CFP: Philosophy in the Wild 2024

Call for Abstracts

Philosophy in the Wildinvites abstract submissions for presentations at our fourth annual conference, the theme of which is ‘The Philosophical Environment’ (July 26-28, 2024, Colton Point State Park). We will prioritize abstracts on the above theme, though all abstracts related to environmental philosophy will be considered. This event is a small, outdoor, wifi-free (i.e., low-tech) event focused on fostering philosophical community.

We are excited to announce that Dr. Ryan Johnson(Elon University) will be delivering our keynote talk! 

The thesis that inspired the first Philosophy in the Wild in 2021 was that where we do philosophy matters. Specifically, we believed that taking philosophy outside of its usual fluorescent, wired context would open up new ways of theorizing our relation to the world. In 2024, we hope to return to this motivating question: how does, or ought, the environment affect the philosophy we do? We encourage prospective participants to run with this theme however they see fit; submissions need not be confined to the wild environment. 

Topics may include, but are not exhausted by:

• How does the physical, institutional, and/or social environment affect philosophical reflection?

• What physical, institutional, and social conditions enable philosophy to be done well? 

• What physical, institutional, and social conditions impede philosophy? 

• How does philosophy’s place in the academy affect the sort of philosophy that is done or is seen as possible? 

• How does, or ought, the socio-political context of our time affect our philosophical priorities? 

• How did historical socio-political contexts shape philosophy in the past, and what might that entail today? 

• How can, or should, philosophers contribute to understanding and solving the great challenges of our time (climate change, artificial intelligence, etc)?

From July 26th-28th, 2024, participants will camp at Colton Point State Park in north-central Pennsylvania, USA. Activities will include (though will not be limited to) presentations and discussions, making s'mores (mandatory) and hiking (optional). No prior camping experience is necessary. 

Please note that there will be a registration fee associated with participation in this conference to cover food and campsite costs. Philosophy in the Wild will work with participants to help arrange gear rentals if needed, the cost of which will be added to the registration fee. Please contact us with questions about accessibility.

Abstracts should be approximately 500 words. Please submit your abstract in .pdf format, prepared for anonymous review, to [email protected]. In the body of the email, please include your name, university affiliation, and paper title. Submissions from members of underrepresented groups in philosophy are especially encouraged. 

Submissions are eligible to be published in the Public Philosophy Journal's Philosophy in the Wild collection. The current collection can be seen here: https://pubhub.lib.msu.edu/projects/public-philosophy-journal-vol-5-no-2

Submission deadline: February 15, 2024

Decisions announced: April 15, 2024

Date of conference: July 26-28, 2024

Contact: [email protected]