International Society for Philosophical Practice
[Registered Society (IGPP) or (ISPP)]
Satzung / Statutes
1 Name, location, and general purpose
The International Society for Philosophical Practice, located in
Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany, pursues exclusively and directly purposes of
benefit for the public due to the paragraph tax-deductible purposes of the
tax law.
2 The special purposes
The special purposes of the ISPP are oriented towards the notion of
Philosophical Practice, which is a way of mental help, counselling but not
treating. Thus, Philosophical Practice is no healing cure or therapy.
1.On the one hand, the purpose of the ISPP is to create appropriate
preconditions to give persons with concrete questions and life problems an
effective and humane help on the grounds of practical philosophy which
respects and supports the advice-seeking person also as member of a group or
institution as autonomous and self-responsible.
2.On the other hand, the purpose of the ISPP is to increase the
consciousness of and to support with scientific-theoretical intent the long
tradition of practical and practicised philosophy by means of appropriate
research.
3.Finally, it is the goal of the ISPP to encourage international
cooperation betwenn the national societies for Philosophical Practice and to
coordinate it as far as it is requested. The ISPP understands it as its
special task to initiate and to accompany the planning and organising of
international conferences for Philosophical Practice.
3 The realisation of the purposes
The purposes of the statutes as mentioned in 2 are realised by the
following means inter alia:
1.Organising events (lectures, discussions, colloquiums etc.), open and
accessible for everybody, which go into comprehensive public matters and
current life questions as request for philosophical theory and practice, and
which endeavour with special emphasis the clarification and possible
solutions of current problems related to meaning and orientation;
2.awarding of research tasks which are appropriate to support philosophical
insigths in practical intent;
3.supporting the enforcement and the theory of Philosophical Practice;
4.training of practising philosophers;
5.implementation of facilities of further education in order to support and
to promote practising philosophers in the pursuit of their work in favour of
the persons and institutions to be counselled;
6.initiation of a continuous exchange of experiences among all practising
philosophers, also on an international level;
7.initiation of a mutually supportive cooperation between the society and
other counselling institutions, colleges, schools, institutions for adult
education, etc.;
8.initiation of cooperation with the established medical profession with
the intent of giving persons help in addition to medical care and treatment
by means of open, free, and sensible dialogue.
9.The ISPP understands it as its task to work out in cooperation with
organisations of academic philosophy the possibilities and requirements of a
different way of dealing with philosophy at university. This different way
of dealing with philosophy aims at preparing philosophy students for the
challenges of the profession of a philosophical practitioner.
10.The ISPP declares it as its aim to realise its purposes by publishing a
yearbook. If possible, the publishing committee shall be international.
11.The ISPP appoints an international Committee for the development of the
philosophy of Philosophical Practice .
4 Membership
The ISPP membership can be attained by
I.) juridical and II.) natural persons.
Juridical persons (I.) are the national societies for Philosophical
Practice as represented by their chairpersons.
Natural persons (II.) are full members (regular and practising) and
extraordinary members (advising and supporting).
I.) The national societies for Philosophical Practice
The national societies for Philosophical Practice are invited to join the
ISPP cooperatively. The respective chairpersons of these societies looks
after their rights concerning decision making.
II.) 1. Full members
a) Regular members
Anybody who confirms the purposes of the ISPP and who has absolved or is
currently absolving university studies in philosophy or of similar relevance
can apply for full mem bership. The committee decides on admission due to
the petition of the applicant
b) Practising members
Practising members are full members who are entitled to run a practice in
philosophical counselling due to the instruction guidelines of the ISPP. The
working party of practising members decides on admission of new practising
members with two-thirds majority.
The decision for admission is not due to professional aspects but due to
the interests of those who need competent and responsible help and who have
to be protected from being counsel led in an improper and incompetent
manner. In practising their profession, the practising members are
authorised to refer to their ISPP membership.
2. Extraordinary members
a) Advising members
The working party of advising members supports the ISPP work in its
striving for the development of the theory of Philosophical Practice and of
practical philosophy in general.
b) Supporting members
Anybody who confirms the purposes of the ISPP and who commits himself to
paying the minimum fee as decided by the general meeting can acquire
supporting membership.
