CFP: USF Graduate Student Conference

THE PHILOSOPHER’S JOB DESCRIPTION, 9th Annual University of South Florida Graduate Student Conference, March 25-26, 2016
Visiting Keynote: Paul S. Loeb
Faculty Keynote: Joanne Waugh

This conference explores the various accounts of philosophy and of the philosopher’s task that major figures in the history of philosophy have given. What did Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, Nietzsche, Heidegger, etc., say about the philosopher’s job description? What were they up to by philosophizing? Furthermore, does an answer to these questions shed new light on their major philosophical ideas?

We are looking for papers from a history of philosophy perspective, and we invite submissions that explore the thoughts of major philosophers about metaphilosophical questions such as:

-       What is philosophy? What isn’t philosophy?

-       What role, if any, does a philosopher play within a culture?

       o    What good are they?

-       What sort of aims does or should a philosopher have?

-       What is the relationship between philosophy and the university?

-       Does an answer to any of these questions impact how we should read the philosopher or interpret their major philosophical thought?

If the philosopher does not make comments about philosophy in general, then we also welcome papers about their thoughts about the nature of their own work. We will also accept papers on the following topic:

-       What the philosopher hoped to accomplish by writing and by publishing.

       o    Did they write for the pleasure of it, for themselves, for others, to educate, to subvert, to make the truth be known, or for some other reason?

       o    How do their comments on any of the above topics affect our interpretation of their works?

We welcome submissions of no longer than 3,000 words from graduate students as well as advanced undergraduates. Please prepare submissions for blind review, and include name, title, and institutional affiliation on a cover page. Submissions and inquiries should be sent to: [email protected]

*This conference is open to the public.