to face reality with honesty and tolerance.
Amid this turmoil, there is a strong wish, a profound yearning for a safe space where unbearable emotions can be shared and processed, paving the way for healing and restoration. This process akin to Catharsis (κάθαρσης), echoes the process of purification experienced in rituals. Aristotle described it as a sympathetic identification with actors on stage, and the experiencing of profound thoughts and emotion in a safe environment.
We invite you to join us in discovering new ways of being together, facing so many difficulties at different levels while promoting group analytic thinking. Although it may be painful or sorrowful at times to reflect on the past, to mourn our losses, and to reconnect with our memories and roots, this process is essential for envisioning and working toward a better future. By delving into the microculture and microcosm of each individual, we can collectively construct a new shared space for reflection—a foundation for hope and progress. The future is shaped by our willingness to anticipate and act today.