In general, everybody who confirms the purposes of the ISPP can apply for
membership. A member can leave at any time; a justification for the decision
to leave is not necessary. In justified cases, the ordinary general meeting
can decide for a revocation of membership.
All members of the ISPP get written invitations by the committee for all
public ISPP events. Furthermore, all members are invited to the main general
meeting which is to be summoned once in three years. The main general
meeting as the meeting of the full and extraordinary members is meant to
allow for discussing the society's past activities as well as its long-
range plans and intentions.
5 The society's organs
1. The general meeting
The ISPP holds a general meeting at least once a year, to which all
associated societies and all members are invited. The say of the associated
societies, as represented by their chairpersons or by legitimate
representatives, are considered as being of special importance. The
supporting members have the right to discuss and to inform but not to vote.
Place and date of this meeting are set by the committee. The invitation is
effected at least four weeks in advance. The committee has to summon an
extraordinary general meeting within two months time in case that 20% of all
full members apply for such a meeting in a written form. An extraordinary
meeting has a quorum in the presence of at least 20% of all full members.
The general meeting has the following duties:
a) Receipt and discussion of the progress report of the past year's
activities.
b) Approval of the accounts for the past year and exoneration of the
committee.
c) Recall and election of the committee.
d) Planning for the next year.
e) Election of an account auditor for the next year.
f) Laying-down of the minimum fee for full and extraordinary members.
g) Confirmation of admission of new full (regular) members and revocation
of membership in justified cases.
h) Resolution on erection and change of instruction guidelines.
i) Election of the working party of practising members by the
non-practising members.
For deciding on these duties (a to i), the simple majority of the present
members is sufficient; the general meeting has a quorum if at least seven
members are present.
k) Decisions on changes of the statutes or on the elimination of the
society: Both decisions can only be brought about by a two-thirds majority
of the present members entitled to vote.
Furthermore, the general meeting deals with all the questions which due to
the committee should be presented to the general meeting.
2. The committee
The committee consists of the president, his deputy, and the treasurer. The
committee mem bers are elected by the general meeting with simple majority
for the period of one year. Written election is necessary if a member
demands it.
Every single member of the committee is entitled to represent the society
in court and out of court. The committee performs its duties honorary. The
committee`s expenses are reimbursed.
The committee decides on the admission of full (regular) and supporting
members. Further more, the committee decides on questions which shall be
presented to the general meeting in addition to its duties.
At least one practising member should be represented in the committee.
3. The working party of practising members
It consists of all practising members and of representatives of the full
and extraordinary members respectively and of the members in training who
all have an equal say. The working party meets when required, but at least
once a year. Its duties are:
a) Organisation, carrying through and advising of the instruction
guidelines.
b) Decisions on practising membership.
c) Decisions on justified revocation of practising membership. This
decision has to be presented and justified in front of the general meeting.
The general meeting can protest against such a decision with a two-thirds
majority.
All decisions of the working party of practising members are made with
two-thirds majority. If it seems reasonable, the working party can
delegate parts of its duties to a special commit tee consisting of at least
three members.
6 The means
The ISPP acts selfless. It does not pursue, at least not in the first
place, economic purposes. The society's means are only to be used for
purposes due to the statutes. Members do not receive sums from the society's
funds. No person shall be favoured by expenses which are alien to the
society's purpose or by disproportionate reimbursements. The training of
practi sing members can be supported financially by the ISPP.
7 The financial year
The financial year is the calendar year.
8 Resolution of the society
In case of its resolution or annulment or in case of loss of its previous
purposes, the society's assets are transferred to the Study foundation of
the German people ( Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes ), which has to
use these assets exclusively for benefit for the public or for charitable or
ecclesiastical purposes.
Administrative office:
Hermann-Loens-Strasse 56 c, 51469 Bergisch Gladbach, Telefon: 02202-951903,
Fax: 02202-951907.
e-mail:Achenbach.PhilosophischePraxis@t-online.de
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