CFP: Epistemic Norms, Reasons, and Dilemmas

Call for Abstracts

Epistemic Norms, Reasons, and Dilemmas

In-person workshop

We are pleased to announce the second workshop of the research project Epistemic Dilemmas, Normative Conflicts, and Epistemic Normativity, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The workshop will focus on epistemic normativity, epistemic reasons, and epistemic dilemmas (broadly construed).

Confirmed Keynote Speakers:

Nick Hughes (Oslo)

Benjamin Kiesewetter (Bielefeld)

Anne Meylan (Zuerich)

Andy Mueller (Frankfurt) 

Timothy Williamson (Oxford)

When:

September 2-4, 2024

Where:

Department of Philosophy and Political Science, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany

Potential list of topics:

-       What is epistemic rationality?

-       Is there a unified concept of epistemic rationality?

-       Or do we need to bifurcate epistemic rationality into a structural and a substantive dimension? What are the benefits of conceiving epistemic rationality as so bifurcated?

-       Can there be instances of rational epistemic akrasia?

-       What are epistemic reasons? Are they genuinely normative?

-       What is the relation between the epistemic and the practical domains? Does the practical encroach on the epistemic?

-       How do practical considerations affect ideal epistemology?

-       Can there be practical reasons for belief?

-       What is higher-order evidence? Is it even evidence?

-       How should we deal with (apparent) epistemic dilemmas, for examples dilemmas involving higher-order evidence?

-       What is the nature of suspension? Is suspension sensitive to higher-order evidence? 

This is not an exhaustive list of possible topics. Further topics of interest include: the nature of epistemic norms, the source of epistemic normativity; the possibility of epistemic agency; and historical perspectives on all these issues.

How to participate:

We invite submission of abstracts dealing with the above questions. There will be three to four slots for submitted papers. Abstracts should be between 750 and 1.200 words in length. Please send your abstract prepared for blind review to [email protected] (preferably in PDF format). Please include the subject line: "Epistemic Norms Abstract – [Your Last Name]“ and mention your affiliation and career stage in the email.

We plan to publish the contributions to the conference as an edited volume. Accepted abstracts will be considered for inclusion into the volume.

Speakers of accepted abstracts will be provided with travel bursaries. We encourage, in particular, submissions of members of underrepresented groups in academic philosophy.

Submission deadline:

May 1, 2024.

Notification of acceptance:

June 15, 2024.

Inquiries:

Direct all inquiries to [email protected].

Attendance:

Attendance is free, but registration is required. Please register by email at [email protected]. The deadline for registration is August 15, 2024.

Organizing committee:

Martin Grajner (TU Dortmund): [email protected]

Eva Schmidt (TU Dortmund): [email protected]