CFP: 14th Braga Meetings on Ethics and Political Philosophy

PANEL 10 | Remembering Robert Nozick: 50 Years After the Publication of "Anarchy, State, and Utopia" 

14th Braga Meetings on Ethics and Political Philosophy

June 26, 27, & 28, 2024 | Braga, Portugal

Website: https://14bragameetings.weebly.com/

Email: [email protected]

Panel 10 - Remembering Robert Nozick: 50 Years After the Publication of "Anarchy, State, and Utopia"

Convenors: João Cardoso Rosas and Jorge Mateus

All inquiries about the panel should be sent to [email protected]

Keynote speaker: John Meadowcroft (King's College London) 

This year, the Braga Meetings on Ethics and Political Philosophy include a special session in honour of Robert Nozick, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the publication of “Anarchy, State, and Utopia” (1974). This special session comprises panel presentations and a plenary talk by John Meadowcroft (King’s College London). Robert Nozick’s “Anarchy, State, and Utopia” emerged during a time of intense philosophical debate. After John Rawls’ “A Theory of Justice”, this is arguably the most influential work of political philosophy of the twentieth century. In it, Nozick laid down the foundations for a modern version of a rights-based libertarianism structured around the notion of self-ownership and robust individual property rights, anchoring the entitlement theory of justice and justifying minimal state intervention. Yet, the book’s significance extends far beyond libertarianism. Its arguments on individual rights, self-ownership, and the entitlement theory of justice have influenced a wide range of thinkers and schools of thought. The libertarian, conservative, and liberal traditions all owe a significant debt to Nozick’s work, as it provided original insights into the principles of justice, property, and the legitimate scope of government.

The Special Session:
In this special session, we will explore the book’s enduring relevance, its influence on contemporary political thought, and the debates it has spawned. We welcome high quality presentations dealing with aspects of Nozick’s life and work. Presentations dealing mainly with secondary literature on Nozick’s ideas are also welcome, and they will be accommodated as much as possible, depending on the number of slots that will be made available by the general organisation of the Meetings.

Key Themes and Discussion Topics: 
- The Role of the Minimal State in Political Philosophy - Nozick’s Defence of Individual Rights - Freedom and Property - The Entitlement Theory of Justice and Its Critiques - The Influence of “Anarchy, State, and Utopia” on Contemporary Political Philosophy - The Ongoing Debates on Libertarianism - Nozick’s Influence on Ethical and Political Theories Beyond Political Philosophy

Submission Guidelines:
If you are interested in presenting your work in this panel, please submit an abstract of  400-500 words along with 5 keywords and a short bio of maximum of 300 words.   The proposal must be submitted online through the event website using this abstract submission form. Once in the website, make sure that you select the correct panel throughout the filling of the form.   The deadline for submissions is March 31, and you will be notified of the decision by April 30.