The conference \;Pluralism: East and West \;will be held at Sofia University 'St. Kliment Ohridski' in Sofia\, Bulgaria\, from December 3rd to 5th\, 2025. \;
\nKeynote Speaker:
\nProf. Kris McDaniel (University of Notre Dame) \;
\nPluralism has become a central topic of philosophical inquiry\, significantly broadening its influence over the past two decades. A key question for contemporary philosophers is how dogmatism in various epistemic domains&mdash\;ranging from philosophy and science to religion and culture&mdash\;can be effectively critiqued and transcended without succumbing to problematic forms of relativism. Within this context\, pluralism has emerged as a compelling approach\, influencing debates across virtually every philosophical discipline\, including metaphysics\, logic\, ethics\, political philosophy\, and philosophy of science. \; \;
\nDespite pluralism's growing prominence\, two important challenges persist. First\, foundational debates regarding the conditions and possibility of philosophical pluralism remain insufficiently addressed\, overshadowed by narrower\, discipline-specific inquiries. Second\, pluralist traditions originating outside the Western intellectual context&mdash\;such as those from India\, China\, and Japan&mdash\;remain underexplored. These omissions constrain a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of pluralism as a truly global philosophical phenomenon. \; \;
\nThis conference aims to explicitly bridge Western and non-Western traditions \;of pluralism by bringing together scholars working in the field. Central to this gathering are the following questions: What insights can we gain through a historical-philosophical reconstruction of pluralist tendencies in Western and Eastern thought? What "blind spots" can we identify\, and what promising new pathways for developing pluralist insights can emerge through this dialogue? \; \;
\nBy initiating this exchange\, the conference will establish a foundation for addressing more specialized questions concerning the theoretical and practical implications of pluralism in contemporary philosophy\, including but not limited to: \; \;
\n&bull\; How has pluralism evolved within Western and Eastern philosophical traditions?
\n&bull\; What contributions have key philosophers made to pluralist thought\, and what roles have lesser-known figures or neglected influences played? \;
\n&bull\; How is pluralism differentiated from dogmatism and relativism\, and what are their interrelations? \;
\n&bull\; In what ways do pluralist debates impact specific philosophical disciplines such as metaphysics\, epistemology\, and logic? \;
\n&bull\; What new avenues does pluralism open for philosophical inquiry? \; \;
\nWe invite submissions from scholars engaging with pluralism within Western or Eastern traditions\, from classical contexts to contemporary developments (e.g.\, process philosophy\, pragmatism\, analytic pluralism). Contributions that highlight historical-philosophical perspectives on pluralism are especially encouraged. \; \; \;
\nApplication information: \;
\nWe welcome submissions of abstracts (max. 500 words) by \;October 6\, 2025. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by \;October 30\, 2025.
\nPlease submit applications to: \;a.kostova@phls.uni-sofia.bg
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