CFP: Platonic Moral Realism

The committee invites papers on Plato’s and the Platonic tradition’s positions on the philosophical thesis that values—such as goodness or justice—are objective.  The metaphysical thesis that such “Forms” as the Good or the Just enjoy an existence independent of human opinions or social arrangements is generally taken to entail the objectivity of certain human values.  Possible paper topics include the metaphysical grounding for these values or for the virtues, method(s) of discovering and explicating the nature of moral values and virtues, and the means of coming to possess or partake in them.  Further, was Plato able to answer the Sophists’ arguments for moral relativism?  Does he have conceptual resources to answer the arguments of contemporary relativists?  We construe the subject broadly and will consider papers on any Platonic dialogue or any work from the Platonic tradition.  We hope to receive submissions from a wide variety of philosophical perspectives.

CONFIRMED PLENARY SPEAKER: SARAH WATERLOW BROADIE.  OTHERS TO BE ADDED.

ASTRACTS OF NO MORE THAN 500 WORDS TO BE SENT TO RICHARD D. PARRY

EMAIL: [email protected]

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

EXPECTED NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE: DECEMBER 1, 2014

Institutional sponsors: Emory University, University of Georgia, Agnes Scott College

Other Conference Organizers: Richard Patterson, Emory University; Edward Halper, University of Georgia