CFP: ‘Thinking and Bias’: University of Alberta Philosophy Graduate and Post-Graduate Conference

‘Thinking and Bias’: University of Alberta Philosophy Graduate and
Post-Graduate Conference, 12–14 June 2015

*Keynote speaker:*
*Carla Fehr *

 We invite graduate students and postgraduates (who have been awarded their
PhD no earlier than 2009) to submit papers to the graduate and postgraduate
philosophy conference that will take place on 12-14 June 2015 at the
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

As philosophers, scholars, and researchers we have begun to consider,
sometimes reluctantly, whether and how our capacity for bias features into
our capacity for thought. Thinking critically about our biases and how
those biases inform the ways in which we do philosophy and engage with one
another sets notions of truth, objectivity, and rationality in dialogue
with considerations of the role of subjectivity, prejudice, and context in
philosophical thought and practice. *Thinking and Bias *aims to bring
together diverse positions on the issue of bias and the issue of bias in
philosophy. In order to unpack the challenges that bias poses to inquiry
and to “traditional” philosophical fields such as epistemology, ethics, the
history of philosophy, aesthetics, and the philosophy of science, it is
crucial to recognize the extent to which bias is a psychological, social,
and political phenomenon.

We strongly encourage submissions from all areas of philosophy and from
related disciplines, and we especially encourage submissions from women and
other groups historically underrepresented in the profession. Possible
questions for consideration include, but are not limited to: What are
positive and negative forms of bias? How do implicit biases inform
philosophical analysis? As critical thinkers how might we challenge
ourselves and combat implicit bias? What role do biases play in scholarly
and archival research? What is the relationship between critical thinking
and value laden observation? Can biases be useful heuristics? How do
cognitive biases and social context influence indirect behavioural measures
such as the Implicit Association Test?

Funding to help cover travel expenses for conference presenters who lack
other means of financial support to travel to Edmonton may be available.

*Keynote presentation by*

*Carla Fehr https://uwaterloo.ca/philosophy/people-profiles/carla-fehr>*
 Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy, Department of
Philosophy, University of Waterloo
Associate Director, Site Visit Program of the American Philosophical
Association Committee on the Status of Women

Deadline for submissions: *10 January 2015*

Submission guidelines: Papers should not exceed 3000 words. They should be
prepared for anonymous review and sent as a PDF file to
[email protected]. In a separate PDF attachment, please include
your name, academic affiliation, e-mail address, paper title, and an
abstract of no more than 150 words.

For more information, please contact us at [email protected].