Authority and Its Discontents

Fides Quaerens, the interdisciplinary philosophy and theology graduate student working group at Villanova University, invites graduate students and early career scholars to submit proposals and papers on the theme of “Authority and Its Discontents” for a conference to be held at Villanova University on March 15-16, 2024.  

Speakers: Dr. Vincent Lloyd (Villanova University) and Rev. Dr. Michele E. Watkins (St. John's University)

Call for Abstracts: Narrating how authority goes wrong is a critical task. For this conference we seek creative approaches to the concept of authority, reckoning with its failures in a variety of intellectual traditions. What models for thinking differently about authority exist within these traditions, and what models must still be invented? What are the impediments to clearer articulations of how authority functions in individual, intellectual, social, and political life, and how can these be addressed? What are the connections and disconnections between how authority is imagined in intellectual work and the frameworks of authority structuring society, such as ‘family,’ ‘police,’ or ‘church.’ What other creative approaches to the concept of authority are useful? Papers might also explore related topics such as influence, force, law, sovereignty, inspiration, transference, or others, incorporating philosophical, theological, political, or other critical disciplinary approaches.  

We welcome papers at all stages of development and see this as an opportunity to workshop new ideas and papers in progress. Abstracts should be no longer than 300 words. Full paper submissions are welcome. Final papers should be suitable for a 20-minute presentation, around 3000 words, followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.

Proposals should be submitted to Nathaniel Grimes, [email protected], and prepared for blind review. With your submission, please include a cover page with the presenter’s name, institutional affiliation, and contact information.   Acceptance notifications will be sent out in January 2024. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Wang at [email protected].  

Deadline for submission: Jan. 3, 2024