CFP: EUROPE, THE VERY IDEA Exploring Europe as a Philosophical Concept and Project

Submission deadline: May 9, 2014

Conference date(s):
May 9, 2014 - May 10, 2014

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Conference Venue:

Philosophy Department, UWE, UWE
Bristol, United Kingdom

Topic areas

Details

One cannot escape today the refrain that Europe is in crisis: economic, social, political, and environmental. Yet there is no consensus on what defines this crisis. Even the meaning of the subject, “Europe”, is a matter of contention. It would seem that there is a neglected existential-political dimension of the crisis concerning Europe’s identity, task, role in the world, and indeed whether it even exists in the relevant sense. In response, this conference aims to investigate the idea of Europe as a philosophical concept and project.

We welcome proposals for papers exploring any aspect of this topic, including how philosophical ideas of Europe (or not) might interact with questions pertaining to the role and function of concrete political institutions. Of particular interest are investigations and critiques of the Czech philosopher Jan Patočka’s concept of “post-Europe” and the idea of “Europe as Care for the Soul”. But we aim to attract a broad range of perspectives, including those that would reject the notion of Europe as a philosophical concept or project.

Please send abstracts of between 300-500 words to [email protected]. The deadline for submissions is February 5th. Confirmation of acceptance will be by February 15th. Presentations will be 20 minutes followed by questions.

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