CFP: Thinking the (Im)possible

Call for papers – Argumenta (2/2016)

THINKING THE (IM)POSSIBLE

Reflections on language, modality and intentionality

Advisory Editor: Carola Barbero, Andrea Iacona, Alberto Voltolini

Invited paper by Graham Priest and Mark Sainsbury

mail to: [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected]

Deadline for submission: April 30th, 2016.

Description

Topics concerning both possibility and impossibility have to do with modality, intentionality and their complicated relationship. While at the beginning of 20th century the idea was that only the possible was thinkable, at the end of that century things seem to have reversed, since it seems to sound relatively easy to think the impossible and, pace Hume, less easy to think the possible (for there is no safe entailment from what is conceivable to what is possible: even if one accepts that conceivability entails logical possibility, it remains that it hardly entails metaphysical possibility). In order to know whether we can think the (im)possible, we first have to settle what is the (im)possible, i.e. we first have to answer the ontological question. Once ontology has been clarified by explaining which are and how are characterized the different things – state of affairs and objects – that can be respectively possible and impossible, we can face the epistemological question, the one asking if we can think the (im)possible and, if so, what would it mean.

Argumenta encourages submissions on these and related questions.  Articles must be written in English and should not exceed 8000 words. Submissions must be suitable for blind review.  Both a DOC and a PDF document must be sent to the adresses above before April 30, 2016. Notification of intent to submit, including both a title and a brief summary of the content, will be greatly appreciated, as it will assist with the coordination and planning of the special issue.

ARGUMENTA

Editor

Massimo Dell’Utri
Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Sassari, Italy

Assistant Editors

Carla Bagnoli (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)
Elvira Di Bona (Columbia University)
Ian Carter (University of Pavia)
Andrea Iacona (University of Torino)
Elisabetta Lalumera (University of Milano-Bicocca)
Pier Luigi Lecis (University of Cagliari)
Olimpia Giuliana Loddo (University of Cagliari)
Giuseppe Lorini (University of Cagliari)
Marcello Montibeller (University of Sassari)
Pietro Salis (University of Cagliari)
Giuliano Torrengo (University of Milano)

Advisory board

Robert Audi (University of Notre Dame); Michael Beaney (University of York); Akeel Bilgrami (Columbia University); Manuel Garcia Carpintero (University of Barcelona); José Diez (University of Barcelona); Pascal Engel (EHESS Paris and University of Geneva); Susan Feagin (Temple University); Pieranna Garavaso (University of Minnesota, Morris);
Christopher Hill (Brown University); Carl Hoefer (University of Barcelona); Paul Horwich (New York University); Christopher Hughes (King’s College London); Pierre Jacob (Institut Jean Nicod); Kevin Mulligan (University of Genève); Gabriella Pigozzi (Université Paris-Dauphine); Stefano Predelli (University of Nottingham); François Recanati (Institut Jean Nicod); Connie Rosati (University of Arizona); Sarah Sawyer (University of Sussex); Frederick Schauer (University of Virginia); Mark Textor (King’s College London); Achille Varzi (Columbia University); Wojciech Zelaniec (University of Gda?sk); Eugenio Lecaldano (University of Roma 1); Paolo Parrini (University of Firenze); Diego Marconi (University of Torino); Rosaria Egidi (University of Roma 3); Eva Picardi (University of Bologna); Carlo Penco (University of Genova); Michele Di Francesco (IUSS); Andrea Bottani (University of Bergamo); Pierdaniele Giaretta (University of Padova); Mario De Caro (University of Roma 3); Simone Gozzano (University of L’Aquila); Luigi Ferrajoli (University of Roma 3); Paolo Leonardi (University of Bologna); Marco Santambrogio (University of Parma); Vittorio Villa (University of Palermo); Gaetano Carcaterra (University of Roma 1).