CFP: The 2023 Meeting of The Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World

We invite submissions for the annual meeting of the Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World, to be held July 21-27 at Fresno State University, in Fresno, California. Of particular interest are papers that engage with this year’s theme: Fragmentation, but we welcome and encourage papers on any topic related to philosophy in the contemporary world, broadly construed. 

Conference Theme: Fragmentation

SPCW seeks to provide a forum for new areas of research in philosophy, and we aim to build a community of scholars who provide supportive feedback and constructive criticism. We welcome papers on all topics, from any philosophical tradition.

SPCW is especially interested in supporting individuals from historically underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds, as well as anyone working to expand the scope and quality of philosophical discourses. In addition to traditional papers and presentations, SPCW welcomes diverse formats such as spoken word, script readings, performances, and other approaches that invite and broaden philosophical reflection. Furthermore, we welcome the camaraderie of graduate students, nontraditional philosophers, and thinkers from other disciplines or with non-philosophical specializations. Simply put, we seek to foster productive philosophical exchange in a constructive environment.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Fragmentation of Nations

• Fragmentation in Community

• Fragmentation and War

• Fragmentation of Gender

• Fragmentation of Meaning

• Fragmentation of Home

• Fragmentation of Land

• Fragmentation of Ecosystems

• Fragmentation of Style

• Fragmentation in History

• Fragmentation of Self

• Fragmentation in America

• Fragmentation of Philosophy

• Fragmentation of Families

• Fragmentation of Life

• Fragmentation of Consciousness

• Fragmentation of Friends

• Fragmentation of Work

• Fragmentation of Economies

• Fragmentation of the World Order

• Fragmentation in Values

• Fragmentation of Rationality

• Fragmentation in Art

• Fragmentation in Aging

• Fragmentation in Education

• Fragmentation of Institutional Trust

• Fragmentation of Societies

Conference Submission

Abstract submissions should be approx. 500 words and are due by February 26, 2023. Abstracts for traditional papers and presentations should provide a substantial overview of the details of the final presentation. Abstracts for diverse format presentations and creative proposals should also include a brief description of the proposed format. Papers should be prepared for 20-30 minute presentations, followed by Q&A. 

All submissions are circulated for anonymous peer review. Please remove all identifying information from the submission. To submit your abstract, use the link below and complete the form.   

• SPCW Submission Form - https://forms.gle/gHZjan3YibfxCBhu9

Authors will be notified by March 15, 2023.

Note to graduate students

SPCW considers all accepted graduate-student papers for the annual Joe Frank Jones III Memorial Award for the best graduate-student submission. The award includes a special mention in the program, a permanent listing on the SPCW website, and a $500 cash prize. To be considered for this award a complete paper would need to be submitted by May 15, 2023.

For more information, please contact the Program Committee: 

• Candice Shelby at [email protected]
• Charles Harvey at [email protected]
• Natasha Liebig at [email protected]
• Ralph Ellis at [email protected]
  

Conference Participation and Logistics

Conference registration costs include one year of membership with SPCW and online access to all issues of our journal, Philosophy in the Contemporary World. Access to the journal is provided by the Philosophy Documentation Center after we notify them of your registration.

Registration Fees

Registration fees will be due in spring 2023, and additional information will be sent to individuals who are invited to present at the meeting.

• Faculty: $130 per person
• Students and Independent Scholars (no institutional affiliation/support): $40 per person
• Fee waivers and adjustments: if you would like to request a reduced or waived registration fee for reasons related to income and financial circumstances please contact Andrew Fiala at [email protected] and these will be considered on a case by case basis.

Philosophy in Community

Pursuant to the goals of SPCW, the conference program will offer equal attention to all participants. Included in conference arrangements are opportunities to combine serious professional activities with recreation—as a conference group, alone, and with family and friends. Recreational activities often include organized hikes, cultural or historical trips, and evening events. We will select, whenever possible, conference sites that enable participants to take meals together in a dining commons where they can be joined by friends and family members. Therefore, those attending and participating in the conference are encouraged to take an active part in as much of the conference program as possible. 

Questions about the conference site, lodging, registration and other details should be sent to Andrew Fiala at [email protected].

Journal Submission

The journal, Philosophy in the Contemporary World, welcomes submissions from conference participants.  More detail regarding submission guidelines can be found on the journal page.