CFP: Frederick the Great and the Philosophy of the Enlightenment

Bucharest, 3-4 November 2023

Keynote speakers:

Avi Lifschitz (Oxford)

François Duchesneau (Montreal)

Henny Blomme (Brussels)

Stephen Howard (Leuven)

Frederick II of Brandenburg-Prussia (1712-1786), also named ‘the philosopher king’, played a crucial role in the development of German Enlightenment thought. Recent research, both from a philosophical (Lifschitz) and a biographical (Blanning) point of view, has highlighted Frederick’s contribution to the Enlightenment, as well as his interactions with the great figures of eighteenth-century European philosophy (such as Wolff and his school, D’Alembert, Maupertuis, Voltaire, Du Châtelet). To be sure, his reforming approach decisively influenced the cultural politics and intellectual life of his time, as evidenced by his role in the reorganisation of the Berlin Academy and in the development of the reflection on the freedom of thinking within the framework of enlightened despotism, to name but two points. A fascinating if sometimes controversial figure, both a significant scholar and a central political actor, Frederick played an undeniable role in the elaboration and actualisation of the enlightened ideas of his time. He contributed through essays, discourses, epistolary and literary texts to the Prussian and European philosophical debates. His early admiration for Wolff’s thought was outshined by a predilection for French and British enlightened ideas and a long-lasting interest in Marcus Aurelius and ancient philosophy more generally. Frederick’s philosophical preferences as well as his idiosyncrasies had a compelling impact on the development of Enlightenment thought during his reign, not only owing to the speculative philosophy class of the Berlin Academy he created, but also thanks to the translations and European movements and views he encouraged. His accomplishments as a king did sometimes contradict or threaten to undermine his intentions and ambitions as a prince, and outstanding successes were undoubtedly interwoven with more controversial or conflicting statements and actions – all of which deserve a novel consideration nowadays.

Our conference aims to scrutinize Frederick the Great’s role and influential contribution to the philosophy of the Enlightenment in the light of recent research on his writings (see the English edition of his philosophical writings by A. Lifschitz 2020), on the philosophical endeavour of the Berlin Academy, and, more generally, on the German Enlightenment.

We welcome papers on any aspect of Frederick the Great’s writings and contribution to Enlightenment philosophy, and particularly abstracts focusing on:

-        Frederick’s philosophical and pedagogical views

-        Frederick’s role in the philosophical controversies of his time

-        Frederick and the programme of the (German) Enlightenment

-        Frederick and the freedom of thinking; Frederick and autonomous thinking

-        Frederick according to the thinkers of his time (such as Wolff, Kant, the members of the Berlin Academy, les philosophes)

This call is intended to complement the conference program by adding 2 to 4 papers. Abstracts of original contributions (no more than 400 words), prepared for blind review, should be sent in word format, as attachment, to [email protected] and [email protected] by 27 September 2023. The author’s name and affiliation should be included in the body of the e-mail. The language of the conference is English, but papers in French may be accepted. Please contact the organisers if you wish to present in French.We cannot cover travel and accommodation expenses.

Notification of acceptance shall be given by 29 September 2023.

The conference is organized within the research project “Between Truth and Freedom: Enlightenment Answers to ‘Thinking for Oneself’” (PCE 105/2021, funded by UEFISCDI).

Link to the conference page: