CFP: Crisis and Critique

Call for Papers: “Crisis and Critique”
Symposium of the Swiss Philosophical Foundation
June 5 to 7 2014  

Place: University of St. Gallen, Switzerland  

Organizers: Philosophical Foundation of Eastern Switzerland and chair in philosophy at the University of St. Gallen (Prof. Dr. Dieter Thomä).  

Abstract (German, French, and Italian version can be found on the symposium’s homepage)   In recent, years, the word “crisis“ has been used frequently and in relation to a plethora of different areas: Within the political sphere, crises of representation, of the nation state, even of democracy itself have been observed; in the realm of the social, crises of the education system or of the family have been diagnosed; and also with regard to the environment or the arts, the verdict of “crisis” has been delivered repeatedly – crisis, finally, is a notion that by now seems to designate the normal state of affairs of the world economy. Admittedly, it can be said that, independent of current alarm signals, modern societies are in principle determined by constant change which often carries with it the traits of crisis. However, throughout modernity the various diagnoses of crises have been complemented with counter-discourses of stabilization and continuity. Faced with this observation, one is tempted to say that there is no crisis without critique: It is not only since Reinhart Koselleck’s Critique and Crisis, that the relation between the phenomenon of crisis as a time of decision, as a crossroads, and critique as the art of discrimination has come to light. Etymologically, every krísis marks a point at which things take a decisive turn – be it liberating or disastrous in character. Epistemologically, this relationship finds expression in particular in the numerous “turns” which, since the beginning of the 20th century, have kept philosophy in suspense; it is not by accident then that the most recent symposium of the Swiss Philosophical Society was devoted to the “anthropological turn”. As can be seen paradigmatically in the work of Kant, crises or “copernican revolutions“ always have reference to a critique of precepts that articulates itself within the framework of epistemology.  

The symposium to come focuses on the theories of crisis themselves. On the one hand, the symposium will aim at an understanding of the notions of “crisis” and “critique” proper as well as of concepts that are related more or less closely: reform and revolution, tradition and restoration, decadence and catastrophe; further, what is sought are criteria of distinction, clarification, and decision. On the other hand, it will concentrate on systematic considerations and philosophical case studies of specific (political, economic, social, environmental, scientific, or aesthetic) crises. Thirdly, the relevance of “turns” and crises within philosophy itself will be up for debate. Finally, the relation of critique and crisis will have to be (re-)defined against the backdrop of contemporary phenomena and developments.  

Contribution: We would hereby like to invite you to give a 20-minute presentation followed by a short discussion. If you are interested in participating, please send us an overview of no more than 600 words about your possible presentation and your personal information (including institutional affiliation) until January 15 2014 to the following e-mail address: [email protected]. Presentations can be in English, German, French, and Italian.

Responsible: Dr. Michael Festl, Dr. Florian Grosser, Prof. Dr. Dieter Thomä, Prof. em. Dr. Armin Wildermuth  

Contact: [email protected]

Homepage: