World Congress of Philosophy 2018

Dear Colleagues,

the Steering Committee of Fisp, during its last session held in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 29, 2015, has considered the proposals made by the Programme Committee of the 24th World Congress of Philosophy (Beijing 2018), and approved the main structure of the Congress.

I am pleased to attach here — in English and French — the essential information concerning the Congress (title in the various official languages, dates, etc.) along with the approved list of Plenary sessions, Symposia, and thematic Sections of the Congress. All this information is likely to reach you soon again through the First Circular of the Congress, to be diffused by our Chinese colleagues. The First Circular will also include other information, such as the contact for the Secretariat of the Congress, the rules and deadlines for submitting papers as well as proposals for round tables and Societies meetings, the fees of the Congress, and other relevant information. The same documents will be then posted on Fisp website (fisp.org).

The next step towards the Congress will consist of proposing potential speakers for the various parts of the Congress (Plenary Sessions and Symposia), as well as chairs for each of the 98 sections for submitted papers (usually, more than one chair per section). This will be the main business of the next meeting of the Programme Committee, to be held in Beijing, China, on Sept 4-5, 2015. Its recommendations will subsequently be submitted to the approval of the Steering Committee in 2016.

As it is customary, I am pleased to solicit your suggestions to this effect, as a way to prepare the work of the Programme Committee. In particular, proposals in the following areas will be appreciated:

1) proposals of speakers for the Plenary sessions and Symposia;
2) proposals of chairs for one (or more than one) of the 98 thematic sections of the Congress.

Concerning the latter point, may I mention that, during the first meeting of the Programme Committee, it was stressed that the choice of chairs for these thematic sections should not only take into account the nominees’ scholarly expertise in a particular domain, but also their commitment to solicit papers, encourage submissions, and involve scholars in the area they would be in charge of. I take the liberty of underlining this recommendation as the role of Section chairs is crucial to the good development of the Congress.

For your complete information, I would like to recall that, according to Fisp habit, each member of the Steering Committee will be asked to chair one of the thematic sections of the Congress, according to his or her own area of specialization and/or competence.

Your proposals, along with those submitted by the members of the Steering Committee (to whom I am also about to write), will be noted and brought to the attention of the Programme Committee at its next meeting, in September. Therefore, I would appreciate receiving your suggestions by the end of July.

Finally, let me invite you to visit the website of Fisp (fisp.org), and check if the information concerning your Society, Institute or Association is correctly updated. In case you find any wrong or outdated information, please let me know.

Needless to say, feel free to contact me for any further query, request, or clarification you might need.

Yours most cordially,

Luca Maria Scarantino
Secretary-general of FISP.

Prof. Dr. Luca M. Scarantino
Philosophy and Politics of Culture, IULM University
Secretary-general of Fisp
General Editor, Diogenes
International Center for Advanced Studies in the Humanities
Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione – IULM
Via Carlo Bo 1 –  I-20143 MilanoWCP 2018 – Structure

Friday 27 March- Sunday 29 March: Identity and Difference Conference at UJ

Please find attached the programme for the 3-day international conference Identity and Difference which will take place at the University of Johannesburg on the weekend of the 27-29 of March. All welcome!

Identity and Difference – Conference Programme 

The Steve Biko Lectures in Philosophy: Thursday 12 March

Hartog-JHB_flyer-web

Reminder: FINAL call for papers for the PSSA Conference, deadline 31 October 2014

FINAL call for papers for the PSSA Conference, 12 – 14 January 2015

This is the final call for papers for the annual conference of the Philosophical
Society of Southern Africa. The conference will be hosted by the Department of
Media, Journalism and Philosophy at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
(South Africa) in Port Elizabeth. The date of the conference is Monday 12 –
Wednesday 14 January 2015. The conference has no theme, and papers in all areas
of philosophy are welcome. Abstracts of no more than 200 words should reach the
conference organisers by 31 October 2014.

Members of the PSSA and Philosophy departments in South Africa are kindly asked
to distribute this notification about the conference to anyone who may be interested in
attending or presenting.

The venue for the Conference is the Athenaeum, 7 Belmont Terrace, Central, Port
Elizabeth, South Africa (http://www.theathenaeum.co.za).

Please note that all accommodation arrangements are to be made by delegates
themselves. A bus will be arranged between a pick up point opposite the Humewood
Hotel (http://www.humewoodhotel.co.za) and the Athenaeum. If you require transport
to and from the conference venue, you should find accommodation at this hotel or in
one of the other hotels within easy walking distance. Please secure accommodation
early, since the conference takes place in holiday season. Transport to and from the
airport in Port Elizabeth should be arranged by the delegates themselves.

