CFP: Social Justice through Counter Speech, Deplatforming, and Silencing

Deadline extended!

Often, people’s words are harmful. Potential examples include: a classmate appealing to racist stereotypes in a class discussion, a politician tweeting misogynistic rhetoric on family organization, and an invited speaker promoting transphobic misinformation. When faced with harmful speech, how should we respond? Is counterspeech efficacious, or does it merely worsen the problem? When is protest permissible, and against whom? Do companies have an obligation to “de-platform” or suspend the accounts of users spreading harmful speech? 

We are grateful to host keynotes by Mary Kate McGowan (Philosophy, Wellesley College) and Brookes Brown (Philosophy, Toronto).

We are accepting abstracts from graduate students who have not yet received their degree at time of submission on these and related questions for our conference in Autumn 2024. OSU will offer modest travel stipends to accepted authors. 

To be considered for the conference, please email an anonymized abstract of 300-750 words to [email protected] by April 1, 2024

We are grateful to the Center for Ethics and Human Values at Ohio State for their generous support.