CFP: Italian Biopolitical Theory: Life, Power and Theology

Interrogation into the nexus between power and life, characterised by
Foucault as ‘biopolitics’, has been taken up by many thinkers in the past
twenty years. So much so that it is now justifiably perceived as one of the
most important fields in continental philosophy.  With the desire to
understand and confront the political stakes as well as the more
challenging concepts at the forefront of this exciting domain, Italian
thinkers have come to embody innovation in this field: Giorgio Agamben,
Roberto Esposito and Antonio Negri being good examples. Despite many
differences between thinkers, some clear themes, methods and problems can
be discerned – both traditional-philosophical (e.g. the subject, political
community, sovereignty, genealogy), and unique to their approach (the logic-
life relationship, biblical exegesis, etc.).

This conference aims to rigorously explore the nuances of these Italian
political philosophers, with the aim of making connections, drawing
conclusions and producing readings.

Some questions:

What scope does the inclusion-exclusion paradigm have?
What is the difference between the logic of immunity and the logic of
sovereignty?
What or where is the locus of resistance?
Can economic determination be included within the concept of nuda vita?
How does the church (ekklesia) function?
What is praxis and what is the relationship between this new trend in
biopolitical theory and the Marxian tradition?
How is the macro-physics of power related to the so-called ‘micro-physics’?
What is the relationship between the oikonomia and the economy?

Keynotes confirmed so far

Prof. William Watkin (Brunel, London)
Dr. Mike Lewis (UWE, Bristol)
Dr. Lorenzo Chiesa

Details:
13th – 14th March, 2015.
Bristol, UK.
UWE Philosophy, Royal Institute of Philosophy, [Again]

Papers will each last 30 minutes with 15-20 minutes for discussion.
We welcome abstracts (300-500 words) for papers on the topics in
question.

Deadline for abstracts: January 16th, 2015.

To be sent, along with any queries to: [email protected]