More detailed information and a list of further accommodation suggestions are
available on the NMMU conference website. Find the tab on the NMMU webpage
(http://philosophy.nmmu.ac.za). Please check for updates.

The registration fee for the conference is R650. This includes teas/coffees and lunches, but
does not include a formal conference dinner. Informal evening gatherings will be
arranged at beachfront venues within walking distance from the beachfront hotels. The
registration form will be available once notification of the acceptance of papers has been sent
out in November. Attendees are requested to pay the registration fee in advance as soon as
possible after November.

Confirmation of papers accepted for the conference will take place by 15 November
2014. If you require this information at an earlier date, please indicate this to the
conference organisers.

The conference organisers are Andrea Hurst and Karen du Plessis, email:
pssa2015@gmail.com

As in the past, participants of the conference will be able to send their presentations
for possible inclusion in a special number of the South African Journal of Philosophy.
Please note that submissions must be made online at http://rsph.edmgr.com/When
you are asked to select a section/category please select the option ‘conference’ if you
wish your paper to be considered for the 2015 conference edition.

Prof Andrea Hurst

Associate Professor (Philosophy)

Department of Journalism, Media and Philosophy

Room 0413, Fourth Floor, Main Building

South Campus

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Tel: 041 504 4848 (direct)

Tel: 041 504 2871 (School Secretary)

Fax: 041 504 2229

Email: andrea.hurst@nmmu.ac.za

FINAL call for papers for the PSSA Conference, 12 – 14 January 2015

FINAL call for papers for the PSSA Conference, 12 – 14 January 2015

This is the final call for papers for the annual conference of the Philosophical
Society of Southern Africa. The conference will be hosted by the Department of
Media, Journalism and Philosophy at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
(South Africa) in Port Elizabeth. The date of the conference is Monday 12 –
Wednesday 14 January 2015. The conference has no theme, and papers in all areas
of philosophy are welcome. Abstracts of no more than 200 words should reach the
conference organisers by 31 October 2014.

Members of the PSSA and Philosophy departments in South Africa are kindly asked
to distribute this notification about the conference to anyone who may be interested in
attending or presenting.

The venue for the Conference is the Athenaeum, 7 Belmont Terrace, Central, Port
Elizabeth, South Africa (http://www.theathenaeum.co.za).

Please note that all accommodation arrangements are to be made by delegates
themselves. A bus will be arranged between a pick up point opposite the Humewood
Hotel (http://www.humewoodhotel.co.za) and the Athenaeum. If you require transport
to and from the conference venue, you should find accommodation at this hotel or in
one of the other hotels within easy walking distance. Please secure accommodation
early, since the conference takes place in holiday season. Transport to and from the
airport in Port Elizabeth should be arranged by the delegates themselves.

More detailed information and a list of further accommodation suggestions are
available on the NMMU conference website. Find the tab on the NMMU webpage
(http://philosophy.nmmu.ac.za). Please check for updates.

The registration fee for the conference is R650. This includes teas/coffees and lunches, but
does not include a formal conference dinner. Informal evening gatherings will be
arranged at beachfront venues within walking distance from the beachfront hotels. The
registration form will be available once notification of the acceptance of papers has been sent
out in November. Attendees are requested to pay the registration fee in advance as soon as
possible after November.

Confirmation of papers accepted for the conference will take place by 15 November
2014. If you require this information at an earlier date, please indicate this to the
conference organisers.

The conference organisers are Andrea Hurst and Karen du Plessis, email:
pssa2015@gmail.com

As in the past, participants of the conference will be able to send their presentations
for possible inclusion in a special number of the South African Journal of Philosophy.
Please note that submissions must be made online at http://rsph.edmgr.com/ When
you are asked to select a section/category please select the option ‘conference’ if you
wish your paper to be considered for the 2015 conference edition.

Prof Andrea Hurst

Associate Professor (Philosophy)
Department of Journalism, Media and Philosophy
Room 0413, Fourth Floor, Main Building
South Campus
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Tel: 041 504 4848 (direct)
Tel: 041 504 2871 (School Secretary)
Fax: 041 504 2229

Email: andrea.hurst@nmmu.ac.za

JOB – Postdoctoral Fellow – “Democracy, Heritage & Citizenship”

Please note the closing date of 30 September and starting date of 1 December.

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Democracy, Heritage and Citizenship

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Fort Hare, South Africa

Applications are invited for two Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, to work on the Research Niche Area of “Democracy, Heritage and Citizenship”, which is hosted by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and supported by the Govan Mbeki Research and Development Centre at the University of Fort Hare.

The Post Doctoral Fellow will work under the guidance of the Research Niche Area Leader, Dr Christopher Allsobrook.

