CFP: Dignity, Respect, and Self-respect

The conference, which is part of the FIRB Research Project “Feeding Respect”
(http://feedingrespect.wordpress.com/), is meant to bring together leading
academics and researchers from different areas of philosophy and offer them
the opportunity to exchange ideas on the topics of respect, self-respect,
and dignity. We invite proposals for papers that explore the above mentioned
concepts across a wide range of perspectives, including political, moral,
legal philosophy and history of political thought. Please email a title and
a 500-word description of your proposed paper, along with your academic
affiliation and contact information to Carla Jemma ([email protected]).
Please direct conference inquiries to Dr Elena Irrera
([email protected]). We acknowledge receipt and answer to all paper
proposals submitted. Submissions should be prepared for blind review.

Decisions regarding the program will be made by February 2014.

Papers should be delivered in English.

Keynote speakers: Prof. Colin Bird (University of Virginia)
                              Prof. Robin Dillon (Lehigh University)

The ideas of respect (understood in terms of respect for persons as well as
in terms of self-respect) and dignity have attracted an enormous amount of
philosophical attention in recent years, especially within the fields of
ethics, sociology, political theory, and legal philosophy. Notably, as many
political philosophers have contended (see for instance Rawls, Raz,
Nussbaum, Hill, Feinberg), the concepts at issue - either separately
examined or addressed in their mutual relations - have the power to promote
a political praxis based on the recognition of the collective identities of
oppressed, subordinated or marginal groups. So understood, respect and
defense of human dignity can be envisaged not only as general guides to
ethical practice, but also as two of the most forceful normative political
principles to which liberal democratic institutions are committed in their
attempt to negotiate different types of tensions inherent in political life.

Such a vivid upsurge of interest in the ideals of respect and dignity
has not been matched by a similar degree of conceptual clarity relative to
their meaning, reciprocal relations and role in the implementation of
policies. Even more remarkably, rare are the attempts to address the
concepts at issue from the perspective of history of philosophy and history
of ideas. The aim of this conference is to foster discussion and contribute
to a comprehensive understanding of the functions and semantic nuances of
respect and dignity from both a theoretical and a properly historic-
philosophical standpoint.

The conference will address the following questions:
•       What are the relationships between respect for persons and self-
respect?
•       What kind/s of respect is/are involved in the recognition of the
moral authority supposedly possessed by human beings? How does such an
authority shape the nature of individual dignity?
•        What are the main underpinnings of the idea of “equal respect”? How
does the idea of respect connect with that of equality of status?
•       What do we mean by “inherent dignity” of a human being?
•       What are the social bases self-respect? How do these contribute to
the promotion of fair policies?
•       Is there any attempt to conceptualize different types of respect
and/or dignity in the history of philosophy? In case there is, did it affect
the contemporary reflection on the problems of respect and justice, and how?
•       What are the main underpinnings of Kant’s view of respect and
dignity? What is the ultimate object of respect in his philosophy? The moral
law? Persons?

Contact: Dr. Elena Irrera (email: [email protected])