The Post Doc Fellow will be expected to produce collaborative and individual research into the relevant field of inquiry (to write research papers on topics tackled by the research area and to disseminate research, for instance, at conferences) and to contribute to the project in other ways, for example, by helping to supervise Postgraduate students and to organise seminars

REQUIREMENTS:

• A PhD in a relevant Humanity or Social Sciences discipline (Social or Political Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, History) and a strong research interest in at least two of the focus areas.

• Publication track record

• Ability to work in a trans-disciplinary context

• Ability to work independently and develop projects and undertake research

• Excellent social and team working skills

• Fluent in written and spoken English

The value of the fellowship is R 200,000.00 (not taxed)

The duration of the fellowship is 12 months and must start before December 2014

The closing date for applications is 30 September 2014

Send a letter of application to Nobulali Tokwe (ntokwe@ufh.ac.za), accompanied by:

• The Title and Abstract of your doctoral thesis;

• A certified copy of your PhD degree certificate;

• A copy of your Identity Document;

• A comprehensive curriculum vitae including list of publications

• Indication of proposed research (300-500 words)

Job Advert: UJ Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Philosophy

The University of Johannesburg is pleased to announce that it intends to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Philosophy.

AOS: Post-Kantian European philosophy, German idealism, phenomenology and/or hermeneutics.
AOC: Open.
Essential: Completed PhD by start date; capacity and motivation to publish in peer-reviewed journals.
Start date: Negotiable, but early 2015 desirable.

The successful applicant will be expected to participate fully in the Department’s intellectual life, which may include light teaching and administrative duties, as well as with the activities of the Centre for Phenomenology in South Africa, currently hosted at the Department.

Salary: R220.000 p.a. (untaxed, plus a travel fund subject to suitable progress with publications).
Duration: one year initially with the possibility of renewal for a second year, depending on publications.

Application: candidates should email (a) a research proposal of 700-1000 words, (b) two pieces of written work of 8000-10.000 words, (c) a CV with the email addresses of three referees, and (d) a covering letter to: Prof Rafael Winkler at rwinkler@uj.ac.za.
Deadline: Friday the 26^th of September 2014.

The University reserves the right not to appoint and to continue searching after the closing date. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Job Advert: ST AUGUSTINE COLLEGE OF SOUTH AFRICA HEAD, DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

Advert – HOD Philosophy 2014

Call For Papers: Slavery and Emancipation

Wednesday 4th September to Friday 6th September 2013

MANCEPT Workshops in Political Theory, University of Manchester

http://manceptworkshops2013.wordpress.com/workshops-o-z/slavery-and-emancipation/

Historically, the institution of slavery was the focus of a great deal of philosophical research. Aristotle, Kant, Hegel, Mill, Wollstonecraft, Bentham, Locke, Rousseau, Paine, Wilberforce, Grotius, Pufendorf, Nietzsche, Marx, and many others, considered such topics as the definition of slavery, the rightness or wrongness of slavery, which sorts of people could or should be enslaved, and whether (and if so, when) they should be emancipated.

In recent years, by contrast, philosophers have shown little interest in slavery. Yet they have nonetheless produced a plethora of work on related topics, such as freedom and equality. This is not because slavery is no longer with us; indeed, according to some accounts there are more slaves now than at any other time in history. Given that 2013 marks the 175th anniversary of the final emancipation of all enslaved persons in the British Empire, this seems an appropriate time to renew our philosophical focus on slavery and on those who enslave and are enslaved.

Possible topics to be addressed include, but are not restricted to:

—What is slavery? How is slavery different from other forms of unfreedom/inequality/labour etc?

—What was mistaken about historical arguments for slavery?

—How do we best explain the wrongness of slavery? Why were the actions of slave

owners, slave traders, or those involved in the initial enslavement, wrong?

—Do people not involved in slavery have obligations to oppose slavery?

—Are slaves obliged to resist their own enslavement?

—Can a person consent to be a slave?

—What is the relationship between slavery and sexism/racism/ableism/heteronormativity

etc?

—What is the relationship between slavery and bondage & discipline, or dominance & submission, or sadism & masochism?

—What do slave narratives tell us about the nature or wrongness of slavery or about the

rightness of emancipation?

—What is emancipation?

—Who can emancipate whom, when, and from what?

—Is emancipation all that is owed to slaves? Does the legacy of slavery and emancipation

require further action?

We welcome expressions of interest from graduate students, from junior researchers, and from established scholars. If you are interested in participating in this workshop, please submit, to both convenors, an abstract of 500 to 1000 words (or a complete paper), by Friday 31st May 2013. We will expect a full version of your paper on Emancipation Day, Thursday 1st August 2013. We hope this will give participants the opportunity to read the papers in advance and to give and receive more detailed feedback during the workshop.